It is humid right now, but I always seem to have a problem sifting PS.

Well, this is probably not based on any real fact, but I find that PS is harder to sift than flour type ingredients because it's 'stickier'. It tends to sort of 'cake' onto the mesh. You have to shake it a little harder to get it to go through in my opinion. But ESPECIALLY so when it's very humid.

I half way sift. I put my dry ingredients into the KA bowl and let the wire whisk break up the clumps before I add liquids.

I do also use a large,long-handled, mesh strainer and I use a whisk to sift my cake mix and or flour and other dry ingriedients; but to sift my powdered sugar we use an 8 cup stainless steel sifter. The lid from a large Crisco can practically snaps on this sifter; then I put a small wire rack(Wilton has one about 11X15) over a rubbermaid,rectangle container and then sit the sifter on the rack, hold the cover on and sift away. This is a very good way for us to sift sugar. It's pretty fast too. Then the sifted sugar can be stored in this container until ready to use. We have 4, so when we need a lot of sugar we sift most or all of them full at one time.

Sandeeb

I do agree, it sucks, but then I think....It's even worst when I am piping and my tip get clogged with clumps of sugar. Or when I add color to my icing and then you will see all the little white clumps of sugar that never dissolved..Then I start feelin ok about it..
Edna

True that, Edna!!

Try going to Lee Valley Tools Garden section item # PT305 it's a Rotary Sieve. Cost more....But it is GREAT!!!!!! Holds 3 gallons. I put in 2 7 lbs bags of 10x sugar at a time. I made another screen to go on top of the one afixed in it out of a stainless steel screen that I had. I love it!!!

I dont mind sifting either and its pretty quick with a mesh strainer. I used to hate it when I used that stupid trigger type sifter. Took me a long time to switch over to the mesh strainer because for some reason I thought it wouldnt sift as well. But I havent noticed any difference since I switched. I also sift ALL of my dry ingredients. Every dry ingredient called for in the recipe, gets put in the sifter together. I also set my kitchen aide to stir the dry ingredients while Im measuring my wet.

I decided one time to skip the sifting step when making mmf. Boy did I regret it I should have thrown it out but instead I spent what seemed like hours kneading and picking little clumps of PS out of the fondant before it was smooth enough to use.

EDNA!!! I just had a fantastic idea!! You teach me to Salsa dance, and we'll get special belts made that have sifters on each hip and a bowl under it... then, as we dance, all the icing sugar gets sifted! I'll be skinny, sexy, and the sifting won't be so tedious!! WOOO! Anyone else wanna tackle this with me?!?!

I would pay to watch this

Anyone use a crank 8 cup sifter? Just curious!

Ok, Edna, I'll do the sifting, but you have to teach me to move like that!

I agree that the crank sifters are a serious pain. But the squeeze trigger ones aren't any better in my opinion. Either way, your arm hurts after a while. Definitely mesh strainer. Best option at this point. Until I find a big powered one.

Yah, I love those Hoosier cabinets, but wasn't sure if many people would know what I was talking about! My mom collects antiques and has an amazing one that I WISH was mine. But like I said, they say that the sifting bins are not approved for food use. What is the point then? Just to look pretty, I get that, but isn't is possible that someone might want to use it for what it was intended? I know, I know, that's crazy talk! I hope you get yours restored and use it! They are so awesome! My mom's house is kind of like a museum with all the antiques. Pretty cool. Not my house... can you say 'kids'!? Hahaha.

Melvira Your mom sounds awesome! I'm an antique lover/collector as well. I don't get the not suitable for food either...I mean I know standards have changed but they did just fine so kinda silly.

Thanks to everyone who suggested the collander method!

"Hahaha I make a huge mess when sifting, my problem is I get impatient & just want to get it over that I rush & make it worse for me 'cause now I gotta clean up!!..."

Just wanted to let the world know....I have a Bosch mixer (has a cover, I LOVE it) they now sell a sifter attachment that sits atop the workbowl. Add up to 5 lbs of flour, turn on muxer, and becomes an electric sifter that does 5 lb of flour in 60 seconds....I'm in heaven!