From baking to cooking, preparing a light and fluffy foam layer for your latte to mixing together ingredients for a rich sauce, a whisk is a kitchen staple that every chef should have in their kitchen.
Bigger jobs typically require the use of an automated mixer, either in the form of a hand mixer or a stand mixer, but smaller tasks can easily be completed with a stainless steel or silicone whisk. Whether you are using a flat whisk or balloon whisk, the open design of the wires provides aeration, which can help turn ingredients like eggs into a froth by breaking up proteins and forming around newly introduced bubbles. When working with fats and liquids, like with a salad dressing, the whisk breaks down fats into droplets and creates a more stable emulsification. Whisks are also ideal for mixing multiple ingredients at once and can move ingredients around faster than a spoon.
When using a whisk, chefs can employ a side-to-side motion, a stirring motion or a beating motion. A beating motion is best for egg whites, while side-to-side is preferred for all other purposes. As for stirring? Stick to spoons. And remember, when using a whisk, it’s a great idea to rotate the bowl, which creates more aeration and cuts down on whisking time.
There are several styles of whisks that are designed for specific purposes, including the more general balloon and flat whisks, as well as the ball whisk, coil whisk and danish visk or dough whisk. We’ve included our top picks for these whisks and more in our list below.
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1. OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk
BEST OVERALL
For a whisk that can handle big jobs and won’t leave your hand feeling fatigued at the end of a baking session, we like the OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk. The polished stainless steel wires are strong enough to handle large quantities of ingredients at once but have a narrow design that still makes the whisk conducive to fitting into smaller bowls and measuring cups. The soft grip on the OXO makes this a comfortable handle to use for an extended period. The rust-resistant whisk holds its shape, has a barrier to keep water from seeping into the handle and forming bacteria and can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher.
2. Teevea Silicone Whisk Set
BEST SILICONE SET
Most whisks are made with stainless steel, but the Teevea set of whisks are comprised of heavy-duty, anti-rust, non-stick silicone that will never chip. A great option for users who don’t want to damage their non-stick cookware, this set of silicone whisks includes an 8, 10, and 12-inch size for added convenience. The durable whisks are available in a variety of bright colors to match any kitchen and are heat resistant up to 600 degrees Fahreneheit, making them ideal for stovetop cooking.
3. Orblue Danish Dough Whisk
BEST FOR DOUGH
When it’s time to fold and knead your dough, you need a whisk that can rise to the occasion. That was our dough joke. The Orblue Danish Dough Whisk is made with two stainless steel wires and an extended oak wood handle that provides a firm and sturdy grip. The wire loop design of the whisk moves through even the thickest dough and batter with ease and the ergonomic design of the Orblue helps to reduce hand strain no matter how many loaves of bread are on the menu. Sold in a set of two, the whisks can be washed in warm water and soap and can last for years.
4. PomeloHome Stainless Steel Ball Whisk
BEST FOR USING WITH HEAT
A ball whisk looks slightly different than a traditional whisk and has its own set of benefits. The opened-ended design of the whisk makes it easy for the balls to get into tight spots in bowls and pans that a traditional whisk can’t reach. The ball ends also whisk ingredients faster than looped whisks, which is great for quick jobs in the kitchen. The high heat rating and long wires of the PomeloHome whisk also make this a great option for using on the stovetop, allowing users to keep their hands further from the heat source.
5. Prepworks by Progressive 10″ Flat Whisk
BEST FLAT WHISK
A flat whisk is a great item to have in your cooking arsenal. It can tackle most of the same jobs as a balloon whisk and can also help press out lumps and scrape the bottom of pots and pans to ensure food doesn’t stick while cooking. Flat whisks also have the added benefit of doubling as flippers for small items. We like the chrome-plated steel wire construction of the Prepworks flat whisk, which is available in four size options and is dishwasher-safe.
6. Joseph Joseph Twist Whisk
INNOVATIVE DESIGN
Joseph Joseph is known for its innovative designs in cookware, from smart stacking solutions for bowls and spoons to cutting boards that curve for convenient food waste disposal. The company has once again shown that there are ways to improve upon a basic kitchen tool with their Twist Whisk. Sporting the company’s trademark bright colors, the whisk can be used flat for sauces and easy storage or can be turned into a traditional balloon whisk with the twist of a knob at the bottom of the handle. When it’s time to clean the whisk, all four arms easily detach and can be placed in the dishwasher. The steel wires are coated in silicone and can be used with non-stick cookware. Plus, it just looks really cool.
7. HONBAY Mini Wire Kitchen Whisks
BEST MINI WHISKS
Whether you are mixing ingredients in a small container or want to whip up some froth for a hot drink, this set of mini wire whisks from Honbay proves that big things come in small packages. The strong and flexible mini whisks come with two five-inch and seven-inch options and are ideal for mixing small amounts of food or whisking sauces, eggs and drinks, like hot chocolate. The whisks can be cleaned with soap and water and have small loops on the end for easy hanging.
8. Stainless Steel Whisk by Frieling
EASY TO STORE
We know that one whisk is not always enough, especially when tackling a big job in the kitchen. The set of stainless steel whisks by Frieling comes with three different sizes to help tackle both big and small mixing needs. The easy to clean whisks are dishwasher-safe and we like that each whisk has a looped end that makes it convenient to hang the whisks when not in use.
9. Matcha Whisk by W&P Design
BEST FOR FROTHING
When it’s time to froth, mix or blend hot drinks or sauces, the Matcha Whisk by W&P Design makes it simple to get quick and fluffy results with minimal effort. The plastic and stainless steel whisk is battery-operated and mixes up warm liquids in seconds with delicious results. The dishwasher-safe whisk is available in a fun seafoam green hue that makes a statement on any counter.
10. Williams Sonoma Signature Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk
MOST SPLURGE-WORTHY
For a whisk that takes the cake (batter), we like Williams Sonoma Signature Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk. The splurge-worthy whisk is designed with heavy gauge stainless steel and an ergonomically designed handle that is perfectly weighted for a professional quality kitchen item. Williams Sonoma uses an exclusive tine design with flattened intervals for their whisk, which creates more aeration and whips ingredients up to 30% faster than other whisks, meaning less time baking and more time eating. Ideal for whipping cream and eggs, the stainless steel whisk is dishwasher safe and available in seven and nine-inch options.
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