The 9 Best Flour Sifters Of 2023
You're just one sift away from light and airy desserts.
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Whether or not you choose to sift flour is a deeply personal choice. Once a must-follow step in any baking recipe, these days the verdict is out as to whether it's actually necessary. And yet, the bakers who sift swear by the practice, saying that can mean the difference between a lumpy, dense cake and a fluffy, airy, dreamy, cloud-like cake that'll have guests raving. Is it worth the risk to not sift? Our two cents: It can never hurt.
Our top picks
Are sifters worth it?
If you're in the pro-sift camp, absolutely! While you don't need one for every recipe that calls for flour, they do help to break up dense clumps and make measuring much more accurate, which can lead to a better texture in dessert, breads. and other dishes. (For what it's worth, the anti-sift crowd says most commercially available flours aren't as clump-prone as they used to be.) You can also use sifters to dust powdered sugar on top of cakes or over lattes.
How we chose these products
We wanted to find an array of different types of flour sifters that would fit everyone's needs. So we reached out to baking bloggers for their favorite sifters, since we know they're sifting a lot. We also asked chefs what sifters they use both in their professional kitchens and when baking at home. Finally, we scoured the internet for the favorite sifters of at-home bakers. From sifters with hand cranks and handles, to sieve baskets, battery-operated sifters, and duster wands, it turns out there is a flour sifter for everyone. With these sifters, you'll be whipping tempting chocolate cakes, tender breads, decadent cookies, and adorable cupcake recipes in no time.
Pros
- Hand crank prevents clumps
- Large capacity
Cons
"This is the ideal sifter," said Adeyemi Allen, chef at the The Varsity Club in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. "As you turn the rotary, it breaks up the lumps so there is no waste, and it also is good for powdered sugar." With an eight-cup capacity, it holds a ton of flour and the super fine mesh yields the softest, most sifted flour you've ever seen.
Norpro Rotary Hand Crank Flour Sifter
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Small capacity
If you want a sifter that's a little bit smaller, but still has a rotary hand crank that makes sifting easy, try out this one from Norpro. It has almost 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon that gush about how it's great for arthritic hands, has a smooth crank, and banishes clumps.
Snowyee Flour Sifter with Hand Press
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
With this model, instead of turning a handle, you squeeze the hand press and it pushes the flour through the layer of mesh. It's less bulky than crank-style sifters and takes a little less movement to make work. "It does a proper sifting job with much less hand fatigue," this reviewer said. "Most importantly, it does NOT squeak!"
KitchenAid Sifter and Scale Attachment
Pros
- Electric
Cons
- Must own a KitchenAid stand mixer
- Learning curve
“The flour sifter and scale attachment for the KitchenAid mixer is ingenious and innovative," said Tonya Council, chef, baker, and owner of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based cookie shop Tonya's Cookies. "It takes the tedium out of standing over a bowl and slowly dumping flour into it. It weighs, sifts and chutes the flour into the mixing bowl for you. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get used to it, it's like having another pair of hands."
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Large basket
Cons
"I use this for everrrrrrything," said Vallery Lomas, winner of the never-aired season of The Great American Baking Show and cookbook author. "It’s super versatile. I use it for sifting cake flour, powdered sugar, or cocoa. But I also use it to strain pasta! Or strain lemon curd. It’s small, stores easily, and is easy to clean."
"I love a tool that can multitask and that is certainly true when it comes to strainers! Food52 has this set of 3 in different sizes which are all great for different applications," said Izy Hossack of the baking blog Top with Cinnamon. "I prefer this over a mechanical flour sifter as the wide diameter of mesh means that sifting those dry ingredients together is super quick."
Pros
- Automatically sifts with a push of a button
Cons
- Must be careful when washing
If sifting a ton of flour is in your future (that's what makes the best macarons), a battery-operated sifter can save you a lot of time. With the push of a button, you can sift through four cups of flour at a time. Reviewers love that it's easy to use and quiet.
OXO Good Grips Baker’s Dusting Wand
Pros
- Great for detail work
- Small size
Cons
When you're putting the final touches on an elegant dessert or just want a sprinkle of cinnamon on your coffee, getting out a big, clunky sifter seems like waaay to much work. That's why this dusting wand is perfect for sifting small amounts of sugar, flour, or spices. "It's very useful if you want to do some detail work or add just a little bit of powdered sugar and not use a big sifter or other device," this reviewer said.
Meirrnyyu Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainers
Pros
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
Cons
If you're sifting a ton of flour, it might be best to use a sifter like this. It's similar to the basket-style sifters, but with its flat mesh and high sides, sifting through flour is little less messy. Reviewers note that it's great for sifting out bran from freshly-milled flour.
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