When I first began my journey in culinary arts, I had no idea that the type of whisk I used mattered that much at all. Of course, over the years, I've learned just how terribly wrong I was. Choosing the best whisk for your culinary masterpiece is paramount to its success.
From aerating to emulsifying to whipping, different whisks have different purposes. To help home cooks reap the most from their kitchen creations, I've reviewed the best-in-class for everyday kitchen whisks commonly used for baking and cooking.
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Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk
- Best French Whisk: Best Manufacturers Inc. 1212 Whisk
- Best Mini Whisk: Anaeat Mini Wire Whisks
- Best Flat Whisk: Norpro Krona 11-Inch Stainless Steel Flat Whisk
- Best Spiral Whisk: Ludwig Whipper
- Best Ball Whisk: QULLAI 12" Professional Chefs Stainless Steel Ball Whisk
- Best Silicone Whisk: Anaeat Silicone Balloon Whisk
- Best Double Balloon Whisk: Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Double Balloon Whisk
- Best Dough Whisk: Zatoba Black Walnut Dough Whisk
Types of Whisks
Before we get into the best whisks on the market, let's lay a solid foundation for understanding the various types of whisks and what they're for.
Balloon Whisks
Balloon whisks are most helpful for incorporating air into your ingredients. I often choose a balloon whisk, sometimes called a piano whisk, when whipping cream, making meringues, or aerating a souffle.
Its bulbous end usually has a lot of springy wires that help create movement. The springiness creates the most air possible, fluffing your favorite recipes and making the best stiff peaks.
A piano whisk is also useful for mixing dry ingredients, particularly for breaking up chunks like what you often get with brown sugar.
Balloon whisks are mostly used for:
- Beating eggs
- Whipping egg whites or meringues
- Making whipped cream
- Mixing dry ingredients
- A substitute for sifting
French Whisks
This more narrow French whisk is one of the most versatile and all-purpose whisks available. It can complete most mixings tasks, whether deglazing, emulsifying, or beating.
These whisks traditionally have tier-shaped narrow tines that are thin and flexible. Their narrow base allows them to reach the edges of your mixing bowl or pot that other whisks might not get.
Unfortunately, most of these whisks have stainless steel handles, which heat up quickly when left resting on your hot pan.
These whisks are often used with:
- Pancake batter
- Thick custards
- Emulsifying salad dressings
- Thick sauces
Ball Whisks
WMF Profi Plus Stainless Steel Ball Whisk on Amazon
A ball whisk has straight stainless steel tines with weighted silicone or stainless steel balls at the end. These wire whisks are typical for stirring, beating, and whisking foods to achieve just the right texture.
The ball whisk is perfect for:
- Creams
- Emulsions
- Gravies
- Sauces
- Scrambled eggs
Flat Whisks
Prepworks by Progressive 10" Flat Whisk on Amazon
A flat whisk, sometimes called a roux whisk, has stiff wires all facing the same direction, so the whisk wires sit flat on the bottom of your skillet like a spatula. These stiff wires scrape the bottom of your pan or skillet combining all of the ingredients.
These flat metal whisks are perfect for deglazing your roasting pans or skillets with chicken stock, vermouth, or cognac. They are also useful as a mock spatula to remove foods from liquid allowing the juices to escape.
This specialty whisk is ideal for:
- Gravies
- Roux
- Pan sauces
- Removing poached foods
Danish Dough Whisks
The Danish Dough Whisk, sometimes referred to as 'the brodpisker,' is a flat, single-coil whisk sturdy enough to sift through bread doughs.
There are larger ones for more dense breads and yeast doughs and smaller ones for batter-type breads. A Danish whisk helps your batter come together about three times faster than using a fork, and it eliminates pockets of flour in your dough.
Danish dough whisks are excellent for all things baking:
- Brownies, muffins, and cake batters
- Pancakes and waffles
- Breads, biscuits, and scones
Spiral Whisks
A spiral whisk has a wire loop with a coil wrapped around it allowing the whisk to grab ingredients. The metal wires of the whisk head are designed to maintain contact with the bottom of your pan to prevent burning, scorching, or scalding.
The wire material helps break up clumps of dry ingredients within a liquid base for a smooth finish.
A spiral whisk can be used for:
- Roux, gravies, and sauces
- Salad dressing and vinaigrettes
- Thick batters
Mini Whisks
Miniature whisks are smaller versions of the balloon whisk making them the perfect tool for specialty drinks and single-serving sizes. Their size makes them ideal for small glass sizes, and their bulbous end adds air to your drinks to create the best frothy, fluffy drinks.
Miniature whisks work well for:
- Blending hot chocolate
- Whipping cream or egg whites
- Frothing milk or eggnog
- Small batches of salad dressings or dipping sauces
Silicone Whisks
A silicone whisk obviously has a silicone coating and is best used with all your nonstick cookware. Silicone-coated whisks come in many types, including French, balloon, ball, spiral, mini, and flat.
Silicone whisks can be used for the same tasks as their stainless steel counterparts without ruining your nonstick pans:
- Whipping cream or egg whites
- Stirring custard
- Mixing batters
- Making roux or gravy
- Emulsifying dressings
Double Balloon Whisk
A double balloon whisk serves the same purpose as a traditional balloon whisk except a wired ball sits within the balloon. This allows more air into your mixture with minimal effort providing more volume in less time.
The downfall is they're much more challenging to clean. As with traditional balloon whisks, a double-balloon whisk is a great option for:
- Whipped cream
- Egg whites
- Batters
9 Best Whisks for Everyday Use
1. Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk: Best Overall
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Black Brand: Matfer Style: Professional Dimensions: 10.63 x 2.48 x 2.68 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Professional quality + Stainless steel + Airtight waterproof handle + Heat resistant to 430° F (221° C) |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Pricier than some |
If you only have one whisk in your kitchen, make it the Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk. This piano whisk, or balloon whisk, is extremely versatile and can perform a variety of functions, from aerating mixtures to mixing batters.
The flexible stainless steel wires are welded into a steel core and then heat molded into a 4 ½" Exoglass handle making it airtight and waterproof. There are a variety of sizes to choose from, ensuring you get the perfect, comfortable grip.
It's dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 430° F (221° C). This restaurant-quality whisk is perfect for whipping heavy cream or stirring delicate sauces. It's both comfortable and flexible, as well as easy to clean.
The Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk makes a good all-around multipurpose kitchen whisk.
2. Best Manufacturers Inc. 1212 Whisk: Best French Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Stainless Brand: Best Manufacturers Style: Curve Dimensions: 12 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Sealed handle + Comfortable grip + Dishwasher safe + Evenly balanced |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Some complaints of receiving the wrong item |
This twelve-inch whisk is made with 18/8 stainless steel wires, making it corrosion and oxidation free. Its heavy-duty durability makes it the perfect tool for blending coarse ingredients or stirring thick custards.
The handle is sturdy, evenly balanced, and has a solid grip. Its base is four inches long and completely sealed, so it doesn't hold water, and it's easy to clean.
I typically use this whisk for cake batters, puddings, custards, and heavy cream sauces. It does an excellent job at aerating in record-fast times. The loops fit nicely in the corners of your bowls and pots where the sides meet the bottom preventing any caking in your mixtures.
3. Anaeat Mini Wire Whisks: Best Mini Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Stainless Brand: Anaeat Style: Portable Dimensions: 6.54 x 4.02 x 0.79 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Budget-friendly + Comfortable grip + Dishwasher safe + Evenly balanced |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Handle not sealed |
The Anaaeat Mini Wire Whisk is convenient for mixing smaller amounts of ingredients in a cup, mixing bowl, or saucepan. This is my go-to whisk when blending single-serving sizes for fluffy or frothy drinks, dressings, sauces, or eggs.
This 1 mm stainless steel whisk is sturdy and durable. Its coil-wrapped handle is thin, making it as comfortable to hold as a pencil. The bulbous part of the whisk is only 2 ½-3" long so it's not conducive for larger batches.
Unfortunately, this handle is not sealed, and it will retain water for a very long time. Although it is dishwasher safe, I only wash this whisk by hand and am super careful not to submerge the handle in water.
4. Norpro Krona 11-Inch Stainless Steel Flat Whisk: Best Flat Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Silver Brand: Norpro Style: Modern Dimensions: 11 x 2.25 x 0.75 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Dishwasher safe + Waterproof Handle + Versatile and affordable |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Unbalanced - Too short for some |
The Norpro Krona is a professional quality, highly polished stainless steel whisk with a solid, watertight handle.
I love the Norpro Krona specialty whisk for deglazing and making a quick roux. It's also perfect for removing poached eggs and fish. These stainless steel whisks work well with wet and dry ingredients, as well as large and small pots and pans.
Its semi-flat shape is adept for working over a flame and reaching into the hard-to-reach corners of your skillet or pan.
The Norpro Krona is not as nicely balanced as other whisks on our list, but its versatility makes it worth the sacrifice. Additionally, it's on the shorter side and may not be ideal for those with larger hands.
5. Ludwig Whipper: Best Spiral Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Stainless Steel Brand: Ludwig Scandinavian Style: Spiral Dimensions: 18.75 x 3 x 0.1 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Dishwasher safe + Heat resistant + Highly durable |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Wire handle - Challenging to clean |
The Ludwig Whipper is a finely crafted stainless steel whisk with an 8" handle and a 1 ¾" whipper. These are by far my favorite whisks for making smooth and lump-free gravies and sauces.
It doesn't have the most comfortable handle in the world, but given how well it works at deglazing in conjunction with its solid durability, the handle is something I can definitely overlook.
This whisk can also be challenging to clean at times given its springy wires, but this would be the case with just about all spiral whisks.
6. QULLAI Professional Chefs Stainless Steel Ball Whisk: Best Ball Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Stainless Steel Brand: Ludwig Scandinavian Style: Ball Whisk Dimensions: 12.8 x 1.89 x 1.73 inches Dishwasher-Safe: Yes |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Dishwasher safe + Improves aeration |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Heavy |
These 12" specialty whisks are the perfect device for mixing thin batters, eggs, emulsions, gravies, and sauces. Its small profile makes it the perfect tool for kitchens with less counter space and fits perfectly in your utensil crock.
Its handle is comfortable and balanced, and its length provides plenty of distance between your hand and the stove.
The Qullai ball whisk features ten semi-rigid wires with weighted balls that improve the aeration of your mixture.
Its angled design creates natural positioning for your arm, making it much more comfortable than those with 90° angles. The Qullai ball whisk improves aeration obliterating eggs and making quick work of whipped cream. Not to mention, cleanup is a cinch.
7. Zatoba Black Walnut Dough Whisk: Best Dough Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Black Walnut, Brown Brand: Zatoba Style: Dough Whisk Dimensions: 13 x 1 x 3 inches Dishwasher-Safe: No |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Extremely durable + Artisan crafted + Waterproof handle |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Challenging to clean - More expensive compared to others |
The Zatoba dough whisk has a 3" stainless steel spiral head with a natural black walnut handle that is handcrafted in the USA. It's sturdy, easy to hold, and easy to clean with 1 ½" of room between the handle and the spiral.
Overall, this whisk is 14 inches in total length. Unlike most whisks, the Danish dough whisk has a longer handle for better maneuverability and is sturdy enough to blend the thickest of doughs and batters.
However, it can be difficult to clean in areas where the wire overlaps. The handle is solid and waterproof.
8. Anaeat Silicone Balloon Whisk: Best Silicone Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Black Walnut, Brown Brand: Zatoba Style: Dough Whisk Dimensions: 13 x 1 x 3 inches Dishwasher-Safe: No |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Rustproof + Dishwasher safe + Nicely balanced + Comfortable ergonomic handle |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Too small for some |
The Anaeat Silicone balloon whisk is my favorite balloon whisk for my nonstick pan. It has a comfortable non-slip grip with a sturdy BPA-free silicone protective cover. They're nicely balanced and easy to clean.
They're also dishwasher safe and heat resistant to 450° F (C). Additionally, the handles are sealed and won't hold water.
Whether you're whisking whipped cream, egg whites, or batters, these are the best silicone whisks to use and offer plenty of versatility.
9. Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Double Balloon: Best Double Balloon Whisk
| SPECIFICATIONS | Color: Black Walnut, Brown Brand: Zatoba Style: Dough Whisk Dimensions: 13 x 1 x 3 inches Dishwasher-Safe: No |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Stainless steel + Variety of sizes + Well balanced |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Challenging to clean - Not recommended for dishwasher |
Mrs. Anderson's double balloon whisk is a sturdy, easy-to-hold, high-quality stainless steel whisk. These are the best whisks for making your batters and sauces fluffier, smoother, and silkier.
This is also the perfect tool for folding in thicker ingredients like butter or cream cheese and comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 8-12."
Because of the inaccessible inner ball, obviously, this whisk is a bit more challenging to clean. It's also not listed as being safe for the dishwasher. For best results, this whisk should be hand washed immediately after use.
How to Buy the Best Whisk
Whether you're looking at flat whisks, balloon whisks, or other whisks, most whisks have standard features that you'll want to keep in mind while you're going through your selection process.
Stainless Steel
First and foremost, unless you're buying a silicone whisk for your nonstick cookware, you absolutely want a stainless steel whisk. Many kitchen whisks are made from aluminum, nickel, tin, and other metals that can either rust or chemically react with your food.
A stainless steel whisk will not rust, and you won't have to worry about leaching or chemical reactions.
Construction and Durability
You want a whisk that has some durability, particularly with its wire loops. It's not uncommon for French whisks and balloon whisks, in particular, to warp and lose their shape over time.
The more rigid your loop wires, the better they can withstand heavier mixtures. By the same token, they should also be flexible enough to sift through your ingredients and not slosh them all over your kitchen counter.
With a silicone whisk, pay particular attention to its construction. Over time, the silicone can tear away from the metal when poorly crafted. You'll also want to make sure it can withstand high temperatures for stovetop usage.
A key feature in all whisks is how well the wires stay attached to the handles. It's not uncommon for poorly constructed whisks to detach from the handle in just a few uses. If you're buying from a brick-and-mortar store, give it a good tug to make sure it feels solid.
If you're buying online, check the reviews, particularly the one- and two-star reviews, to make sure this isn't a known problem. Buyers are more than eager to share the downfalls of their purchases after repeated whisking over time.
Some whisks also tend to take on liquids in the handle. This is an absolute deal breaker for me. There is nothing worse than mixing your favorite delectable dessert only to have it suddenly infested with some bacteria-ridden soapy dishwater that spontaneously drizzled into your mixture!
Look for sealed or solid handles that don't allow liquid to penetrate! You'll also want to keep an eye out for any sharp edges. Cheaply-made kitchen utensils are known to have sharp pieces of metals and wires that can be hazardous to your skin.
Ergonomics
You want a whisk that's comfortable to use. The grip should fit comfortably in your hand and be evenly balanced, not top-heavy. Whisks that are top-heavy not only fall out of your bowls and pans, but they're also prone to causing fatigue and hand cramping with prolonged use.
Ideally, the handle should also have some protection against heat when used with stovetop applications. Metals, including stainless steel, are conductors of heat. As such, some whisk handles get rather hot when used over a flame, resting near the stove, or even on the side of your pans.
High Temperatures
You need a quality whisk that's heat resistant and capable of withstanding high temperatures. Avoid plastic utensils altogether. They are generally cheap and melt easily when they come into contact with hot surfaces.
For those that enjoy tossing their utensils in the dishwasher make sure you choose one that's safe. There's nothing more disheartening than buying a new utensil only to have it melt in the dishwasher before you even get a chance to use it.
Whisk Size
Avid home chefs enjoy a variety of whisks for the task at hand, however, some cooks prefer one or two whisks with versatility that can be used for a variety of kitchen projects. The most common sizes range from ten to twelve inches.
If you're looking for just one or two universal whisks, I'd recommend at least an 11-inch balloon whisk, and either a flat whisk or spiral whisk as a secondary depending on your most common needs.
Easily Cleaned
Whisks are one of those kitchen utensils that can be a nightmare to clean because of all the looped wires, nooks, and crannies. Before selecting a whisk based on its dazzling looks, give it a thorough once-over for its cleanability.
Common Questions
Why can't I just use a fork?
In many cases, it's perfectly okay to use a fork to mix ingredients in a pinch, but it's not ideal. Using a fork often takes much more effort, and the results are frequently less than satisfactory.
Whisks were specifically designed for the task giving you better results with far less effort. A whisk can thoroughly mix ingredients while also incorporating just the right amount of air into your mixture enhancing the texture of your foods to perfection.
What's the best way to use a whisk?
In most cases, a side-to-side motion is the best way to use a whisk. It's both more effective and takes less time to mix your ingredients.
The only exception is when whipping egg whites into stiff peaks, in which case beating is more effective. On the other hand, circular stirring is, by far, the least effective way to mix any ingredients.
What Is the Best Whisk to Get?
Overall, I like the Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk. It's the best whisk with the most versatility and is the perfect choice for mixing dried ingredients and aerating mixtures. Plus, it can whip stiff peaks in no time.
This whisk is stainless steel, has a comfortable handle, and keeps water out. It's dishwasher safe and can withstand high heat. This Matfer Bourgeat is just the perfect all-around kitchen tool.
Try it on these great recipes:
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