From omelets to pastries, sweet to savory, the use of whipped egg whites can add volume and give soft peaks to a variety of recipes. But whipping egg whites can be an annoying task if you don’t have the right tool. Using a blender can make everything a lot easier, so you might want to use the blender for whipping eggs. But can you whip egg whites in a blender though? Yes and no. Let’s dig deep into the right answer.
What Happens When You Whip Egg Whites?
Typically, egg whites are made up of 90% water and 10% protein. When you whip the egg whites, the air incorporates with the protein and water which extends the volume of ingredients and creates a light and delicate texture. Perfectly whipped egg whites are the secret ingredient for sweet fluffy meringues, moist cakes, mousses, and soufflé.
Egg whites generally reach four different peaks (or stages) when you whip them. They are:
- Foamy Peak: This is the first stage of whipping egg white where the egg whites have only been lightly beaten. The liquids of the egg whites will have comparatively bigger bubbles and will look clear. Some popular egg white foam recipes would be – meringues, mousses, cocktails, soufflés, etc.
- Soft Peak: At this stage, the egg white turns white and cloud-like. You will know that you’ve made it to the soft peak stage when the mixture will hold its shape in the bowl before bunching together again and will not slide out of the bowl if you tilt it slightly.
- Stiff Peak: When you continue beating the egg whites for half a minute more it will reach to stiff peak stage. At this stage, the texture turns thicker and firmer and reaches to fullest volume. You will notice that the egg whites in the bowl look a bit glossy and moist. You should not beat the whites any longer than this peak.
- Overbeaten Peak: If you beat the egg whites past the stiff peak, they will lose their moist look and take a dry and dull texture. The whites will become grainy and chunky and won’t be suitable for any use.
But how can you whip egg whites in a blender?
Can You Whip Egg Whites in a Blender? Why is it Yes and No?
Even though a blender can help to beat egg whites, it’s not always the right idea to use the blender for it. This is because the egg whites become too soft in the blender. However, in case you overbeat the egg white, it will become sticky and grainy and this is not suitable for any recipe.
Yet, many professional chefs use blenders for beating egg whites because it’s a more fast and more efficient way. Furthermore, if you own a blender with varying speeds, you can use it to beat egg whites for as long as you are acquainted with alternating speeds. Hence, you can begin blending at the lowest speed setting in order to avoid any risks.
What Happens When You Whip Egg Whites in a Blender?
Can you whip egg whites in a blender?
Let’s be real here…
Instead of asking ‘can I use a blender to whip egg white’ you should ask ‘should you use a blender to whip egg white’. Why’s that – you ask?
A blender is just not the right tool that should be used to whip eggs. The blades of the blender are far too powerful and too fast for this job. Moreover, you should avoid using a blender for a small portion of egg whites.
We’ve discussed the different stages of whipping egg whites earlier. Using a blender for whipping the whites gives you little control over the consistency. You may run the risk of overbeating the whites in a blender and that’s why a huge amount of protein will be wasted.
How Can You Whip Egg Whites in a Blender – Starter Guide
If you’re left with no other option but to beat the egg whites in the blender, you should do it with extra care. Additionally, it’s not as easy as blending smoothies in the blender if you want to maintain the consistency of the egg whites. Follow the steps below to find out the answer to your question “Can you whip egg whites in a blender” –
- Step 1: Start by isolating egg whites from egg yolks. Once you’ve got your egg whites separated, add only the whites to the blender. Make sure to clean the blender before tossing the whites into it. Turn the blender on and switch it to the lowest speed setting.
- Step 2: Different blenders have different speed settings, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the blending process at all times to avoid overbeating.
- Step 3: According to the recipe, add ingredients like sugar or salt to the whites while the blender is running. Make sure to add the ingredient when the whites reach the soft peak stage.
- Step 4: After a while, you’ll notice the glossy and firm look of the egg whites which means that they have gained the right consistency.
Can You Whip Egg White with a Hand Blender?
When it comes to choosing the right blender for beating egg whites, many people have the question “can I use hand blender to whip egg white?”. Yes, you can definitely use a hand blender (also known as Immersion Blender) to whip egg whites when you don’t have a whisk or a mixer. Yet, can you whip egg whites in a blender of such kind without any issues?
Immersion blenders offer much more versatility and functionality than a mixer or whisk. In fact, they can perform as smoothly as the other machines when it comes to whipping egg whites.
Nevertheless, there are still chances of overbeating with a hand blender. Hence, follow the above steps for whipping egg whites with immersion blenders too to reduce the risks.
Can You Whip Egg White in a NutriBullet?
Can you whip egg whites in a blender, specifically a NutriBullet? You can use a hand blender for whipping egg whites you’d assume using a NutriBullet would be fine too, right? Sure, whipping egg whites shouldn’t be a tough job as NutriBullets can even blend ice! But that’s not the case here.
Even though a NutriBullet blender is capable of whipping egg whites, it’s advisable NOT to use this kitchen equipment on the first try. In contrast, if you’re well equipped with using a NutriBullet blender for whipping egg whites you must make sure that you don’t overwhip or spill your egg whites. Additionally, the use of the lowest speed setting is recommended for this blender too.
How Long to Beat Egg White for Stiff Peaks
Stiff egg whites are usually the most useful and desired result for most bakers. However, beating egg whites to stiff peaks form is pretty crucial and it can have a great impact on your baking.
For this, you’ll have to know how long to whip egg whites as different machines require different time duration.
- Usually, after 8-9 minutes of constant whipping in a hand mixer, you will get the firm and glossy texture of egg whites.
- By choosing the lowest speed setting in a blender, the soft peak can be achieved after 5-6 minutes of blending the egg whites.
Can You Beat Egg Whites by Hand?
Of course, a blender is not the right equipment for beating egg whites. Moreover, it’s fast and easy and doesn’t use many watts to blend ingredients that’s why professional chefs prefer the blender for this task.
Egg whites are a very soft ingredient. So if you don’t have any machine available, you can just use your hands to do the job. Even though it might tire your arms but it’s still the cheapest and most effective method.
When you use your hand to beat eggs, you can keep a closer eye on the progress and there’s no chance of overbeating the eggs.
Here’s how you can beat the egg whites by hand:
- Use a Fork
It might seem a bit unrealistic to use forks for beating eggs. Yet, it’s one of the most viable options when working with a small number of egg whites.
Stirring the egg whites briskly in a bowl with a fork can give you the right consistency for the right recipe. For better results, maintain the circular motion at a consistent pace while whipping. Keep on whipping the whites with a fork until you find the desired texture.
The only drawback of using a fork is that it takes way too long – around 30 minutes! If you have that much time, you should go for it.
- Use a Balloon Whisk
A balloon whisk can be an easier technique than a fork. Almost all of us have this tool in our kitchen. Moreover, a clean balloon whisk with many thin wires would be perfect for this task.
It should take 12-18 minutes to reach the perfect consistency for your egg whites.
Final Thoughts – Can You Whip Egg Whites in a Blender
We’ve constantly exemplified the vast functionality of blenders in our other blogs. So, can you whip egg whites in a blender too? Although your blender can whip egg whites (don’t doubt the power of a blender), you would rather not use it if you aim for better results.
However, if you do end up using a blender for whipping eggs, follow the right process mentioned earlier.
