Flat Whisk or Balloon Whisk? When to Use Each

Choose a flat whisk to stir sauce in a shallow pan and a balloon whisk to beat air into cream in a deep bowl. For sauce, look for a head that can run close to the base. For whipping, leave room to move the whisk through the bowl.

What does a flat whisk do in a shallow pan?

The nested wire loops sit low against the pan. Move the whisk in short strokes across the base and around the edge where sauce collects. For a flour-thickened sauce, add the liquid a little at a time and whisk until smooth after each addition.

How do you whip cream with a balloon whisk?

The wide, rounded wire head lets you make broad strokes in a deep bowl. Tilt the bowl slightly as you whip cold heavy cream. For soft peaks, stop when the whisk leaves a peak whose tip bends over as you lift it.

Can you get by with one whisk?

A balloon whisk can stir sauce in a saucepan with a rounded base. For a small amount of liquid, use a small vessel so the wires reach the mixture. For a coated pan, choose a whisk material the pan maker approves.

For an example of a flour-thickened sauce, see the béchamel step in cauliflower with mustard béchamel.

Sources

Artifact · Dreamfarm · King Arthur Baking · Tramontina