When following a baking recipe, do you measure the flour before or after sifting?
By Maria Elena Shaw from Lower Gwynedd, PA
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If a recipe say "1 cup flour, sifted", it means you measure and then sift. You do it by spooning the flour into a metal measuring cup, level it to the top rim. Pour the ingredients into the sifter or a fine mesh strainer, and, then sift. Do not remeasure the ingredients.
If a recipe says "1 cup sifted flour" it means to sift the flour while you measure it. To do, sift the flour directly into the measuring cup and then level the flour to the rim. I have found that if you sift flour into a bowl and then spoon it into the cup, you somewhat compact the flour again. This leads to adding too much flour, about 20 to 25% more.
Good luck.
I almost always sift and then measure. For many recipes, such as bread/muffin/cookie recipes, it makes little or no difference. You really only need to be super attentive to that sort of thing if you're trying to bake cake or finicky confections.
My grandma and I always sift then use that measurement. Try taking the dull flat side of a knife and scraping it across the top of the measuring cup. :)
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