|
|
 |
Whisks
|
| Time has told us that the secret for the best omelettes is the beating that allows the egg to take in the correct amount of air and become a compound that will produce the perfect final result. The fact that air is a basic ingredient in more than one dish explains the importance of an often-neglected and often overlooked utensil: the whisk. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUNCTION, TYPE AND MATERIAL |
|
|
Its main function is to change the consistency of liquid and semi-liquid foodstuffs by incorporating air into them and thus increasing their volume. In addition to this, this "sieving" action, carried out by the quick movement of the strands of the whisk avoids lumps appearing in sauces such as béchamel, which are characterised by their smooth, velvet texture. There are whips of all shapes and sizes, each suitable for a specific task. If you wish to limit the choice, most minimum culinary requirements are satisfied by a large whisk and a flat whisk. The most widely-used types are made from stainless steel, even if non-toxic plastic ones are preferred for some specific compounds, especially when glass or ceramic receptacles or bowls are used.
|
|
|
|
Egg whisks: the bulb whisk is ideal for light foods, because it incorporates a larger quantity of air, whilst whisks for sauces and dough are characterised by stronger and thicker wires that allow you to work quite thick dough.
|
|
|
|
Flat whisks are used to beat small quantities of foods and for mixing and incorporating delicate ingredients such as aromatic herbs. The spiral version is ideal for tall, thin containers, whereas the flat spiral allows you to prepare the best scrambled eggs.
|
|
|
|
The new kids on the block are the mixers, the wires of which are closed to form a bulb, although they have an open extremity culminating in a sphere: they are attached in seconds, reach every part of the bowl and, above all, are very easily cleaned.
|
|
|
|
These utensils require relatively little attention, because their characteristics make cleaning and hygiene simple. All you have to do is wash them in running water, paying particular attention to where the wires are attached to the handle, where food particles might gather. Stainless steel models must be dried thoroughly to avoid oxidisation.
|
|
|
|
|
