Forum: cooking.stackexchange.com
Tags: <equipment><cream><whipped-cream>
Title: Whipped cream without a mixer?
Question: Is it possible to make whipped cream without a power mixer? How? Can it be made with a stick blender?

Answers:
sents: text: Whipped cream was made for centuries before the mixer was invented.
text: :)
text: You can do it with simply a balloon whisk.
text: Things that may help though: Very cold cream (not freezing)
text: Very cold bowl and whisk
text: (put them in the freezer for 20 minutes prior to using) Copper bowl
text: The process is simply to start slow until you see bubbles form, then speed up until you see the whisk begin to leave trails in the cream, then go full speed ahead until just before it starts to look soft and billowy.
text: At this point you can add your sugar and continue whipping until thickens and firms up to form soft peaks.
text: Advice
text: : Buy a hand-mixer at least!
text: :)
text: Update
text: - Yes you can whip it with a stick blender.
text: I would be careful to avoid over- whipping with this method though.
text: It might be easy to over-do it, and you'll start to make butter.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/60/hobodave
score: 26
sents: text: Put cream in a small plastic bag.
text: Fill with air, twist to close.
text: Shake.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/1547/Esben Skov Pedersen
score: 9
sents: text: (responding to the update)
text: Yes, it can be made with a stick blender
text: , I had a roommate who used to do it all the time.
text: He had a tall, narrow container, not that that much wider than the paddle on the blender, and he'd just stick the blender in, move it around a bit, and it'd be done pretty quickly.
text: (it's been 10+ years, so I don't remember the exact time.)
text: Come to think of it ...
text: I can't remember him using that blender for anything other than whipped cream.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/67/Joe
score: 3
sents: text: I've made it once by hand, with a whisk.
text: Like others, I had a sore wrist afterwards.
text: I do it all the time with a cheap stick blender because I'm lazy.
text: I especially like it for making a small amount.
text: I try to use a bowl which is about as wide as it is deep - deep enough to keep the cream from spilling, wide enough to move the stick blender around.
text: The problem I've found with using the stick blender is that once the cream starts to thicken, you have to be extra-careful to stir the cream around.
text: The blender will happily give you a dollop of whipped cream in the middle of a bowl of mostly runny stuff.
text: So every few seconds I shake off the cream that's stuck to the blender and stir the whole bowl a bit.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/266/Ward - Reinstate Monica
score: 3
sents: text: Another option is to put the cream in a well-sealed jar (i.e. a mason jar) and shake it up and down into it reaches the desired consistency.
text: There is a risk of over-shaking and ending up with fresh butter, but if you're paying attention you should be safe.
text: It takes a few minutes and some arm strength, but it's not too bad.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/2251/In the Booley House
score: 3
sents: text: It is possible with a whisk or fork, but your arm might fall off before it thickens up :) Using a cold bowl and utensils (put it in freezer for a little while first) will help.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/363/Josh Stodola
score: 1
sents: text: Do you have a food processor?
text: Whipping cream in my trusty Cuisinart is easy-peasy.
text: Put on the regular blade, pour in some cold heavy cream, turn it on for 20-30 seconds, et voila!
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/948/ant
score: 1
sents: text: You can use a pressurized nitrous oxide dispenser .
text: They're a little pricey for casual home use, though.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/613/Kenster
score: 1
sents: text: Alternatively, you can use a whip cream siphon.
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/2402/mouviciel
score: 0
sents: text: Coincidentally, I saw this video a couple weeks ago that altered my world: you can make it in a cocktail shaker, using the spring from a bar strainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5t3hZfMQiU
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/1415/franko
score: 0
sents: text: I saw it done on a program called "New Scandinavian Cooking!
text: The Swedish chef made whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top of a glazier by placing whipping cream and sugar in a zip lock bag blowing air into the bag then sealing it then after shaking and squishing the bag for a few minutes...
text: Voila" whipped cream!!!
answer_details: author: cooking.stackexchange.com/users/31373/John
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
A stick blender will work, but you can also use a balloon whisk or shake it in a mason jar. A pressurised nitrous oxide dispenser or a food processor also works well.
Traditionally, whipped cream is made by hand using a whisk. You can also use a hand blender or a food processor.