Does all-purpose flour need to be sifted?
To Sift or Not to Sift: You usually can skip the sifting of all-purpose flour. Even though most all-purpose flour is presifted, the flour settles in the bag during shipping. So, it's a good idea to stir through the flour in the bag or canister before measuring to make it lighter.
What happens if you don't sieve flour?
Sifting also brings air into the flour, making it fluffier and easier to mix with wet ingredients. If you don't have a sieve or a sifter, however, fear not. You can sift flour with a whisk. A whisk both mixes and aerates in one, simple power move.