How To Sift and Measure Flour (2024)

FAQs

How To Sift and Measure Flour? ›

If your recipe reads “1 cup flour, sifted”, spoon flour into a measuring cup level to the rim and then sift. If your recipe reads “1 cup sifted flour”, spoon flour directly into the sifting tool and sift over the measuring cup and level off the flour at the rim.

The answer to this question usually depends on the recipe's grammar: If the recipe calls for "2 cups sifted flour," you should sift the flour into a bowl, then measure it. However, if the recipe calls for "2 cups flour, sifted," you should measure the flour first, then sift it.

There is a big difference in the weight or amount of flour. 1 cup flour, sifted means you put the flour into the cup and then sift it. 1 cup sifted flour means to set the cup on a counter and sift the flour into the cup until it mounds above the top.

Why You Should Sift Flour. Putting your flour through a sifter will break up any lumps in the flour, which means you can get a more accurate measurement. Sifted flour is also much lighter and airier than unsifted flour and is easier to mix into other ingredients when making batters and doughs.

Williams says there are very few times when it wouldn't be beneficial to sift dry goods. However, there is one recipe where you can skip this step. "You will never see sifting flour for tempura batter in a recipe," she says. Tempura batter is a light and airy batter made with just flour and seltzer water.

Today, most flour is pre-sifted – regardless of whether the bag is specifically labeled as such or not. In the off chance that it's not pre-sifted, you can rest assured that it'll be finely ground and smooth because the modern-day flour-making technique is more sophisticated than it once was.

All-purpose flour, 1 cup sifted.

Substitute with 1 cup unsifted all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons; or 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour. Equivalent1 pound = 4 cups sifted or 3 1/3 cups unsifted.

The spring action operating the two agitators tends to be a bit slower than the single agitator models and to require more strength. The three screens also present more of a cleanup problem. It is best not to wash any sifter (the water would turn some of the flour into glue, clogging the holes).

Fine-mesh strainer: A strainer (or sieve) is a circular gadget with a finely woven mesh net used for straining liquids such as stocks or juice. It also works really well for sifting flour. Just pour your dry ingredients in it and gently tap the side with one hand.

This step is very important. Read your recipe and if it says “1 cup sifted flour”, you're going to sift before you measure. If it says “1 cup flour, sifted” you will sift after measuring.

What is the most accurate way to measure all purpose flour? ›

The most accurate way to measure flour is with a digital scale. It removes the guesswork and will help you achieve consistent baking results. All of our recipes assume 1 cup = 120g (or 4.25 oz.) of flour.

Scoop up a mound of flour with a standard dinner spoon. Give the spoon a gentle shake, so the excess flour falls off the mound. Dinner spoons are also known as soup spoons. Measure out about 15.5 tbsp (121 g) of flour to get approximately 1 cup (120 g) of flour.

Sift the flour before measuring to remove lumps. - This statement is true because sifting the flour helps to remove any lumps and aerates the flour, making it easier to measure accurately.

Flour settles easily, becoming tightly packed inside a bag or jar. In order to make sure you're not scooping up packed flour, you should fluff it up with a spoon or fork before you measure it. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup. Gently pile it in until it forms a heap above the rim of the measuring cup.

1 Cup of Flour in Grams: 120 g (4.25 oz) 2 Cup of Flour in Grams: 240 g (8.5 oz) 3 Cup of Flour in Grams: 360 g (12.75 oz)

Sifting flour adds air, which gives the flour more volume. That's why it's important to follow the directions when measuring. First off, you should be using a scale to measure your ingredients, says Stankiewicz. But often a recipe is written not by weight but with cups and teaspoons.