Should flour be sifted before or after measuring?

If a recipe calls for “1 cup sifted flour,” sift the flour first and then measure. What sifting does is aerates the flour (and other ingredients) to make them light. One cup of unsifted flour weighs 5 ounces, and 1 cup of sifted flour weighs 4 ounces.
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When should flour be sifted?

Go ahead and sift it before measuring to guarantee you get the right amount. Sifting flour over a work surface, instead of just tossing it, when you're about to roll out or knead dough is a good idea if you want a thin layer of flour, since adding too much extra flour to your dough can make it tough or dry.
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What is the proper way to measure flour accurately?

The most accurate way to measure flour is to use a digital scale. Weighing flour is better than measuring it by volume, because when you weigh it, you avoid all the problems associated with its density, or lack thereof.
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Do you measure flour before or after?

The answer to this question usually depends on the recipe's grammar: If the recipe calls for "2 cups sifted flour," you should sift the flour into a bowl, then measure it. However, if the recipe calls for "2 cups flour, sifted," you should measure the flour first, then sift it.
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What happens if you forgot to sift flour?

First, it gets the lumps out of the flour. As dry ingredients sit in a box or a bag, they start to compact and cling together. It's most evident with ingredients like brown sugar, but you'll also see it with flour, cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar, too.
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Should I Sift The Flour Before Measuring For A Cake Recipe?



Can you sift flour too much?

Sifting your flour and other dry ingredients can make a noticeable difference in your cakes and breads. No matter how many times you sift, you cannot over-sift your flour. Actually, after the first couple of times, sifting no longer makes a difference.
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What difference does sifting flour make?

Here's why: A cup of flour sifted before measuring will weigh 20 to 30 percent less than a cup of flour sifted after measuring—a difference that can make a huge impact on the texture of finished baked goods. The best way to make sure you've got the right amount of flour?
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What are the 4 steps to accurately measure flour?

Here's how to properly measure flour by volume:
  1. Step 1: Fluff It up. Flour settles in storage, so it needs to be loosened by giving it a good stir with a spoon or whisk. ...
  2. Step 2: Fill the cup. Next, spoon the flour into a measuring cup until heaping (piled beyond the rim of the measuring cup). ...
  3. Step 3: Level it Off.
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Should you sift pre sifted flour?

It is a good idea to fluff up your flour though, with a fork or even a whisk, right in the bag or cannister, in an effort to aerate it. But if it's a recipe for a light and airy cake with a delicate batter, like an angel food cake or a Genoise sponge, then it is a good idea to sift even pre-sifted flour.
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What does 1 cup sifted flour mean?

1 cup sifted flour means to set the cup on a counter and sift the flour into the cup until it mounds above the top. Then, with a metal spatula or knife, level it off. Be sure to use a cup with an unbroken rim, referred to as a dry measure as opposed to a liquid measure which has a spout.
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What is the first step When measuring flour?

Here's what you need to do:
  1. First, fluff up the flour in the bag or canister. Flour settles easily, becoming tightly packed inside a bag or jar. ...
  2. Second, spoon the flour into the measuring cup. ...
  3. Then, scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level the flour.
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Is 1 cup dry the same as 1 cup liquid?

Technically, yes. They both measure the same amount of volume. There is no liquid to dry measuring cup conversion. 1 cup in a dry measuring cup is the same as 1 cup in a liquid measuring cup.
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How much Unsifted flour equals 1 cup sifted flour?

One cup of unsifted flour weighs 5 ounces, and 1 cup of sifted flour weighs 4 ounces.
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What happens if you don't Sift flour for cake?

The two most common products for getting the lumps out of dry ingredients are a flour sifter or a fine-mesh sieve. Williams says you can always use a large whisk if you don't have a flour sifter or sieve because it will still work hard to break up any lumps in the batter.
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Should you sift flour when making bread?

Sifting flour isn't necessary when making bread. Flour is sifted to incorporate more air into a mixture, but bread is risen by the CO2 that's produced by the yeast and any air added at the start will be pushed out when kneading. You may want to sift flour if it contains certain impurities or bran.
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Should you always sift flour for cookies?

For desserts that are chewy or crisp like cookies, sifting flour isn't a must. The purpose of sifting flour through a sieve or sifter helps break up clumps and aerates the ingredients. In the past, sifted flour also allowed for more accurate measuring results.
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Does sifting flour add air?

Sifted flour does have more air dispersed in it than unsifted flour, and there are some delicate recipes where having the flour as aerated as possible – such as angel food cakes – will produce a better, lighter finished product.
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What can you not do with a full cup of flour?

Avoid Common Mistakes
  • Don't shake the measuring cup or tap it against the counter.
  • Don't pack the flour to fit more into the cup.
  • Don't directly scoop the flour with the measuring cup.
  • Sift the flour when the recipe calls for it. An ingredient listed as "1 cup sifted flour" means you sift flour before measuring.
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How do you get the best results in baking?

Baking Tips: How To Get Good Results Every Time
  1. Measure Properly. ...
  2. Invest in a good mixer. ...
  3. Use Room Temperature Ingredients.
  4. Check Your Oven Temperature. ...
  5. Don't Make Substitutions. ...
  6. Use A Light Hand. ...
  7. Understand Leavening Agents. ...
  8. Add Ingredients in Little Piles.
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What does it mean to fluff flour?

A flour fluff is simple to achieve. Just use a fork or spoon to fluff up your flour while it's still in the container. The result should be much lighter and less dense than a packed bag of flour. Once you've fluffed your flour, you need to use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup.
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Is whisking flour the same as sifting?

When preparing ingredients for baking, it can be bothersome and messy to have to sift ingredients before using. Whisking them will incorporate air in the dry ingredients in the same manner as sifting.
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How many times should I sift flour for cake?

You will need all purpose flour, cornstarch and a sifter! For every cup of cake flour you recipe requires, simple measure 1 level cup of all purpose flour then remove 2 tablespoons of the flour. Next measure and add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the flour and sift 4-5 times. This will work whenever you are in a pinch.
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Can I use a liquid measuring cup for flour?

Measuring dry ingredients

You can scoop your flour into your liquid measuring cup until it reaches the 1/2 cup mark. But you can't level it off. The surface of the flour is uneven, with some parts higher than others.
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Are stainless steel measuring cups better than plastic?

Stainless steel is durable, balanced, and nonporous. Unlike some materials like plastic or silicone, it won't stain or retain old food odors. Some stainless measuring cups are a single piece, as opposed to options with an attached handle. When a handle is attached separately, it is more likely to break off.
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