Sifting

Sifting is the preparation procedure of passing a dry ingredient such as flour or sugar through a mesh bottom sieve. This procedure helps to incorporate air into dry ingredients and make them lighter. Since all of the flour gets spaced out and away from each other by sifting, it takes up a lot more volume than it used to. This allows a light, fluffy and delicate texture of baked goods later. Sifting also helps remove any lumps from the flour, which could affect the quality of baked goods. In addition, when flour is sifted with other dry ingredients, such as baking powder, salt or cocoa powder, this helps to combine them evenly before they are mixed with other ingredients. Sifting can be performed with a sifter, sieve or colander, a food processor or even a wire whisk.