Conference turris::cooks

  I can't offer any suggestions, but just thought I'd mention the neat 
battery-operated sifter that my husband's aunt and uncle have....no idea
where they got it, though!

--Sharon

    You might try looking in antique/collectable shops...they usually have
    all kinds of neat old kitchen gadgets for sale.
    
    Happy searching/sifting!!
    
    Linda

Could you find out where your husbands aunt purchased her battery operated 
sifter.  I had one for twelve years and found it to be one of the handiest 
kitchen gadgets I owned. Just recently the switch broke on it and it cannot be 
repaired.  There is no brand name on it (seems strange). I recall purchasing it 
through a catalogue, but, can't remember which one.  I've checked Williams
Sonoma and several other catalogues, to no avail.

Would appreciate any help in finding one.

Thanks,

Marian

Re .3:

	I *think* they got the battery-operated sifter as a gift, but I'll
ask.  And if it's a local shop, well, they live in Indianapolis :-(

--Sharon

in my experience, with kitchen gadgets, you gets what you pays for....in other
words, find a "cook's" or gourmet store and go find a sifter...it will cost
more - it will be designed to actually sift the dry ingredients.

re:  battery powered ones - in some women's magazines, you can find a page
from which you can order many catalogs - try to find a "cooks catalog" listed.
If not mistaken, it was advertised in that one.

    If you can't find the battery=powered one, don't go for the "one handed
    squeeze" type.  Try to find a crank type.  Although at first glance it
    seems easier to use one hand,  I have purchased two (yes, determined to
    find one that works!), and the squeeze portion never holds up. 
    

  Bon Appetit has a "gadgets" catalog listed in the back with the other
catalogs.

  Another place to consider looking is a restaurant supplier.  You can get
some really good quality items from these places.  I go to G&C in Manchester.

--Sharon

    Re .3
    I had one of those and the sw. broke on mine a long time age. I found
    a mineature sw. in Radio Shack, installed it and added one of those
    calculator-type plug-in power supplies to replace the batteries. The
    cord isn't too hard to live with, and it's nice to be free from
    batteries. So, they can be fixed if you have a handyman about.
    When purchased, I think my wife's came from Williams-Sonoma. I still
    have mine and it's still going strong after the re-fit.
    /Randy
    

I am now on my second battery-operated sifter (the first one bit the dust), 
and I love it.  No comparison to the old variety.  I believe I got it at an 
outlet store in Kittery, Maine.  I suspect any kitchen store has one.  Just 
call and ask.  I don't recall seeing it in any of the Williams Sonoma 
catalogs or stores, but then again, I wasn't looking for one.

If you live in the Boston area, try the kitchen store in Harvard Square or 
the one at the Chestnut Hill mall.  Somehow I don't think Lechmere would 
have it, but one never knows.

    I was flipping thru a Country Kitchen cataloge last night and they have
    one. If anyone wants the order form, item # and phone #, let me know,
    I'll enter it over the weekend. It looked like a good one.
    
    beth

    
    	The Colonial Gardens Kitchens cataglog also has one; page
    18, item number B649848, cost is 12.95, runs on 2 C batteries, 
    4 1/2 Cup capacity, their claim is 'the only thing you ever 
    move is your thumb'! 
    
    	Their number is 800-752-5552, seven days a week, 24 hours
    a day This is their 'best' of Spring sale catalog. Good luck. 
    

    I brought in my catalog (Colonial Garden Kitchens) catalog to send to
    you.  If you want it, please send me mail & your mail stop.  Violet

    I don't know where you're located, but Kitchen's Etc. in Nashua, NH
    and Hampton, NH have wonderful sifters for about $10. They are a
    Swedish made version, not battery operated, but work great. 
    
    My old metal sifter died, and I've been using this new one for about
    3 years. It is made of a very sturdy plastic, with a spring mechanism.
    
    

Thanks for all the suggestions regarding the Battery Operated Sifters.  I did
have mine repaired over the weekend via the suggestion of(.3) Randy.  I do
intend to purchase another one, just for backup in the future.  

Thanks to all,

Marian

    Sorry, I was wrong, I also have the Colonial Kitchen (NOT Country
    Kitchen as was previously stated).
    
    So, use the 800# in one of the previous notes.
    
    b

    A friend showed me how she gets the cheap sifters to work better.
    this is the type that has a squeeze handle with a rotary thing
    on the bottom.  Hold the sifter in one hand, ignore the squeezer
    and slap the sifter with the other hand.
    
    I know it's not hi-tech, and is hardly elegant, etc.  But it is the
    kind of solution a low budget college student would come up with... And
    it's a lot faster than sifting by squeezing that darned handle.
    
    ed

    re. 16, 
    
    I thought that was how you were *supposed* to work that cheap
    thing. :*}  I always have a problem of flour coming out the handle part
    and not into the bowl.  I have had my cheap ol sifter ever since I
    started cooking, it's been through the dishwasher countless times (my
    home-ec teacher always said not to wash it), and it's still going
    strong.  But after reading these notes, I'm considering an upgrade.
    
    

Several weekends ago, I was skiing in North Conway, NH.  Since I finished
skiing at about 4:30PM, I had until 6:00PM to check out the outlet stores (this
was on a Sunday).  I went into the Corning/Revereware outlet and FOOLISHLY
bought a squeeze-handle type sifter which looked like it was of better quality
than usual.  (They also had a crank-style sifter, but no, I thought I'd give
the squeeze-handle type one more try).

I made muffins the other day and tested out the new sifter.  I ended up using
the old "hit the side of the sifter" technique which always has been my 
complaint about these sifters (they don't work they way they are intended to
work!).

Anyway, I'll be buying a hand-crank style sifter the next time I see one.

Sigh,
Mary Ann (who is sick of wasting $3.95-$4.95 everytime I try to purchase
          a decent gadget)

     >>>    -< Why not just use a strainer? >-


	Ah!  I was going to ask this too, but thought I would be 
	laughed out of town by the battery-operated sifter contingent.  8-).

	My mother's sifter is still going strong, but that's from
	the days when they used to make things that worked.  So
	I use a strainer too.  Works great.

	Diane

    re: .18
    
    The comment about your mother's sifter being made when they made things
    to last made me think:  
    
    My mother uses a 1-cup crank-style sifter that she got when she was a
    girl.  It came in a toy cook set that she got as a birthday present
    when she was too young to do any 'real' cooking.

the best cook I ever met used a fine mesh, long handled strainer and I've
always used the same...the  advantage is that you can add all your dry
ingredients at once (if you buy a big one) and you never have to replace
the batteries.  I simply tap the side of the strainer and I get perfectly
sifted ingredients everytime...and I have a tool that serves more than one
purpose - I kinda resent the gadgets that do one thing only.

		low-tech-but-still-baking.....8^}

    You can find the old type sifter in 'A Cooks Wares' catalod (see the
    catalog note).  It's just like the one your grandmother used.
    
    Also, when you finish using any sifter place it unwashed in a zip-lock
    plastic bag.  If you wash it you run the risk of possible rust.

>    Also, when you finish using any sifter place it unwashed in a zip-lock
>    plastic bag.  If you wash it you run the risk of possible rust.
    
    In addition to rusting, it's hard to get all the flour cleaned from the
    sifter when it's wet, so it gets gummy and then dries like cement!
    
    dm

    The phone number for 'A Cooks Wares' is (412) 846-9490.  The are open 
    M-F 9:00-4:00 and SAT 9:00-1:00 (EST).  They have two professional
    hand-crank stainless stell sifters.  The 3 cup is $13.50 and the 8 cup
    is $25.50 (for those who do a lot of baking!).
    
    They also have a catalog with all kinds of professional cookware at
    competitive prices.  Some brands include Henckel, Cuisinart, Mauviel,
    Atlas (woks), and Kitchenaid.

For those still interested in battery-operated sifters, Kitchen Etc. in 
Nashua, NH has them for $10.

--Sharon