Alright, let’s talk about this flour sifter thing, ya know, the thingy you use to make the flour all nice and fluffy for bakin’ them good ol’ biscuits. I ain’t no fancy baker, but I know a thing or two about gettin’ the job done right.
What’s a Flour Sifter Anyway?
Well, it’s like a strainer, but for flour. You put the flour in, crank it or shake it, and it gets rid of all them clumps and bugs and whatever else might be hidin’ in there. Makes your cakes and pies lighter and fluffier, not all heavy and gummy like.
Different Kinds of Flour Sifters
- Crank ones: These are the ones you gotta crank. Like an old-timey music box, but for flour. They work good, real easy to use. My old one lasted me near ’bout twenty years, till my grandson got his hands on it and broke the handle. Kids these days, always breakin’ stuff.
- Shaky ones: These you just shake. Like shakin’ a baby rattle, but bigger and with flour in it. They ain’t as fancy, but they get the job done. If you got a weak wrist, maybe stick to the crank ones.
Mesh Size – What’s the Big Deal?
Now, this mesh size thing, that’s somethin’ I didn’t pay much attention to at first. But let me tell ya, it matters! You want a flour sifter with a fine mesh, like a 50 mesh. That’s what the fella at the store told me, and he seemed to know his stuff.
What does that 50 mesh mean? Well, it’s how many little holes are in a square inch of that screen. The higher the number, the finer the holes, the smoother your flour gets. Think of it like this: a 50 mesh is like a nice, tight window screen that keeps the skeeters out, but a 20 mesh is like a chicken wire fence—bigger holes, let’s things through that shouldn’t. You don’t want big chunks in your cake, do ya? So, get that 50 mesh.
Stainless Steel is Best
And get yourself a stainless steel one. Don’t go buyin’ that cheap plastic stuff. It’ll break on ya, and then you’ll be right back where you started. Stainless steel is strong, it won’t rust, and it’ll last ya a good long time. I learned that the hard way, had a plastic one crack on me mid-baking. Flour everywhere, what a mess! Spent the whole afternoon cleaning up.
How to Use a Flour Sifter
So, how do you use this thing? It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. Just put your flour in, and crank or shake. That’s it. Some folks say you gotta sift the flour more than once, but I ain’t got time for that. Once is usually enough for me. If you’re makin’ somethin’ real fancy, maybe sift it twice. But for everyday bakin’, once is just fine. But remember this, measure your flour after sifting, not before. Otherwise your cake may turn out too dry and then ain’t no body gonna like it.
Why Sift Flour Anyways?
Now you might be thinkin’, “Why bother with all this siftin’?” Well, let me tell ya, it makes a difference. Siftin’ gets rid of them lumps, makes the flour lighter, and gets air in it. That air is what makes your cakes and biscuits light and fluffy. Nobody wants a heavy, dense biscuit, am I right? You want biscuits that melt in your mouth!
Cleanin’ Your Flour Sifter
And when you’re done, don’t forget to clean it. Just tap it out good, and if it’s really gunky, wash it with some soapy water. Let it dry real good before you put it away, or it’ll get rusty. Ain’t nothin’ worse than a rusty flour sifter. You don’t want rust gettin in your food!
Final thoughts
So there you have it, the lowdown on flour sifters. It ain’t complicated, just get yourself a good one, use it right, and you’ll be bakin’ up a storm in no time. And don’t forget, 50 mesh and stainless steel. You remember that, and you’ll be golden. Now go on and bake somethin’ good, I’m gettin’ hungry just talkin’ about it!
Don’t break the bank
Now listen here, you don’t need to spend a whole lot of money on one of these things. There are plenty of good sifters out there that won’t break the bank. I got mine on sale, and it works just fine. Just look around, compare prices, and you’ll find somethin’ that fits your budget.
Where to buy one
You can find flour sifters just about anywhere. The general store in town, the big box stores, and even online. Me, I like to buy things in person, so I can see what I’m getting. But if you like ordering online, that’s fine too. Just make sure you read the reviews before you buy. You don’t want to get stuck with a piece of junk.
Tags: [flour sifter, baking tools, mesh size, stainless steel, kitchenware, baking tips, sifting flour, cooking supplies]
