Comments: The thing about neckties is, you buy them and you wear them, and maybe at some point one becomes a favorite. The look, the fabric, how well it ties, and various intangibles become important. There is no way of knowing at point or purchase whether this particular tie will be worn more than once or whether it is destined for neckwear greatness. Clearly it is a matter of personal preference*.

How is a whisk like a necktie, you ask? It, too, may or may not become a favorite. And in our experience, it is the sort of thing you only find out over time. (Our favorite whisk of all time was used so thoroughly that its wires broke off one by one. We still loved it when it was down to two loops…).

Now you may think whisks are all alike, just varying in size. You would be wrong, wrong, wrong, because, unlike neckties, you can often perceive the differences right off. We have received at least five different whisks in the last month to review, all of which are incredibly different. Some are big and stiff, with extra little loops for beating in more air. Some have silicone on only some of the wires. Some are essentially flat. Well, as we review more of them, you'll see their differences.

This Silicone Tornado Whisk is as different as they come – thin, multi-colored-silicone-covered wires in a tornado shape, with a heavy, but thin, waterproof stainless-steel handle, and a substantial hanging ring at the top. Because of the silicone, the whisk is safe for cast-iron or nonstick surfaces. The flat bottom is ideal for covering large surfaces of shallow skillets or roasting pans, and the wires blend the ingredients by pulling them in from all sides to the center. Because of the flat bottom, it will stand up straight in a pan (or anywhere else). It is not a stiff whisk, if that is what you're looking for.

As far as packaging goes (of which there was none), we actually had a dickens of a time getting one little label off.

The more we use this whisk – and for some reason we are drawn to it – the more we think it is destined to become one of our favorites.

*This is according to a very small and totally unscientific survey we conducted – but we totally stand by the results!