Yes, you can whip egg white in a blender but just so you know is that over whipped egg whites will not foam peaks, it will be chunky and leaky. When you beat your egg white in a blender it becomes characteristic tough and rubbery because the sharp blender blades, do not whisk through the egg white rather it cuts through them. However, if you have a blender with varying speeds, it can be used to mix egg whites for as long you are keen on alternating the speeds thus begin blending from the lowest speed.
Most people whip egg whites to develop a foam, which they use in making various dishes (cakes, soufflés, and cocktails). So, instead of subjecting your egg whites to the blender and then end up with a less desirable texture, you can whip them up slowly and even add some form of acid (drops of vinegar, lemon juice, or cream of tartar) to make the foam stronger.
Besides, you will notice that when you beat egg whites in a blender they become stiff and dry, but when you do it gently with a whisk balloon in a glass or metal bowl, it becomes stiff and soft. And if you pull out the whisk, the peaks develop effortlessly.
How to whip egg whites and the proper equipment to use
For those of us who have very basic knowledge in egg preparation, will quickly apply the same knowledge when whipping egg whites. Processing egg whites, unfortunately, require some form of special treatment to produce acceptable results. The best egg white foams are derived from using a hand whisk balloon or an electric mixer.
The whisk balloon
A whisk balloon is a common kitchen equipment and you might have used it a couple of times when preparing pastries. When used on egg whites, whisk balloons have been established to enhance the volume of the beaten egg whites. The hand whisk has a balloon shape with so many wires that easily separates the egg whites while incorporating air.
A whisk balloon gives you control over the consistency of the foam produced, and you are in a better position to achieve a glossy and stiff peak with the hand equipment when compared to using a blender. The traditional process will require some energy, so ensure that the mixing bowl is tilted to your direction then grasp the whisk firmly and make tight complete circles.
As you whip your eggs with the whisk balloon, much consideration should be directed to the bowl being used, for starters, it has to be squeaky clean. So, to ensure that no oil residue is lingering on the sides that will potentially thwart your efforts, you could rub the insides with the flesh of lemon or salt. Learn how to separate the egg yolk from egg white, because even the smallest drop of egg yolk will make it hard for your egg white to form.
And while a stainless steel bowl is a good candidate when it comes to making egg whites, copper will give you a fluffier finish
Use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer
The only difference between a stand mixer and an electric hand mixer is the mode of operation. So when it comes to whipping egg white, you can customize the speeds and the whipping attachments for the perfect finish. Ideally, you will want to begin whipping at a low speed; if you are using a stand mixer, you can retain the speeds between medium-high, which will help the final foam achieve small and stable bubbles.
If you are using an electric hand mixer, you will first start with the whisk attachment, the first stage of whipping will produce foams, and progressively you will produce the soft peaks. Both the hand mixer and the stand mixer are capable of over-processing the egg white, in such a scenario, you will have to salvage the situation so that your efforts don’t go to waste.
To fix the overbeaten egg white, you will add a fresh egg white, to the remaining egg whites and then whip it up for few minutes to re-moisten, be careful not to overdo it again.
Use a fork
Using a fork to beat egg whites does not even sound realistic but it is very practical if you need a quick fix for a small number of eggs. It’s all about being resourceful with what you have, besides a fork just works the same as a whisk, but you must maintain the circular motion and lift the egg white as you whip to incorporate air.
Use an immersion blender
Immersion blenders are not very different from handheld mixers in design but when it comes to functionality, the immersion blenders are much more versatile. When making egg whites with the immersion blenders you can alternate between the different speeds. Most importantly is that you will very likely over-whip the egg white, thus all attention should be directed to this process if you are to achieve a perfect finish.
Conclusion
Whether to use a blender or not to beat egg whites is a personal decision, because of the final finish. Not everyone wants soft peaks. Some people are more interested in the dry overbeaten peaks because of the recipe that they want to use and others will need the soft peaks. The stiff peaks are characteristic thick, shiny, and glossy thus the finish that you want will determine the equipment and processing time.
FAQ’s
How long does it take to whip an egg white until it becomes stiff?
If you are using a whisk balloon then you are going to take at least 18 minutes. But if you are using the electric stand mixer or a hand mixer it will take less time.
Which is the best kitchen appliance to use when whipping a lot of eggs?
If you have to whip a lot of egg whites the best equipment to use is a hand mixer because you get to freely work on all corners thus guarantees acceptable results.
