Now You See It, Now You Don't!
TellzAll's subject for October is the Flour Sifter
Although some people still use flour sifters and stores still sell these kitchen tools, most Americans no longer have a flour sifter in their kitchen. Why is this the case? Throughout much of the twentieth century, American women made most of their own baked goods, but modern families purchase most of these items at grocery stores and bakeries instead.
So, what is a flour sifter? Most flour sifters are made out of metal, both in the past and today. The main framework of the sifter is a metal canister that is open on both ends. Fitted within one end of the flour sifter is a fine metal mesh. There is a mechanism that makes wires within the sifter rotate so that flour is moved through the wire mesh or sieve. Depending on the sifter's design, a cook can operate it by turning a crank, squeezing a spring-loaded handle, or, in some cases, turning a switch to activate batteries.
Cooks use flour sifters in baking a variety of items, including homemade breads, cakes, and many types of pastry. Sifting flour gives it more volume, reducing clumps and adding air in the process. Some baking recipes require that ingredients be measured very precisely in order to produce the best result, and sifted flour can be measured more accurately. In addition, sifted flour can improve the texture of bakery items. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers often used flour sifters in their own baking, because throughout much of the twentieth century people baked their own bread, pies, cakes, and cookies.
In the decades following World War II, as processed and ready-made foods became more common in American homes and grocery stores began to cater to American families' busy lives, fewer and fewer Americans baked their own bread and pastries. As a result, when people accumulate appliances and tools for their kitchens today, they rarely think to purchase a flour sifter. Instead, this item is usually reserved for professional bakers and those who pursue baking as a hobby. Some people use vintage kitchen tools, such as flour sifters, to create a country decorative touch in their modern kitchens, making old flour sifters a collector's item.
