French (top) and balloon whisks.

A whisk is a cooking utensil used in food preparation to blend ingredients smooth, or to incorporate air into a mixture, in a process known as whisking or whipping. This is a list of food preparation utensils some of what is known as Kitchenware. This is a list of food preparation utensils some of what is known as Kitchenware. This article is about ingredients in general There is also an American soul and R&B group called The Main Ingredient. 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. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Non-stick refers to a cooking surface that resists food sticking to it without the aid of oils or fats Whisks are also made from bamboo. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily

Whisks are commonly used to whip egg whites into a firm foam to make meringue, or to whip cream into whipped cream. Meringue is a type of Dessert made from whipped Egg whites and caster sugar. For the 1993 hip-hop single by the Wu-Tang Clan see CREAM CREAM is an acronym for Cognitive Reliability Error Analysis Method a Cream with 30% or more fat can be turned into whipped cream by mixing it with air

A makeshift whisk may be constructed by taking two forks and placing them together so the tines interlock and make a cage. As a piece of Cutlery or Kitchenware, a fork is a tool consisting of a handle with several narrow tines (usually two three or four on one end This is far more effective than a single fork at incorporating air into a mixture.

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

• The most common shape is that of a wide teardrop, termed a balloon whisk. Balloon whisks are best suited to mixing in bowls, as their curved edges conform to a bowl's concave sides.
• With longer, narrower wire loops, the French whisk has a more cylindrical profile, suiting it to deep, straight-sided pans.
• A flat whisk, sometimes referred to as a Roux whisk, has the loops arranged in a flat successive pattern. It is useful for working in shallow vessels like skillets (in which a roux is normally prepared). Roux (ˈruː (pronounced somewhat like the English word "rue" is a mixture of wheat Flour and Fat, traditionally butter
• A gravy whisk commonly has one main loop with another wire coiled around it.
• Similarly, a twirl whisk has one single wire that is spiralled into a balloon shape.
• Ball whisks have no loops whatsoever. Instead, a group of individual wires comes out of the handle, each tipped with a metal ball. The heavy balls are capable of reaching into the corners of a straight-sided pan. Since there are no crossing wires, the ball whisk is easier to clean than traditional looped varieties. Manufacturers of ball whisks also purport that their shape allows for better aeration.

Additionally, a mechanical device known as a rotary whisk consists of 2 sets of beaters that are joined together with a hand-operated crank and handle.

Although the modern whisk may have only appeared at the end of the 19th century, evidence of whisk-like tools exist even further back in history. A bundle of twigs fastened together make an effective whisk; 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. ”