Techniques
Baking
Skill
Beginner
1 min

Sift dry ingredients, then tap/push lumps through the sieve

Sift flour and baking powder, then tap the sieve and push stubborn lumps through with your fingers.

Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl to break up clumps and distribute leavening. If lumps remain, tap the sieve and press them through—often they’re just baking powder clumps.

The short version

  • Sifting helps even leavening distribution

What you need

  • sieve
  • spatula
    optional
    Used in the next step for folding

How to do it

  1. 1

    Sift flour and baking powder into the mixing bowl.

    Watch this step
  2. 2

    Tap the sieve to help the dry ingredients fall through.

    Watch this step
  3. 3

    If lumps remain, push them through with your fingers.

    The lumps are often baking powder.

    Watch this step

What goes wrong

Leaving baking powder lumps in the mix

Press them through the sieve so they disperse evenly.

Why it works

Sifting improves distribution of baking powder and reduces dry pockets, leading to more even rise and crumb.

Put it to use

Learn next