Owning the best flour sifter that money can buy can come in handy more often than you think. So, before you decide to add your batter to the cake pan without sifting the flour, you may want to think twice about it.
Most of the time when a flour sifter is needed it is because the flour needs to be softer or there has to be no small or large clumps within the flour so that the batter mixes evenly. But a flour sifter can be used for so much more than just making your flour softer. It will also work on just about any other type of dry ingredient as well that needs to be sifted through the clumps.
Flour sifters also come in many different forms, shapes, sizes and types. Each of these will suit one person better than the others so it is best to make sure you know what you will be using your flour sifter for before leaping for a new purchase as well.
In this article, we will go over some of the different types of flour sifters as well as what to look for when making a new purchase for one. We will also go over some of the best models that are currently available for purchase on the market today and which one may be the best fit for you and your needs.
How to Choose The Best Flour Sifter
Flour sifters are a lot like baking pans in the sense that one would think that you see one you have seen them all and they are just the same. But in reality, not all flour sifters and flour sieves are created equal in terms of construction, design, perks and overall operation.
Many are made from several different types of materials so it is wise to make sure that the one you decide on purchasing is going to be made from the very best materials. Some of the screens or sieves will also be finer than others making it easier to get a more evenly sifted flour in the end. Some also have multiple screens that the flour passes through as well.
There are also some machines that will be manually operated and some that are automatic or battery operated. These types of flour sifters are usually reserved for people who have a tougher time trying to rotate the crank or that may have arthritis which makes the automatic flour sifter less work on their hands and fingers.
No matter the type or the design of the flour sifter, as long as the materials are of high quality, chances are you should be just fine. But just in case, it is best to make sure that the product comes with a manufacturer guarantee or some kind of warranty to protect it in case it breaks or becomes damaged while in use or during the shipping process.
Overall you want to make sure that the product is very easy to use and very easy to clean. If the flour sifter is able to be placed in the dishwasher, this is going to be a huge bonus which makes the cleaning process seamless and much easier. Flour sifters do not really get all that dirty but if you plan on using it for all dry ingredients for something like cocoa powder then you are going to want the cleaning process to be as easy as possible.
Construction and Design
When considering the construction and design of the flour sifter or better yet the type of flour sifter you want to keep a few factors in mind. Capacity, material quality, handle and crank design and overall performance.
Most flour sifters capacity will range from one to six cups of flour that the kitchen tool can handle at one pass. The larger capacity flour sifters are usually for commercial kitchens and people who intend on making an abundance of baked goods all at once. If this is a flour sifter you plan on using at home then a capacity of no more than 3 cups should work just fine for you.
Also, keep in mind that the larger the capacity of the flour sifter then the heavier it will be once all the flour is added to it. So, if you do not have a lot of forearm strength, then a smaller capacity flour sifter may be the better option for you. It is also wise to sift flour over a large clean surface or large pan like a cookie sheet pan.
Most flour sifters are made from either plastic or metal. If you decide to go with a plastic model, then make sure the materials are of high quality and are covered by a warranty as they seem to break more often than other types.
Stainless steel is going to be the best option for you as the metal will not rust or break over time. A flour sieve will also perform better when it has been constructed from stainless steel over plastic.
Flour has a tendency to stick to plastic more often than not when compared to stainless steel. When it comes to the design of the handle, they come in two different forms which are crank and squeeze methods. The crank is more popular than the squeeze because of its high performance and it is also easier on your hands and fingers. Overall you want to make sure the handle fits in your hand comfortably and is easy to use.
Best Flour Sifters to Choose From
Norpro Battery Operated Sifter
The Best Battery-Operated Flour Sifter
The first flour sifter on our list is the best for so many reasons which may contradict what we had previously said, but sometimes you are surprised by a quality product. This flour sifter is more than affordable in cost but does not come with a warranty to protect it.
If you have arthritis or hand troubles then this is the flour sifter for you since there is no hand crank or squeeze handle to operate the sifter. Just turn it on and the sifter will turn the stainless-steel mesh screen automatically and sifter the flour for you. The sifter is constructed of high-quality plastic and take one C battery to operate it which is not included with the original purchase. It will also hold up to 5 cups of flour at once and is free of all BPA’s.
- The flour sifter contains no hand cranks and is operated automatically with the push of a button
- The flour sifter can hold up to 5 cups of flour at once
- The mesh screen is made of stainless steel and the body is constructed of high-quality plastic
- While the flour sifter is very affordable, it does not come with a warranty to protect it
Bellemain Stainless Steel 3 Cup Flour Sifter
The Best Flour Sifter for the Home Cook
This flour sifter looks great and comes in the classic design which is sleek and uniform. The flour sifter is more than affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it.
The body and screen of the flour sifter is constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time. They claim the construction is so strong that you will be using this model for 20 plus years to come. The flour sifter is very strong and lightweight and allows for up to three cups of flour to be used at once in the cavity. The hand crank is very easy to use and will not jam up like other hand cranks.it also has a double loop agitator to make sure there is no left-over flour clumps in the cavity.
- There is a double loop agitator to ensure that there are no left-over flour clumps after use
- The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time
- The kitchen tool is lightweight and easy to use with a three-cup capacity and seamless hand crank
- While the flour sifter is very cheap to buy, it does not come with a warranty to protect it
RSVP International (SIFT-5CR) Stainless Steel Crank Style Flour Sifter
The Best Commercial Kitchen Flour Sifter
Here is a flour sifter that is sure to beat all others when it comes to a large capacity. It is more than affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it.
The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel and will not rust or break over time. It is very easy to use and very easy to clean. It is even able to be placed in the dishwasher for a fast and easy cleanup process. The flour sifter can hold up to 5 cups of flour at once and will sieve the flour through the screen with ease. The hand crack is also very easy to use and is seamless, even for large amounts of flour all at once.
- The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time
- The hand crank is very easy to use and has a 5-cup capacity in the cavity
- The flour sifter is very easy to clean and is even dishwasher safe
- While it is very affordable, it does not come with a warranty to protect it
Norpro 3-Cup Stainless Steel Rotary Hand Crank Flour Sifter
The Best Budget Flour Sifter
This flour sifter is probably the cheapest on the list and will still work great for any kitchen type. It is more than affordable but does not come protected by a warranty. The entire body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel and include a classic style hand crank which is smooth and easy to use.
The flour sifter can hold up to 3 cups of flour at once and has markings on the inside and outside of the can for capacity. There is also a double wire agitator so there are no wasted flour clumps left behind.
- The flour sifter can hold up to 3 cups of flour and has markings on the inside and outside of the can for capacity
- The body and mesh screen are made of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time
- The hand crank is easy to use and it has a double wire agitator which leaves no clumps behind
- While the kitchen tool is very inexpensive, there is no warranty to protect it
OXO Good Grips 3 Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
The Innovative Flour Sifter
This flour sifter works a little bit different than the rest of the flour sifter as all you have to do is fill it up and shake it back and forth to feed the flour through the mesh screen. The flour sifter is a little more expensive than other models and does not come with a warranty to protect it.
The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel so it won’t break or rust over time and the there is a plastic lid that covers the cavity so no flour escapes when the flour is being sifted. The handle is made of plastic and is very comfortable to hold and use. Cleanup is also very easy as it is dishwasher safe in the top rack.
- The flour sifter works by filling it up and shaking it from side to side
- The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break easily
- The flour sifter is dishwasher safe
- The kitchen tool is somewhat expensive when compared to others and does not come protected by a warranty
Vollum Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
The High-Volume Flour Sifter
This next flour sifter is actually called a flour sieve as it has a completely different design. To use it, just place flour in the cake pan shape sifter and shake it back and forth to send the flour through the mesh screen. It is a little more expensive and does not come with a warranty to protect it.
The flour sieve is constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time and the mesh screen is a fine 22-gauge thickness to produce a very fine sifted flour. It has been constructed to fit other cake pans and flour sifters for a smoother process of sifting as well.
The flour sieve is easy to use and clean as it is dishwasher safe and will hold plenty of flour at once. It can be a messy process when sifting the flour though and may create a bigger mess than you expected in the long run of things.
- The flour sieve and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time
- The flour sieve is very easy to use and easy to clean as it can be placed in the dishwasher
- The mesh screen is 22-gauge fineness and works by just moving the flour sieve back and forth
- The flour sieve is quite expensive and does not come with a warranty to protect it
- It can create quite a big mess when in use
Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Hand Squeeze Flour Sifter
The Best Squeeze Handle Flour Sifter
Although a squeeze handle flour sifter can become tiresome when in use and start to hurt your hand over lots of use. It does come in handy for a finer and more precise action of smaller and finer tuned sifting actions like decorating.
This flour sifter is very affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The body and mesh screen are constructed of stainless steel which will not break or rust over time. The squeeze handle has a comfortable grip and is easy to use for short periods of time. The flour sifter is sturdy and durable and will agitate all clumps leaving nothing behind.
- The flour sifter works well for more finer tuned sifting processes like decorating or sifting powdered sugar
- The flour sifter is constructed of stainless steel which will not rust or break over time
- The agitator is sturdy and durable which will not leave any flour clumps behind in the cavity when used
- While the flour sifter is very affordable, there is no warranty to protect it
- Since this model has a squeeze handle, it can prove troublesome for the hands if used for longer periods of time
Conclusion
So, when it comes to purchasing the right flour sifter for you, remember to first know how much you will use it and how much flour you will need to pass through it. Don’t get a squeeze handle flour sifter if you need to sift a lot of flour and don’t buy a large flat flour sieve if you only need to do a little bit of flour sifting. Make sure the flour sifter is easy to use overall and won’t break your pocketbook at the same time and you will be just fine.
