batir
verbCEFR B1
What does “batir” mean in English?
to whisk / to beat
to whisk / to beat (in cooking: mix rapidly to incorporate air or emulsify) — batir los huevos, batir la nata
Example sentences
Bate la nata fría a velocidad alta hasta que forme picos firmes y no caiga al girar el bol.
Whisk the cold cream at high speed until it forms stiff peaks and does not fall when you turn the bowl.
En esta receta hay que batir los huevos separados: primero las yemas con el azúcar y luego las claras a punto de nieve.
In this recipe you need to beat the eggs separately: first the yolks with the sugar and then the whites to stiff peaks.
How to use it
Batir means 'to beat' or 'to whisk' in cooking contexts — the action of rapidly mixing ingredients to incorporate air or combine textures. Key collocates: batir los huevos, batir la nata, batir hasta que... (whisk until...). Outside cooking, batir has other senses (to beat/defeat in sport, to smash a record) but at B1 the food context predominates in this scene.
Common mistake
Batir is more vigorous than mezclar (to mix) or remover (to stir). Use batir when the goal is to aerate or emulsify — eggs, cream, cake batter. Mezclar is for gentle combining; remover is for stirring a sauce without breaking it down. English 'beat' and 'whisk' are both batir in Spanish.