How To Sift Flour

Learn how to sift flour in this easy baking tutorial! I’ll teach you how to sift flour easily – even if you don’t own a sifter! Sifting your flour will result in tender cakes and more evenly baked goods.

 

I know you may be thinking that if you see the step of sifting in a recipe it’s something you can skip over. You may be tempted to skip, but promise me you won’t! Sifting is a crucial step in many baking recipes – like my angel food cake recipe, or a fluffy sponge cake, or perfect pancakes for Sunday morning.

Sifting flour is a fundamental technique in baking that can make a world of difference in your final product. Properly sifted flour ensures a smoother texture and more consistent results.

In this easy baking guide, I’ll go over all the the ins and outs of sifting flour, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. Plus, I’ll show you how to sift flour with a sifter and even without one, so you can achieve baking perfection every time.

See Also:

• Shortening can be a tricky ingredient to measure! Learn how to measure shortening 4 easy ways in this post!
• Get room temperature eggs fast so you can start your baking recipe now and you don’t have to wait!
• If you need buttermilk but you’re fresh out, make homemade buttermilk easily with just a few simple ingredients.

Why Sift Flour?

Before diving into the how-to’s, let’s take a moment to understand why sifting flour is crucial in baking. Flour has a tendency to clump together and compact during storage, which can result in lumps and uneven distribution of ingredients in your batter or dough.

Sifting flour not only aerates it, removing any lumps or impurities, but also helps to evenly distribute ingredients like baking powder, baking soda, and salt, ensuring a uniform texture and rise in your baked goods.

How to Sift Flour with a Sifter

Using a sifter is the most traditional and efficient way to sift flour. Follow these simple steps to achieve perfectly sifted flour:

1. Preparation: Begin by assembling your ingredients and equipment. You’ll need your flour, a sifter, a bowl or a clean surface for sifting onto, and your recipe.
2. Measure Flour: Measure out the amount of flour required for your recipe using a measuring cup or scale. It’s important to measure accurately to maintain the proper balance of ingredients.
3. Fill the Sifter: Pour the measured flour into the sifter, filling it no more than two-thirds full. Overfilling can cause the flour to spill over the sides and make a mess. Nobody wants that!
4. Sifting: Hold the sifter over your bowl or clean surface and gently tap or shake it in a back-and-forth motion. The flour will pass through the mesh screen, aerating and removing any lumps as it falls.
5. Repeat if Necessary: If your recipe calls for sifted flour multiple times, repeat the process until you’ve achieved the desired amount.
6. Use Sifted Flour: Once sifted, your flour is ready to use in your recipe. Proceed with mixing your ingredients according to your recipe’s instructions. How easy was that?

How to Sift Flour Without a Sifter

Don’t worry if you don’t have a sifter on hand – there are alternative methods to sift flour using common kitchen tools. Here’s how:

1. Whisk Method: A whisk can be a handy substitute for a sifter. Simply place your flour in a bowl and use a whisk to vigorously stir and aerate the flour. Continue whisking until the flour is light and fluffy, with no lumps remaining.
2. Fine Mesh Sieve: This is my preferred tool and method! If you have a fine mesh sieve or strainer, you can use it to sift flour. Place the sieve over a bowl or clean surface, then add the flour to the sieve. Gently tap or shake the sieve to sift the flour through the mesh, removing any lumps in the process.
3. Fork Method: For a quick and simple alternative, use a fork to sift flour. Place the flour in a bowl and use the tines of a fork to break up any lumps and aerate the flour. Continue stirring until the flour is light and fluffy.
4. Manual Shaking: If you’re in a pinch, you can even sift flour by manually shaking it through a fine mesh strainer or even a clean kitchen towel. Simply hold the strainer or towel over a bowl or clean surface and shake the flour through, breaking up any lumps as you go.

Sift, then measure or measure then sift?

There’s often confusion about whether to sift flour before or after measuring it. Here’s the difference between the two methods:

1. Sifting then Measuring: This method involves sifting the flour first to aerate it and remove any lumps, then measuring out the required amount. Sifting before measuring ensures a more accurate measurement and a lighter texture in your baked goods.
2. Measuring then Sifting: In this method, you measure out the flour first, then sift it to aerate and remove any lumps. While this method can work in some recipes, it may result in a denser texture if the flour becomes compacted during measuring.

How can you tell the difference will depend on how the recipe is written. Here is an example to follow:

• 2 cups sifted flour – This means sift first, then measure the flour after.
• 2 cups flour, sifted – Measure first, then sift after.

How to Store Flour

Proper storage of flour is essential for maintaining its freshness and quality. Follow these tips to store flour properly:

1. Cool, Dry Place: Store flour in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. A pantry or cupboard is an ideal location.
2. Airtight Container: Transfer flour to an airtight container or resealable bag to prevent moisture and pests from getting in.
3. Label and Date: If you buy flour in bulk or transfer it to a different container, be sure to label it with the type of flour and the date of purchase or transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions