To Sift, Or Not To Sift?

Some recipes, like cakes, call for sifted flour. Unlike countries that use metric weights in grams, U.S. recipes use cups. One cups of sifted flour does not equal 1 cup of four sifted. In both cases, it aerates and removes clumps of flour. But, the weight of sifted flour is less than unsifted flour. More flour can contribute to tough dry cakes.

Sifting ingredients does not mean you must invest in a sifter. A large sieve can serve as a sifter when needed.

In this video:

• Reasons for sifting. 00:37
• Why sift flour and sugar? 1:57
• When to sift. 2:30
• Use a sieve for sifting. 3:11