I have this poblem with sifting. I don't know if it's just me, but sifting makes my hands hurt soooooo badly 
. It almost makes me wanna just say if it calls for sifting...I'm not doin' it. I purchased a sifter from "Walmart" and you have to constantly squeeze it over and over and over (and it oly sifts a small amount...seems like I've been sifting 4-eva). Anyway, my cousin has one that is "OLDSCHOOL" and she loves it. She says that all she has to do is turn the little handle/knob on it and her sifting is done (she needs to hand it over to me 
). I guess my real question is, does sifting really matter, and if I don't sift what may/may not happen? Last but not least, where can I find an easier method or sifter type?
I don't mind sifting, I have a battery operated one I purchased at Meijer about 3 or 4 years ago. It works great, all I have to do is add the sugar and push a button. Sorry
Kat
Sifting flour & powdered sugar does seem to make a difference for me. I don't use a sifter, however. I measure whatever it is that needs sifting into a large bowl and run my wire whisk thru it until it's nice and fluffy. Seems to work as good or better than a sifter for me. HTH.
Shelle
I FEEL YOU PAIN!!!
You can usually find the style with the turning handle at antique stores, but you can usually pick them up at kitchen outlet stores too.
Also, I read another post on here where someone bought a regular colander and they use it to sift their powdered sugar.
However, I have tried about 5 different recipes for buttercream and I never sift my powdered sugar and I never have any lumps. I use the cheapest powd sugar my local store sell - Always Save - and I never have a problem.
Good luck - but I would try it without sifting!!
Suzycakes
I use a big wire mesh strainer from Wal-Mart, the one with the handle. Fits perfectly over my KA bowl.
The times I've skipped sifting, I've ended up getting tiny clumps in my tips and had to dig them out over and over, spending much more time than if I'd just sifted in the first place.
I bought one of those mesh strainers for my sifting. I set it over my bowl and shake until it's empty. A lot less mess and works great on cake mixes and powder sugar, not to mention it'll hold a lot more than the old crank or sqeeze sifters. If you look around they come in finer meshes depending on what you want.
HTH
I gave up sifting powdered sugar. My buttercream is still nice and smooth. But when I have to sift flour or cocoa, I use a large mesh strainer. All you have to do is fill it and shake it over your bowl. Much easier on the hands!
http://cuisipro.kitchen-hills.com/Cuisipro-8-Inch-Double-Medium-Mesh-Strainer-B00004SU1M.htm
I agree but I have the sieve one, one handle and just tap on it, I am selfish and haven't bought a better yet
I hate sifting too. I have one of the ones you're talking about and it hurts my hand too. I want to get a sieve. I'll attach a picture. My fiance said he saw one at Kroger the other day (i don't know where you're from but...) You could actually MAKE one. Take a look at the picture and see what you think. They're easy to use and easy to clean up.
Yep I use a wire wisk to sift mine as well works great. The only thing I actually sift is powered sugar but I use a basket type sifter and just bump it against my hand either into a bowl or on a piece of waxed paper. I have a large one so it's fast and painless lol. It also has a hook on the side that sits on the lip of the bowl so I can fill it without the sugar getting everywhere.
And I thought I was original?! I use a mesh strainer as well. I had one of the squeeze ones and it always stuck. I never sift flour, sometimes sugar, and always cocoa.
Also, I read another post on here where someone bought a regular colander and they use it to sift their powdered sugar.
Suzycakes
A sieve is most likely what they meant not a colander. A colander is a type of sieve used to separate liquids from solids and they holes are much bigger. Think of what you use when you make pasta. On the other hand the regular baking sieve has a mesh that's really fine.
This is probably what they meant.
http://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/products_level4.htm?cat1=baking&cat2=Sieves&id=3035
I hate sifting too. I have one of the ones you're talking about and it hurts my hand too. I want to get a sieve. I'll attach a picture. My fiance said he saw one at Kroger the other day (i don't know where you're from but...) You could actually MAKE one. Take a look at the picture and see what you think. They're easy to use and easy to clean up.
DH just ordered one of these for me from pastrychef.com! I'm so excited! It's nearly the same, but has plastic edges....they have a large one and a small one....a little pricey but it's going to be SO worth it!
Nope - they seriously meant a colander - they even referred to it as the same type you would use to drain pasta!!
I am pretty kitchen savvy - but I did wonder if possibly someone had designed a new style of colander with much small holes than what I have ever used!!LOL!! But since I do have the old fashioned hand crank style that I use - when needed - I have not bothered to look to see if there were new styles of colanders out there.
I couldn't figure out how the colander would do a great job, but I was just trying to pass along suggestions. But I did totally forget about using a wire mesh strainer - those do work very well.
Thanks,
Suzycakes.
oh I hate those squeeze ones, I used one for about 5 mins and then tossed it in the donation box. I have one like this with the turn handle and love it. My current one only holds 3 cups, but I have an 8 cup one on my wish list.
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?pn=BE0010
You can usually find the style with the turning handle at antique stores, but you can usually pick them up at kitchen outlet stores too.
These are not as out of date as most people think. They just are not in as many stores as you used to see. Take a look at this Google product search. These are all 8 cups b/c that is what I had searched, but The link I posted above has a smaller 3 cup capacity.
http://www.google.com/products?q=sifter+8+cup&hl=en&um=1&sa=X&oi=froogle&ct=title
I guess I should state that this is what I think of as a turning handle, if there is another type out there please let me know 
You can usually find the style with the turning handle at antique stores, but you can usually pick them up at kitchen outlet stores too.
Suzycakes
The antique stores!!?? 
My goodness! Are you trying to age me faster than I am already? 
You can get these almost anywhere!
I bought me a new one just a couple of years ago ... found it at a regular store (Kmart, Walmart, some store at the mall.... I can't remember). But I know it wasn't an antique store!
To answer the OP's question, yes sifting makes a difference. My cakes come out much smoother, denser and fewer air holes when I started sifting the cake mix (thanks to a CC suggestion I read about during my first few weeks on on here!).
Cake mixes dont' sift well with a mesh strainer, but powdered sugar sifts REALLY well in the strainer.
I bought an amazing HUGE 8 cup crank-style sifter on ebay a couple of months ago when I needed to make a WASC wedding cake. It was great!
This one is just like it and from the same seller!
http://cgi.ebay.com/8-Cup-Rotary-Flour-Sifter_W0QQitemZ190119864732QQihZ009QQcategoryZ20651QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
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