“What do I do if a recipe calls for sifted flour and I don’t have a sifter?”
Don’t worry. You don’t need to run to the store for a new gadget if you don’t own a sifter. In fact, I’ve found an alternative to traditional sifters that I like even better!
Why do I need to sift flour?
One reason a recipe may call for flour or dry ingredients to be sifted is to remove lumps. As flour and other dry ingredients sit on pantry shelves, they can settle and form large clumps, even in an airtight container. Getting those lumps out helps the batter turn out smooth and gives the best results in baking.
Another main reason some recipes call for sifting is to add air to the dry ingredients, so they become light, fluffy, and easier to mix into batters like cake batter.
What are the types of traditional sifters?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.
There are two main types of traditional sifters: manual crank sifters and manual squeeze sifters. They were staples in my mom’s kitchen, but I realized I didn’t have one when I needed to sift dry ingredients for a layer cake I was making the other day!
Ways to sift without a sifter
There are several ways to sift flour without a sifter that give similar results. Here are the most common methods, which also work with other dry ingredients like confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa powder.
1. Use a fine-mesh strainer
The easiest way to sift flour without a sifter is with a fine-mesh strainer. Set it over a large bowl and pour in the flour (or whatever dry ingredient you’re sifting). Gently shake the strainer back and forth and side to side over the bowl. As the flour passes through the fine mesh, it becomes delicate and fine. Press any small clumps that collect in the strainer with the back of a wooden spoon to break them up.
I find a large fine-mesh strainer is the fastest way to sift dry ingredients, and it’s much easier than a clunky sifter. I actually picked up the idea while watching a professional chef on TV. Another advantage is that it’s much easier to clean.
2. Use a balloon whisk
If you don’t have a sifter or a fine strainer, here’s a kitchen hack: use a wire whisk.
Simply whisk the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. The wires of the whisk break up the larger particles and add air all at the same time.
Shop Sifter Options
(The links above are Amazon affiliate links for your shopping convenience.) I own a set of 3 fine-mesh strainers that I use often in my kitchen. The largest is perfect for sifting flour and draining pasta, and I love the smallest for dusting powdered sugar over sweet treats!
When to measure sifted flour
It can be confusing to know whether to measure flour before or after sifting it for an accurate measurement.
The recipe you’re following tells you when to measure. If it says “2 cups of flour,” it means unsifted flour, which doesn’t need any sifting at all. Most recipes these days call for all-purpose flour, which doesn’t require sifting anymore, since the flour we buy at the store has already been sifted many times during processing.
However, if a recipe calls for “2 cups sifted flour,” measure it after sifting.
Other Kitchen Hacks and Tips:
- How to freeze cake for easy icing
- Wax paper versus parchment paper
- How to use parchment paper safely in your kitchen
- How to freeze avocado (so it doesn’t spoil before you can use it!)
- How to clean an electric cooktop (Did you know the nifty trick I just discovered?)
- How to freeze mushrooms (saves time and food waste!)
- The easy way to boil water in the microwave
