how do you know when to measure then sift, versus sift, then measure, or do you always do it one way or the other? i think this could be part of my problem sometimes. i always measure then sift. any great bakers out there please advise

Well, unless the recipe gives specific information - I always sift and then measure.

Sifting aerates the flour, or powdered sugar which gives a more accurate measurement by volume.

If you weigh your ingredients, you only need to sift to remove lumps...

HTH

I'm going to watch this post myself! Good question.

Unless the recipe says which to do, I guess I don't really know the proper answer.

I generally follow how the recipe was written.

Some say "sift flour onto wax paper" and I assume they mean to measure first, then sift. Same if it says "sift 3 cups of flour".

Once in a while the recipe will say 3 Cups Sifted Flour, and I assume they mean sift first, then measure.

my head is spinning! LOL

Unless recipe states otherwise.... I measure then sift, however sometimes the pure icing sugar I use has really large lumps/rocks that wont be sifted .....(i have resorted to putting it through a food processor if I think I wont have enough!!! ) If I get these lumps/ rocks and have to remove them I do re-weigh. That being said generally I just measure and sift and have never had an issue!!!

I always thought measure then sift, but you got me curious and I looked it up. Here is a link
http://www.baking911.com/howto/sift.htm

Who would have known that sifting ingredients is so particular?

I sift, then measure, and then if the recipe asks for sifting I sift again.

I weigh all my ingredients and then sift. If the recipe doesn't specify I use the weight for the dip and sweep measurement which is 145 grams per cup of AP flour. If the recipe calls for sifted I use that meaurement which I think is about 125 or 130 grams but I am not sure. I keep a spreadsheet of common weights of ingredients on the inside of a cabinet door. It lists the ingredients in alpha order and then the common meaurements' weights for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 cup and 1/3, 2/3. I also write the weights in my cookbooks that only give volume measurements. It is a lot less messy using a scale, I don't have all those dirty measuring cups. I even weigh wet ingredients.

So if the recipe doesn't specifically SAY sift? Do you NOT sift? Or do you always sift?

Well, for sure you don't want to drag your measuring cup through the flour - this compacts the flour even more.

If you don't want to sift, at least stir the flour up in the container and then spoon flour into your measuring cups - level with knife (don't shake).

Other opinions on sifting/not sifting:

http://tinyurl.com/24hzyu

http://tinyurl.com/2axhud

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msift.html

http://www.joyofbaking.com/flour.html

HTH

sfit two cups of flour usually means measure, then sift.

two cups of sifted flour usually means sift, then measure.

and if no direction is given, I would err that they mean to measure first.

OK, speaking of sifters, does anybody know which one is the world´s best sifter??? I hate hate hate my sifter, I need a new one!!! Please advise...
Thanks

to answer a question above, I almost always sift my dry ingredients and then whisk or mix the dry ingredients together before adding butter or any liquids.

I just bought an 8 cup sifter with the rotary blades at one of those discount kitchen outlets for about $12. It is stainless steel. If you are a too overly enthusiastic sifter like I am, it does tend to throw the ingredients over the edge. I use one of those bowl covers that looks like a shower cap on the top to keep things from flying out.

Hmm, very interesting....
I always sift my icing sugar before measuring because I buy mine in the large 30lb bags and it always has massive rock chunks. I haven't had any problems that way. The flour I measure htan sift because it usually doesn't have large rock chuncks. If its measured by weight, well then I guess it doesn't matter.
I have just a regular hand sifter, but it fits so nicely into a 4 cup measuring cup that I got at the dollar store.