"Mark Thorson" schrieb :
> Michael Kuettner wrote:
>>
>> It' a Quirl (twirling stick).
>> This tool is used for mixing batter and sauces.
>
> I did a Google image search on quirl, and all
> of the ones I saw had a much longer handle.
>
The length of the handle is immaterial since
you twirl the handle between your palms.
Modern times mass-manufactory has brought standardization;
now a Quirl is as long as a cooking spoon, although there's
no need for that.
Look at this link for pictures of other different "Quirl"s :
<http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quirl_(K%C3%BCchenger%C3%A4t)>

And those are just some of the forms a Quirl can take.

> I'm leaning toward root-vegetable masher,
> though I'm skeptical about that too.

Club the root-vegetables to death with the Quirl ? ;-)

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner