Egg beating by egg whipper involves whisking eggs quickly to change their consistency and thus work their structure into the baked good or dish you are preparing. Depending on what the recipe calls for, whole eggs, just the egg whites, or just the egg yolks may be whisked. Many recipes include beating eggs, especially egg whites, as a crucial step.
However, what is often left out of recipes for kitchenware is how to accurately whisk these eggs. Whether beating egg whites for meringue or beating whole eggs for a cake, preparing your eggs first and using the right tools will help you achieve perfect results every time.
1. Lay out the eggs.
Set the eggs out on the counter 30 minutes before using them. Eggs will beat more when they are at room temperature (68 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 - 25 degrees Celsius).
2. Separate the egg whites from the yolks if necessary.
Beat the eggs as close to the center as possible. Let the yolk settle in the lower half of the shell and let the egg whites flow into the bowl. Then use the egg whip to whisk back and forth until all the egg whites are in the bowl.
3. Calculate how much egg white you need to whisk.
Depending on your recipe, your egg whites need to reach soft, stiff, or hard peaks.
4. Choose a clean, dry glass, copper, or stainless steel bowl.
Never use a plastic bowl to whisk egg whites. Tiny nicks and scratches in a plastic bowl prevent the egg whites from being evenly whipped.
5. Choose a clean balloon whisk with many filaments.
The balloon whisk egg beater features a large, rounded head that helps to effectively whisk air into the egg whites.
6. Hold the whisk steady and begin to whisk the egg whites slowly.
Grasp the bowl with your other hand. Make circular motions, circling the bowl about two times per second. After about 30 seconds, your egg whites will start to look like foam.
7. When the egg whites form foam, add the cream of tartar.
This acidic byproduct of the brewing process adds stability to the egg whites.
8. Increase your speed.
Continue beating the eggs in quick circles; after 2 to 3 minutes of continuous beating, you should notice an increase in volume.
