Whipping (cookery)

A whisk is a cooking utensil which can be used to, blend ingredients smooth, or to incorporate air into a mixture, in a process known as or . Most whisks consist of a long, narrow handle with a series of wire loops joined at the end. The wires are usually metal, but some are plastic for use with nonstick cookware. Whisks are also made from bamboo.

Whisks are commonly used to whip egg whites into a firm foam to make meringue, or to whip cream into whipped cream.

Whisks have differently-shaped loops depending on their intended functions:

Bundles of twigs, typically apple, have long been used as whisks; often the wood used would lend a certain fragrance to the dish. An 18th century Shaker recipe calls to “Cut a handful of peach twigs which are filled with sap at this season of the year. Clip the ends and bruise them and beat the cake batter with them. This will impart a delicate peach flavor to the cake.”

The wire whisk was invented by the Victorians in the 19th century, however, they were not in common use until Julia Child used one in her first ever televised appearance, in 1963. The television broadcast was on the television show "I've been Reading" to promote her new book “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”

Since the 19th century, various mechanical devices have been designed to make whisking more efficient, under the names "egg beater", "rotary mixer", etc.

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Wikipedia