Hand mixers are obviously the cheaper choice for whisking and beating, but if you do a lot of baking, you might want to consider a stand mixer instead. Stand mixers are bigger and pricier but offer far more versatility in the kitchen. All of our whisks, no matter their size or features, are made from high-quality, lightweight material making them both reliable and easy to wield. Most are dishwasher safe too, to make sure clean-up is as simple as possible. Balloon whisks, with broad, teardrop heads are the most common variety of whisk available and are best suited to mixing in bowls where the wide head can really get to work. French whisks have more slender heads, making them ideal for whipping around pans, especially tall-sided pans. Gravy whisks have a single small coil at the end, meaning they’re perfect for tighter containers, whilst the shape of the end is designed for whipping up liquids like gravy and sauces. The Bosch CleverMixx is ideal for those who enjoy making the occasional cake or loaf but don’t want to commit to anything more expensive. It comes with two beaters as standard but, rather unusually, has a set of dough hooks for kneading as well. There are four mixing speeds to switch between, as well as a pulse function for short, sharp blasts.

Balloon whisks:Balloon whisks are, unsurprisingly, balloon-shaped. In contrast to a beater, a whisk is made up of thin metal wires that cross over at the bottom. Here, mixture passes through more finely, in the process whipping more air into ingredients. This makes them ideal for any mixtures that need to be super airy and light such as egg whites and certain sponge batters. As well as a variety of full-sized whisks, we also offer a selection of mini whisks. They’re brilliant for doing everything a large sized whisk can, but in smaller pots and pans and bowls. Mini whisks are also ideal for smaller jobs too, like whipping up milk for frothy coffee and cappuccinos, getting the lumps out of hot chocolate, or for blending vinaigrette salad dressings in glasses and mugs. The latest silicone whisks Beyond the classic balloon style, there are plenty of specialty whisks. If you make a lot of sauces, a flat whisk is a good place to start. The wires are arranged in a single layer that’s perfect for scraping brown bits from the bottom of a pan while stirring béchamel, gravy, and other sauces.With a stand mixer, you’ll be able to mix far more in less time, and they typically come with a greater range of attachments and mixing speeds for more precise baking. Stand mixers are also fantastic for kneading large amounts of dough, something electric hand mixers can’t really do. Some high-end models can even prove dough and melt chocolate for you. We adore the versatility of this Oxo model—it handles heavy batters and light salad dressings with ease. To test it out, we mixed a homemade caramel sauce on the stovetop and were impressed with the silicone coating—nothing adhered to it while whisking, and it didn’t scratch the ceramic-coated cast-iron saucepan we used. The handle was comfortable to grip while mixing the heavy ingredients in the pecan pie like brown sugar while still being lightweight enough to stave off hand fatigue. In an oregano vinaigrette test, it was easy to angle the whisk into the bowl because of its flexibility.

Emily Farris, the original author, is a food and lifestyle writer, recipe developer, and prop stylist. She obsesses over kitchen design and home decor and used to work at a kitchen store where she spent way too much time thinking about whisks. She’s also embarrassingly good at buying things online and can see straight through a fake review. It’s a question of how you want to live and what you’re comfortable with. I think it frees you up to be satisfied with what you have. I think you learn to treasure things more if you repair them too – giving them your time gives them more value.” READ NEXT: Best coconut oil for cooking The best hand mixers to buy 1. Bosch CleverMixx MFQ3030GB: The best cheap hand mixer Once it starts to form soft peaks, whisk in any flavourings and then keep whisking until the cream starts to feel more solid and the peaks don’t flop over any more (stiff peaks). Stop at this point. This must be hand-washed, but the two heads easily came off and washed up nicely in warm, soapy water. Unlike similar items that drain disposable batteries, the battery is rechargeable using the included USB-C cord. For the affordable price tag, and small size that’s easy to store, this is a great buy.While there’s nothing wrong with corded appliances, you won’t understand the life-changing freedom of a cordless whisk until you’ve tried one. Being able to whisk from any angle, anywhere in your kitchen is genuinely fantastic and with enough charge for around 200 biscuits, you don’t need to worry about plugging it every night with your phone. Whisks make it easier to blend ingredients together. They also add air into what you're mixing by whisking or whipping the ingredients. These are great tools for whipping egg whites, making whipped cream, or smoothing a gravy or sauce. Key specs – Number of speeds: 5; Additional attachments: dough hooks; Motor: 280W; RPM: Not stated; Dishwasher-safe attachments: Yes The only negative on this affordable, reliable whisk was that after washing in a dishwasher, the handle had a slightly cloudy appearance. We recommend hand washing to preserve the shine of the stainless steel. It’s frustrating this doesn’t come with additional attachments in the box but, in testing, the classic beaters still did a decent job, whipping lots of air into batters. As this is a rechargeable appliance, the motor isn’t as powerful as some of its corded siblings, so this isn’t the one to buy if you’re looking for an electric workhorse. But it’s a great little mixer for basic jobs and going cordless is so worth it.