To sift or not to sift..that IS the ?

[2sdae]

Do you sift your powdered sugar before you make your icing?
Do you sift all your dry ingredients before mixing when you bake?

I do and believe me it has really improved my cake batters and my icing consistency. Sometimes I just get a bag of ps. that just seems to full of lumps. But I dont use a conventional sifting method. I saw Alton Brown, from food network's "good eats" show throw all his dry stuff into his 7 cup kitchen aid food processor and just sift away much quicker than any old sifter method I have ever used. And I do it that way always now!
Gotta love that man....he can come up with a shorter and more efficient way of doing just about anything!

[cakebaker]

I never sifted sugar or much of anything up until a few months ago.

You're right, the difference is amazing. I sift all my dry ingredients now and it really is a huge improvement.

Great idea on the food processor! I get really tired of sifting by hand when I'm baking a lot of cakes or making a lot of icing.

[Amanda]

It really makes that big of a difference? I'm going to have to try that! I have some left over buttercream in the fridge. I have a cake next week. I'll sift that batch and compare! Honestly, I've never even thought of sifting.
Thanks for the tip!
Amanda

[sokyere]

I also sift everything from icing to flour. And it makes a huge difference. No lumps in my buttercreme icing and very moist cakes. I sift the flour after I measure it and then measure it again. I always have leftover flour sometimes as much as a half a cup. imagine all that extra flour in the cake! My cakes always turn out moist as a resultI. Didn't know about the food processor though. will try that out next time to save time.

[tamrks]

I agree it makes a huge difference!!

I started sifting my ingredients when making by buttercream and the icing tastes much more fluffier & creamy than before. It used to have that "grainy" taste without sifting..

[cakebaker]

I even sift my cake mixes when I use box mixes. It makes a much finer texture cake I think.

[2sdae]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

I even sift my cake mixes when I use box mixes. It makes a much finer texture cake I think.

I agree, deff a must here if I use a mix!

[susies1955]

Hum, I never ever sift. I never have lumps and my cakes are moist. Maybe I'll give it a whirl one day anyway just to see if there is anything different.
I love that we all do things so uniquely.
Susie

[2sdae]

You just never know what little tip or trick you could learn from any one that might make your baking, making and decorating easier or better. That's why I love the forums.

[susies1955]

I have learned so much the last few months from forums. Love it.
Would you happen to know why I can't you the quick reply??????? Am I doing something wrong????? Do I have to turn it on somewhere????? LOL,
Susie