Dang it! I waited forever for my new 8-cup stainless steel sifter to come in. It finally did. I like that it is so big, and it is made of quality materials.... but... it barely sifts!! The blades are too far away from the mesh. It doesn't push much stuff through, and it is hard to get your fingers in to help it because it has four blades. It's faster with my old tin 1.5 cup! Really!

I bought this particular one because it got good ratings at cooking dot com. At amazon they didn't have many ratings on their models. Geez.

Anyone recommend a particular brand? fI know some of you use sieves, but I don't have any luck with that. Maybe mine is not big enough.

I use a metal strainer! Works great, they come in a variety of sizes, and my hand doesn't hurt after I'm done sifting!

Oh great question!!

I bought a small one from ikea and it broke the second time I used it. So now I have to buy another one. (or a strainer...lol)

I use a great big metal strainer too -- cheap from the hardware store of all places! I had the same issue with the other sifters (the crank kind) -- the blades are too far away from the strainer so it won't sift...

Then I'm returning the cursed thing and going after the biggest strainer I can find. Enough!!

Thanks for your input.

My sifter isn't very old, but the first time I sifted CS for icing it didn't take long and I was tired of it real quick. I got out my metal strainer and now I use it every time. I can sift a lot more at one time and my hand doesn't get tired.

In our Australian range of Tupperware we have a plastic sifter. I love it because I can just throw it in the dishwasher when I'm finished. It has a lid for the top and bottom and it is worked by squeezing the handle, but it only holds two cups. If they ever make a bigger one I would definately buy it.

I've had a look at the USA website and it looks like they don't stock it.

I use the metal strainers with the handle. They work so much better than the sifters. Much easier on the hands.

Thanks for asking this. I've been using a strainer for years, and keep thinking I should upgrade to a sifter. Now that I've read all the replies, I think I'll just stick with my trusty strainer! Thank you all for saving me the trouble.

Yep I tried a sifter and its a pain...prefer a strainer.

Oh I was gonna say too...I was looking at the turn handle ones...but decided I don't have room to store it.

Big 'ole strainer.

I don't think the flour sifters (push handle or crank) work because PS is so much finer than flour granules. The blades just compact the PS, but don't have much to grab onto because it's so smooth.

Rae

A smaller strainer is great too, for fondant work, just fill it halfway with PS and then sprinkle some onto your work surface through the strainer.

Thanks for asking this question. This is very useful information. I will be investing in a metal strainer now!!

I don't sift, no patience..

I'm with you Paola - I have zero patience to stand there and sift a bunch of flour. I use a big wire whisk and it works like a charm! Just dump your ingredients in a big bowl and whisk away....learned that from Martha Stewart. That woman is a genius. I wanna be just like her when I grow up!

I too use a mesh strainer too. I used to sift as a little girl, but never did again when I got out on my own. I saw Martha Stewart using a strainer for sifting and thought that was a good idea. I think I'll try the whisk too.

I hate to sift, too, but for some reason all the powdered sugar brands contain massive lumps, as do cake mixes. Whisking just doesn't break them up as well. It must be the humidity in the Ohio Valley.

Maybe you pros can get better stuff that not's so lumpy?

I to use a mesh strainer. I tried the others, one broke and my hand got tired from using the other. I sift all my powdered sugar, it makes the icing creamer.

Rowena1957,

You wouldn't be the famous Rowena of Pattern Master Software, would you?

I bought one of those sifters you have to squeeze the handle...piece of junk for sure. Sore hands plus very slow to sift...but my mom saved the day. She had a very very old sifter she gave me. You turn the handle on this one...super fast, works great...hooray for the old fashioned "machinery"!!!

No I'm not the Rowena of pattern master softeware. I had the kind of sifter you where you turn the handle and the bottom came apart. I saw on t.v. someone using the mesh strainer, so I tried that and it goes faster.

I use a metal, crank style sifter from Williams-Sonoma and I love it. I think it runs about $20.

I have two Good Cook brand crank-type sifters and they both work very quickly. I tried one of the more expensive squeeze handle type and one of the "easy side to side motion" ones, and neither worked at all.

I use a *great big mother of a metal strainer*
Holds about 10 cups -
Bought it for a few dollars from the Asian Supermarket - its great - can sift 8 cups of flour/sugar in 10 seconds.

Mind you i had top go out and buy a HUGE mother of a bowl to sift into -

But it doubles as my *soaking fruit for fruit cakes* bowl.



Hope i never fall into it - i would never be able to climb out ......
ROFL.

Bluehue.

I use a fairly large metal strainer with a nice size mesh. It has a handle on one side and 2 metal loops on the opposite side. The loops would work to hang it on a peg board.
The nice thing about it is that I can lay it across my bowl. The metal loops and the handle hold it in place. I add all the ingredients in, then lift it to give it a few shakes to sift. It was inexpensive and works great.

-Debbie B.