How to Choose the Right Whisk for Your Recipe
Which whisk will work with which dish? Wonder no more.
Up next in Cooking Equipment (19 videos)
Master some new cooking skills and techniques with the tips in this Howcast video series about cooking equipment.
You Will Need
- A mixing task
- An assortment of whisks
Steps
-
Step 1
Determine your whisk needs
Look at the recipe and find out what ingredients you will be mixing. Different ingredients require different whisks.
-
Step 2
Use a French whisk
Use the tear-shaped French whisk for a multitude of tasks from mixing and deglazing to emulsifying and beating.
-
If you only buy one whisk, make it the versatile French whisk, which does almost every task a whisk can do.
-
Step 3
Choose a balloon
Choose a balloon whisk for incorporating air into meringues, souffles, and whipped cream. It's also good for mixing dry ingredients like flour, baking soda, and baking powder to break up chunks.
-
Step 4
Pick a ball or flat whisk
Pick a ball whisk, which has tiny weighted balls on straight tines, if you're making gravies or sauces, such as a roux or a beurre blanc. A flat whisk, which can cover large shallow surfaces of roasting pans and skillets, is also ideal.
-
Step 5
Use a vinaigrette whisk
Use the small vinaigrette whisk for small jobs, such as dipping sauces, vinaigrettes, scrambled eggs, or even mixing drinks.
-
Step 6
Choose a silicone whisk
Choose a silicone-wrapped whisk if you have a lot of non-stick pans. A silicone whisk will prevent scratches. They're also easier to clean than stainless steel.
-
Step 7
Use a dough whisk
Use the aptly named dough whisk, which has a single coil in a flat spiral, for mixing batters and stiff dough.
-
Did you know? Legendary chef Julia Child introduced whisks to America in the 1960s.
