Definition & Meaning of "sifter"

What is a "sifter"?

A sifter is a kitchen tool used to make dry ingredients, such as flour, powdered sugar, or cocoa powder, light and fluffy by breaking up clumps and removing lumps or impurities. It typically consists of a cylindrical or bowl-shaped container with a fine mesh or screen bottom and a handle for shaking or rotating the sifter. To use a sifter, you pour the dry ingredients into the container, then shake or rotate the sifter to pass the ingredients through the mesh, allowing them to fall evenly and smoothly into a bowl or onto a surface below. Sifters help to ensure that dry ingredients are evenly distributed and free of lumps, resulting in lighter, fluffier baked goods and smoother, more consistent textures in cooking.