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6 Best Flour Sifters

Updated: Feb 20, 2024 4:46 PM
best flour sifter featured image that shows the top three best kitchen product models

We selected the Norpro 3-Cup Stainless Steel Rotary Hand Crank Flour Sifter as our Top Pick because, in addition to being our Best on a Budget recommendation, it was also the only sifter that featured volume markings on the inside of the container for easier measuring. Plus, the three-cup capacity is ideal for most home bakers.

To create our best flour sifter guide, we focused on the following criteria: capacity, materials, the handle, and additional features. We knew that most flour sifters range between two and five-cup capacity. But we also wanted a sifter that was easier to use which is why we prioritized crank handle options. And finally, we looked for sturdy solutions with longevity made from steel. Keep reading to learn more about other high-quality flour sifters available for purchase.

Top 6 Best Flour Sifters

 #1  Norpro 3-Cup Stainless Steel Rotary Hand Crank Flour Sifter

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: An affordable flour sifter that holds a solid three cups and features volume markings inside and outside for easier use.

Pros
  • Best on a budget
  • Volume markings on inside and outside of sifter
  • 3-cup capacity
Cons
  • Is prone to rusting if you don’t thoroughly dry it after cleaning

When you’re starting as a baker, building your kitchen tools kit can be expensive. So we included this option from Norpro because it’s an affordable flour sifter that still comes with the key features you need to hone your craft. We like that this lightweight option comes in at just under a third of a pound, helping you to get a feel for the device and to manage the one-handed operation.

You’ll appreciate that this is a crank handle option with a scooped edge that makes filling it easier. You’ll get a three-cup capacity which should be ideal for any baking task you face. But what sets it apart for us is that this is the only sifter that features volume markings on the interior and exterior — which also makes this an easier choice for first-time bakers. If you’re looking for a gift to give someone who loves their kitchen, you might want to check out our guide to the best brown sugar storage.

 #2  Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Hand Squeeze Flour Sifter

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: A simple squeeze-handle flour sifter that’s great for quicker baking tasks such as dusting pastries with confectioners sugar.

Pros
  • Best for quick tasks
  • Squeeze handle design
  • Rust-resistant stainless steel construction
Cons
  • Lacks scoop spout
  • Squeeze handle may be difficult for some people to operate

For the most part, you’ll find that serious bakers prefer crank flour sifters because, for prolonged use, they’re preferred. However, if you’re only using a flour sifter to quickly dust your pastries with confectioner’s sugar or a dusting of chocolate or cinnamon powder, then a squeeze handle flour sifter isn’t such a bad idea.

This is the only squeeze flour sifter we’re featuring, but we do like that it’s a large capacity five-cup option, which makes it ideal for someone who’s graduated their baking to a larger scale. The stainless steel sifter is best cleaned by hand washing and then thoroughly drying it. However, because this is a squeeze handle design, people with arthritis may want to look elsewhere if they plan to use this sifter for extended periods. If you’re sifting flour into pancake batter, you can’t forget to look at our guide to the best syrup dispenser.

 #3  Good Cook Flour Sifter

Award: MOST LIGHTWEIGHT

WHY WE LIKE IT: A steel-plated sifter that weighs a nominal 3.2 ounces is perfect for any baker who struggles with wrist strains from handling heavier flour sifters.

Pros
  • Scoop edge for easy filling with ingredients
  • 3-cup capacity
  • Crank handle design for easy operation
Cons
  • Rusting is possible if you fail to thoroughly dry it after washing

For some bakers, it can feel like they have a love-hate relationship with their flour sifters. If you’re someone who suffers from wrist strains or arthritis, holding and operating a full flour sifter for extended periods can add to your discomfort. We like this option from Good Cook because it’s the lightest flour sifter from our research at just 3.2 ounces.

Still, you’ll appreciate that you get a three-cup capacity which is perfect for home use. As is common, this flour sifter is also designed with a scooped edge that makes filling it easier too. And the crank handle design is a more user-friendly option for people with arthritis to operate. Yet, through our research, we also found that this sifter could be prone to a common drawback — rusting. Make sure to thoroughly dry your sifter after cleaning by placing it in an oven at low heat to avoid early oxidation. If you want another high-quality kitchen utensil, check out our guide to the best kitchen tongs.

 #4  MaxiAids Battery Operated Flour Sifter

Award: BEST FOR ARTHRITIC HANDS

WHY WE LIKE IT: An easy-to-use battery-operated flour sifter that helps to prevent premature hand fatigue, with a five-cup capacity that makes it ideal for power bakers.

Pros
  • Electric and activates with a button for exact amounts
  • Wide mouth helps to reduce spills
  • Large 5-cup capacity is perfect for more serious bakers
Cons
  • Battery isn’t included

For some people, even though crank handles are considered better than squeeze handles, it can still be hard for them to use a flour sifter. Especially if you’re someone who suffers from conditions like arthritis or even carpal tunnel, this recommendation from MaxiAids is going to be a lifesaver if you’re a serious baker but struggle with traditional flour sifters. More importantly, the plastic construction on this product makes cleanup significantly easier since you don’t have to worry about it rusting.

This is a battery-operated sifter. So, with the touch of a button, you can easily sift your flour and reduce the overall strain on your hands, wrists, or joints. The sifter requires one C battery to work, but the battery is not included. But if you’re a serious baker, you’ll like that this sifter has a five-cup capacity and a wide 5.5-inch diameter mouth to reduce spills. We also appreciated that you get a complimentary banana pineapple nut bread recipe.

 #5  Natizo Stainless Steel 3-Cup Flour Sifter

Award: BEST QUALITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: The only sifter in our research that comes with a lid and a bottom cover to minimize messes and make cleanup easier.

Pros
  • Easy-to-use hand crank design
  • Comes with a lid and bottom cover for easier operation and storage
  • 3-cup capacity
Cons
  • Concerns over rusting if not properly dried after cleaning

Through our research, we noted that a common complaint people had about flour sifters is their ability to make messes, either as flour popped out of the top during operation or every time they put the sifter down on their workspace and ingredients fell out of the mesh base. This selection from Mrs. Anderson’s is the only flour sifter that comes with a lid and a base cover.

This means you can easily sift through flour without making a mess and when not in use between batches, you won’t leave circles of powder all over your countertops. Aside from that smart user-friendly upgrade, we liked that this is another three-cup sifter with a scooped edge and a crank handle for easy operation. You could easily use this to sift the flour into fresh pizza dough.

 #6  ChefGiant 5 Cup Flour Sifter

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Award: Best for Commercial Use

WHY WE LIKE IT: A sturdy large-capacity five-cup sifter with a 16-fine mesh screen and crank handle for easy operation is ideal in any commercial kitchen.

Pros
  • Smaller space-saving design
  • Large 5-cup capacity
  • The crank handle makes aerating ingredients easier
Cons
  • Lacks scoop spout

When you’re a professional baker, the right tools for the job matter. We selected this ChefGiant five-cup flour sifter because we think it can help commercial bakers make quick work of any pastry task. You’ll like the 16 fine mesh screen, which has a smaller weave to fully aerate whatever ingredients you put in it.

Aside from that, we liked the five-cup capacity, which makes it ideal for professional bakery use. And the crank handle means you can easily operate this without putting an unnecessary strain on your hands or wrists. However, this model does lack a scoop spout. Be sure to also check out the best egg poacher if you’d love a diverse breakfast every day.

How We Decided

Flour sifters are essential for any serious baker, whether they’re of the professional or home variety. To create our guide, we focused on the following features — capacity, materials, handle, and additional features. All of our recommendations were steel options.

While most flour sifters range between two and five cups, we featured three-cup and five-cup options. The three-cup models are ideal for home bakers, while the five-cup recommendations are better reserved for more professional bakers that are producing larger batches of food.

You’ll also note that we only featured one squeeze handle flour sifter. That’s because, overall, squeeze handles can cause fatigue if you use them for longer periods. In contrast, a crank handle flour sifter is perfect for people who either suffer from arthritis or lack the hand strength to operate a squeeze handle over time.

And finally, we focused on features that made cleanup easier. Only one of our suggestions came with a lid and a base cover — which helps to reduce powder falling out of the top while in use or from the bottom when you set it down on the counter.

Best Flour Sifter Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Factors to Consider

  1. Sifter Capacity
    When you’re searching for the best flour sifter of 2024, you want to find one that complements your cooking style.
    • Think about how much flour you need to sift through in a typical baking project.
    • Your average sifter can range from a capacity of one to five cups. The larger, better sifters are ideal for commercial baking, while the average home baker should be fine with a sifter that can hold two to three cups of flour.
    • But, again, it depends on your needs and the sifter uses you’d like to have.
  2. Materials
    Considering that you’re dealing with a product that is going to come into contact with food ingredients, you want to ensure that it features a food-grade rating.
    • A sifter’s purpose is to primarily sift fine powders (flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar) to remove clumped bits.
    • The most common flour sifters use materials made of plastic and metal.
    • If you pick a metal sifter, be sure it’s rust-resistant, such as with stainless steel. And for plastic, be sure that it’s free of BPA or other harmful ingredients.
  3. Handle
    A sifter handle’s most common design options are crank or squeeze style. Crank handles tend to be a bit more reliable since they’re less likely to get stuck. And they’re ideal for bakers that might have arthritis or strength issues with their hands. Most people opt for the crank handle because it’s more comfortable.
  4. Additional Features
    Also, consider how easily you can clean your sifter. If you’re looking to minimize cleanup time, look for options that are dishwasher-safe. Other features like a cover can minimize spills while your sifter is in use.

6 Best Flour Sifters Questions (FAQ)

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