whisked

Whisked is the past tense and past participle of the verb whisk. It has several related senses, most commonly in cooking and in expressions of rapid movement. In general use, whisk can also mean to move something quickly from one place to another, or to charm someone in a swift, sweeping way.

In culinary contexts, to whisk means to beat or stir a substance rapidly with a whisk—an implement consisting of a handle with wires or strands. The goal is to incorporate air and/or form an emulsion. Different whisking goals produce different textures: whisking eggs can produce a pale, fluffy mixture; whisking cream can create soft or stiff peaks; whisking sauces can emulsify ingredients such as oil and vinegar or yolks and butter. Electric mixers or stand mixers often use whisk attachments to speed and standardize the process. The technique is typically contrasted with gentler stirring or folding, which preserves air and structure rather than introducing it.

In non-culinary usage, whisked can describe the act of moving something away quickly, as in “the waiter whisked the plates from the table.” It also appears in idiomatic expressions such as “to whisk someone off their feet,” meaning to charm or transport someone into romance or a whirlwind experience.

Etymology is uncertain, but the modern sense derives from a verb meaning to move swiftly or to cut with a quick motion, with the culinary sense solidifying in English usage over time.