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A flat beater is a whisk with a U-shaped pattern of wires that is better for mixing sauces in shallow pans and incorporating flavorful bits. It is useful for making sauces with a roux base and comes in various sizes and materials. It can also be used for mixing hot cereal or porridge and for making custard or chocolate sauces.
A flat beater, sometimes called a sauce or roux whisk, is different from the standard whisk in shape and function. Unlike the rounded wire whip, the flat wire whip simply consists of a single set of U-shaped wires, usually about four or five, all of which follow a U-shaped pattern in different concentric lengths. It is not rounded and is therefore “flat”.
While the rounded whisk is great for mixing and stirring and for adding extra air to blended ingredients, the flat whisk is better for mixing sauces in shallow pans. It’s not spun in the hand like the round whisk, but used to scrape ingredients from one side of the pan to the other. This makes it especially useful when you’re making something like gravy and need to combine seasonings from the meat you just cooked. The scraping action of the whisk helps incorporate these flavorful bits together to make a delicious gravy.
Many chefs prefer a flat beater when making sauces that require a roux (flour and butter) base. This unusual whisk with its scraping action can keep sauce from pooling or burning at the bottom of the pan. It is therefore useful for Alfredo, Mornay, Béchamel and a variety of other cream sauces.
The flat beater varies in size and price. Most are between $10-20 US Dollars (USD). It’s important to look for a sealed one where the wires from the whisk leave the handle. If this part is not sealed, the whisk can be difficult to clean, as food stains can build up in the center of the whisk and be difficult to remove.
In terms of size, the average flat beater measures approximately 10 inches long, although some may be smaller. Since you’re often using this type of whisk to stir over high heat, it helps to find ones with a heat-resistant handle. You can also find nylon flat beaters that are safe for nonstick pans. Commonly, the flatter whisks are made from stainless steel and feature stainless steel, ceramic, or wooden handles. Some have a rubberized or nylon coating over the steel handle for a better grip.
While the most common recommendation for the flat beater is for use in making sauces, this whisk’s scraping ability has other applications. For example, if you’re trying to get the last bits of batter out of a bowl for a pie, a flat beater can be the perfect tool. Consider using flat beaters to mix hot cereal or porridge of various types. Again its ability to scrape the bottom of the pan is useful, as it means you won’t burn the bottom of your porridge. This whisk also comes in handy for mixing custard or chocolate sauces.
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