What Are the Best Flour Sifters?

A flour sifter is a strainer with a closely-knitted mesh screen which is housed in a container. This container is usually made of iron and is shaped like a cylinder with a diameter of approximately 6 inches.

So what happens when we sift flour, and is there any benefit to it?

When you sift flour, any lump in it will be broken apart, and simultaneously, air will circulate through the flour. This process makes flour much lighter and easier to be mixed evenly with other ingredients such as cocoa powder or sugar.

When baking, if you sift your flour thoroughly, you’ll be more likely to get a light, fluffy and soft cake. This is especially true for cakes with delicate textures like angel food, sponge, or genoise. Failure to do so can result in a lumpy, overly dry, and hard cake.

While many believe that commercial flour nowadays doesn’t need to be sifted, it’s always better to be sure that your flour is lump-free and aerated, especially if it has been sitting around for a long time.

Flour Sifter Comparison Chart

Before going into details about each of the products listed below, here is a comparison chart that should help you get the picture about the best flour sifters available and their differences.

 Best Flour Sifter To Buy

• Best Overall: Bellemain 3-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
  “Made from premium stainless steel, durable construction yet still lightweight, classic hand crank suitable for even arthritic bakers, double loop ring for extra lump elimination.”
• Runner Up: OXO 3-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
  “Lightweight, made from stainless steel, comes with a top and bottom lid for mess-free sifting, user-friendly shake-to-sift mechanism.”
• Best Budget: Norpro 3-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
  “2 wire agitator for extra clump elimination, crank smoothly with rotary hand crank mechanism, durable, lightweight”.
• Best Small Capacity: OXO Good Grips Baker’s  Flour Sifter
  “Small, easy to use, especially suitable for sifting small amount of flour or sprinkling surfaces and baked goods, ideal sifter for powdered sugar.”
• Best Large Capacity: Norpro Polished 8-cup Flour Sifter
  “Large capacity for heavy-duty baking, rotary hand crank for an effortless sifting, easy to wash and painless to use.”
• Best Large Capacity Runner Up: ChefGiant 8-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
  “Large capacity for heavy-duty baking, 16 fine mesh screen for better sifting, smooth cranking with a rotary mechanism”.
• Best Squeeze Hand Crank: NPYPQ Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
  “Stainless steel, steep bottom for spill-free sifting, easy-to-use ergonomic squeeze handle.”
• Best Budget Runner Up: Wilton Flour Sifter
  “Economical, efficient, removable hand crank suitable for both lefties and righties, slip-free base for a clean kitchen.”
• Best Battery Operated Sifter: Norpro Battery Operated Flour Sifter
  “Battery operated for arthritic bakers, 5-cup capacity, stainless steel mesh, completely BPA-free material”.
• Best Stand Mixer Attachment: Kitchen Aid KSMSFTA 4-cup Flour Sifter
  “Battery operated for arthritic bakers, hand-free operation, 4-cup capacity, time-saving, provides excellent measurements”.

Best Flour Sifter Brands on The Market

• Norpro
• OXO
• Belleman

15 Best Flour Sifters with Reviews

In many cases, choosing the right flour sifter can either make or break your final baking product. A lousy sifter will leave your flour clumpy and poorly aerated while a functional one will ensure you have the fluffiest cake you can ever ask for.

With so many different flour sifters, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re looking for. Understanding this, I’ve compiled a list of my reviews for the best flour sifter.

Bellemain 3-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Best Overall)

A favorite among professional and amateur bakers alike, this 3-cup sifter sure lives up to its reputation as one of the best flour sifter for professionals.

Made from stainless steel, it is as durable as it is lightweight. The permanently engraved units on the sifter’s body provide precise measurements, and the double loop agitator will leave no lumps behind. Even the toughest clump will have to bow down to this sifter’s highly efficient agitator.

The arthritic-friendly hand crank that goes with the sifter is reliable, easy to use, and is especially suitable for heavy-duty sifting. It does not require much effort nor strength, which makes the sifter a must-have for people with mobility problems.

100% toxic-free, this rust-resistant sifter is completely safe to use as it will not leach any harmful chemical into your dry ingredients. It is also very easy to clean, and if you don’t like hand-washing it yourself, you can leave it to the dishwasher to do the job.

Key Features:

• Lightweight but sturdy
• Made from stainless steel
• 3-cup capacity
• Rust resistant
• Double loop ring
• Easy-to-use hand crank
• Permanently engraved measurements on sifter’s body.

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	6 x 5 x 5 inches
Product Dimensions	5.6 ounces
Manufacturer	Bellemain
Capacity	3 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

OXO 3-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Runner Up)

Say goodbye to profusely squeezing a handle or rotating a crank with this shake-and-sieve sifter. You just need to shake it from side to side, and the internal sifting mechanism will activate, making the dry ingredients fall to the lid at the bottom. Bid farewells to the mess that can come with sifting with the top and bottom caps that comes with this product.

If you only need to use exclusively one type of flour, then you can pre-sift the flour and seal the sifter with its top and bottom lids. When the next time you need to use sifted flour comes, just grab this and enjoy your efforts.

Key Features:

• Shake-to-sift mechanism
• Comes with a top and bottom lid
• 3-cup capacity
• Rust-resistant
• Engraved measurements for better flour estimation

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	8.8 ounces
Product Dimensions	4.6 x 6.5 x 4.5 inches
Manufacturer	OXO’s cook tools
Capacity	3 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

Norpro 3-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Best Budget)

Waste no flour with this 2-wire-agitator sifter. Eliminate all clumps and aerate your flour to the finest extent for a delicate-textured cake.

The classic, all-time favorite rotary hand crank makes sure that each sifting is an easy and effortless business.

Don’t underestimate this sifter’s longevity because of its lightweight feel. Made of stainless steel, this sifter challenges all kinds of rust and stands the test of time.

A product of high quality for a low price, this 3-cup sifter is undoubtedly is an ideal choice for those who are on a tight budget.

Key Features:

• 2 wire agitator included
• Hand crank rotary mechanism
• Volume markings for precise measurements
• Made of stainless steel
• Smooth cranking

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	4.8 ounces
Product Dimensions	5.5 x 6 x 6 inches
Manufacturer	Norpor
Capacity	3 cups
Material Type	stainless steel

If you feel like you need to see this product in action, I’ve found a clip of it on youtube for you:

OXO Good Grips Baker’s Flour Sifter

(Best Small Capacity)

A great addition to your bakeware, OXO’s sifter works when you only need to sift a small amount of flour and don’t want to go through the hassle of using a bigger one.

This product is especially suitable for when you want to dust cinnamon, powdered sugar… onto your baked goods. It also works if you need to flour baking pans or sprinkle surfaces with flour to roll dough.

Made of stainless steel with a plastic handle for a firm grip, the sifter is safe from rust, oxidation, and scratch damage. It will be your companion in your baking journey for a long time.

Key Features:

• Made from stainless steel
• Mini size
• Suitable for sprinkling baking pans and other surfaces
• Dishwasher safe

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	0.64 ounces
Product Dimensions	9 x 3 x 3 inches
Manufacturer	OXO
Capacity	N/A
Material Type	Stainless steel

You can watch a video of this product to have an idea of what it can do:

Norpro Polished 8-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Best Large Capacity)

A fitting sifter for the most avid of bakes, this 8-cup sifter will save you from having to sift in several batches. With this to your inventory, you can go on and dominate your baking.

Its rotary hand crank is a life-saver those with arthritis or mobility problems. While squeezing the handle with all your might can wear you out, this product’s sifting mechanism will make sifting as easy as 123.

Easy to wash, easy to use, get this sifter for extra smooth flour today.

Key Features:

• 8-cup capacity
• Made of stainless steel
• Rotary hand crank mechanism
• Smooth cranking

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	1 pound
Product Dimensions	9 x 7.2 x 6 pounds
Manufacturer	Norpro
Capacity	8 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

ChefGiant 8-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Best Large Capacity Runner Up)

Coming with a 16 fine mesh screen for more efficient sifting, this giant sifter will give you the finest, lightest flour. Awe your friends and family as this product is the first step to a professional-like cake.

Suitable for many dry ingredients, ChefGiant’s sifter can eliminate lumps and aerate flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and many things more.

Save your strength with this sifter’s rotary hand crank. Smooth and easy to use, the handle design is suitable for heavy-duty baking.

Key Features:

• 8-cup capacity
• Rotary hand crank
• 16 fine mesh
• Sturdy stainless steel construction
• High versatility

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	1.4 pounds
Product Dimensions	8.5 x 6 x 6.2 inches
Manufacturer	ChefGiant
Capacity	5 cups / 8 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

NPYPQ Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

(Best Squeezed Hand Crank)

This 4-cup sifter is made of stainless steel with a mirror-polished finish. Built to be durable, the product is lightweight enough for a comfortable hold and its ergonomic handle is easy to operate enough that your hand will not tire out easily.

Having a steep bottom, this sifter reduces flour spilling by external forces. It is also ideal for sieving different types of dry ingredients such as flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, etc.

The producers of this sifter also stated that it only takes on average 1.5 minutes to sieve a cup of flour.

Key Features:

• Made of stainless steel with a mirror-polished finish
• Can sieve out many types of flours and dry ingredients
• 4-cup capacity
• It takes roughly 1.5 minutes to sift a cup of flour
• Sturdy texture

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	7.2 ounces
Product Dimensions	6.9 x 5.5 x 5.2 inches
Manufacturer	NPYPQ
Capacity	4 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

Wilton Flour Sifter

(Best Budget Runner Up)

Don’t be taken in by its low price, it still does a decent job. Its double loop agitator makes the final product well-aerated, completely clump-free, and fluffy. For a product of such an economical price, it far exceeded my expectations.

Hate leaving a messy counter after sifting? So do I. Luckily, this sifter comes with a bottom lid that also acts as a slip-resistant base. With this lid, sift all you want and never fear a messy kitchen again.

One defining feature of this sifter is that it has a removable hand crank. Regardless of whether you’re a lefty or a righty, this plastic flour sifter will work for you. Just remove the hand crank and attach it to the side you feel most comfortable using.

Key Features:

• Removable hand crank
• Removable slip-resistant base
• Mess-free sifting with top and bottom lid
• Double-loop agitator for extra lumps elimination

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	9.1 ounces
Product Dimensions	5 x 6.6 x 5.9 inches
Manufacturer	Wilton
Capacity	N/A
Material Type	Plastic and stainless steel mesh

Norpro Battery Operated Sifter

(Best Battery Operated Sifter)

Especially ideal for people with mobility problems, this sifter requires the user little effort to use it. Operating entirely on battery, this product is a life-saver for when you feel like you can’t handle cranking sifters anymore

Made of completely food safe BPA-free material, this 5-cup sifter can sift a great variety of dry ingredients with praiseworthy efficiency.

Get this product and have finely sifted flour right at your fingertip.

Key Features:

• 5- cup capacity
• Stainless steel mesh
• 100% BPA-free material
• User-friendly
• Battery required

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	11.2 ounces
Product Dimensions	5 x 5 x 5.8 inches
Manufacturer	Norpro
Capacity	5 cups
Material Type	Plastic and stainless steel mesh
Battery Type	One C battery

Kitchen Aid KSMSFTA 4-cup Flour Sifter

(Best Stand Mixer Attachment)

Key Features:

Another product for those with arthritic and writs problems, this hand-free sifter will save you from sore arms and who knows what else.

Operating with a scale attachment, the sifter sieves the flour stored in its hopper and sends it down to the mixer bowl below. If you’re combining dry ingredients, this sifter is the best there is at evenly mixing them together.

The sifter’s hopper can hold up to 4 cups of flour. It can measure your flour with great precision, which is a crucial part of a professional-like final product.

So, if you want to save yourself from the hassle of meticulously sift flour, get this electric flour sifter. Once it’s in motion, you’re free to do whatever you like.

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	2.2 pounds
Product Dimensions	7.8 x 5 x 10.8 inches
Manufacturer	KitchenAid
Capacity	4 cups
Material Type	Plastic
Battery Type	2 AA batteries required

This following video will give you a more in-depth understanding of how this sifter works:

Vollum Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

Available in many sizes, this heavy-duty, commercial flour sifter can meet your needs in baking. As long as you know exactly what you’re looking for, chances are that this flour sifter will have it.

To prevent bakers from getting fatigue, this product is made as lightweight as possible. This, however, doesn’t mean that it’s not sturdy or durable. It’s durable enough to withstand banging and other external forces.

The structure on the sifter’s bottom also means that you can stack this product on other sifters of the same size to save space and have an organized workplace. A tidy kitchen is always better than a messy one.

Key Features:

• Mesh available in three sizes: 20 (0.85mm), 30 (0.6mm) and 50 (0.4)mm
• Sifter available in multiple sizes
• Suitable for heavy-duty (22 gauge)
• Can be used for decorating cakes
• Commercial-grade

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	11.2 ounces
Product Dimensions	8.5 x 8.5 x 3 inches
Manufacturer	Vollum
Capacity	N/A
Material Type	Stainless less

MaMix 3-cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

Efficient enough to sift flour and many other coarse baking goods, this 3-cup sifter can become your next best friend. It has volume markings on both sides to make your measurements as precise as possible.

Despite being lightweight, it’s surprisingly strong and sturdy. It is highly rust-resistant as it is made from stainless steel. In addition to that, it has a paint coating on the outside for a cuter appearance.

Unlike hand-squeezed sifter, this one will not wear you out even after a long session of sifting. Its rotary hand crank is so smooth that you will have a stress-free sifting time. If you have wrist problems, consider getting this one.

Key Features:

• Fine mesh for more efficient sifting
• Made of stainless steel
• Classic rotary hand crank
• Easy to clean
• Cute look
• 3-cup capacity

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	7.8 ounces
Product Dimensions	5.5 x 5.2 x 6 inches
Manufacturer	MaMix
Capacity	3 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel
Hand crank	Rotary hand crank

Cuisipro Scoop and Sift Slour sifter

Sick of having to use two of your hands to sift flour, but as it happens, you can’t grow a third arm? Here’s a solution for you. Cuisipro’s flour sifter only requires one hand to operate as its handle is very easy to squeeze.

Another bonus point for this sifter is that you can directly scoop the ingredients. There’s no need to use a measuring cup to pour flour into the sifter.

The product is designed in such a way that users can hang it on the mixing bowl so that you can work on other things like preparing other ingredients.

Key Features:

• Single hand operation
• Lightweight
• Squeezed-handle
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Flour can be scooped directly into the sifter

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	3.2 ounces
Product Dimensions	6.8 x 3.5 x 4.5 inches
Manufacturer	Cuisipro
Capacity	N/A
Material Type	Plastic with metal mesh

Do you need to see how this works? If so, I’ve got you:

RSVP International Endurance 3-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

Available in 3-cup and 5-cup capacity, RSVP’s sifter offer varieties for bakers with different needs. It can sift almost anything, from basic flour, powdered sugar to heavy almond flour.

This product makes it a lot less troublesome to sift with its smooth rotary hand crank. Made of stainless steel, RSVP’s sifter is rust-resistant and is quite durable. The sifter is also very easy to clean, you can clean it between users with a wipe of a towel or put it in a dishwasher.

Key Features:

• Made from stainless steel
• Durable construction
• Smooth cranking
• Lightweight
• 3-cup capacity or 5-cup capacity

Product Specifications:

Item Weight	7.2 ounces
Product Dimensions	6 x 5.8 x 5 inches
Manufacturer	RSVP International
Capacity	3 cups / 5 cups
Material Type	Stainless steel

How to Pick the Best Flour Sifter?

If you’re reading this, then I assume that you are looking for a sifter but you are not very familiar with how to choose a sifter. Therefore, here are some of my suggestions that should help you pick the best flour sifter for yourself.

Material

Sifters are made from many different materials, varying from tin to heavy-weight plastic and stainless steel.

What’s the best material for a flour sifter? I myself would recommend choosing heavy-weight plastic and stainless steel as they are more durable and rust-resistant.

Sifting Mechanism

Different sifters may have different sifting mechanism – some use rotating hand crank, some use squeeze handle, some are battery-operated, or some don’t have a handle at all. With so many choices, how can you know what would be the best one for you?

If you have wrist or mobility problems, or if you’re suffering from arthritis, I’d suggest you buy sifters with a rotary hand crank. They are generally easier to use and are not as physically taxing as your average squeeze handle.

Capacity

Another thing to take into account is capacity. Sifters’ capacities generally range from 3-cup to as much as 8-cup. Determine how frequent and how much do you usually need to sift to know how large you need your sifter to be.

Versatility

You wouldn’t want to use different sifters for different ingredients. Read the product’s description carefully before purchase to make sure that it can sieve more than just flour.

Another minor convenience that you might want your sifter to have is volume markings on the side of the sifter. It can save you the trouble of using another bakeware to measure the flour. However, some sifters’ measurements are not very accurate. Therefore, you should read other users’ reviews to know for sure the volume markings are accurate.

Easy to Clean

The majority of sifters currently available for sale are easy to clean, so cleaning won’t pose much of a trouble. However, if you’re aiming for a quick and effort cleaning, you should find sifters that are dishwasher safe.

Warranty and Return Plan

Sometimes, the sifter you buy might not be to your liking. Sometimes, you receive defective products. It’s best to check the product’s warranty and return plan if possible.

Some people also claim that a product’s warranty usually indicates its average lifespan. While I am in no position to confirm or contradict that, you can take this into consideration.

FAQs

My Top Pick

My favorite sifter of all time is, without question, Bellemain 3-cup stainless steel flour sifter. I’ve had one it my kitchen for years, and it does wonders, all my cakes come out soft and fluffy. I hope that this will be of as much use to you as it has been to me.