What do you use a flour shaker for?

A flour shaker, also known as a flour dredger, is a kitchen utensil used for evenly distributing a thin layer of flour over a surface or food item. It is commonly used in baking and cooking to coat pastries, doughs, or meat with a light dusting of flour.

Flour shakers typically consist of a cylindrical or bulb-shaped container with a perforated bottom or a mesh screen. The container is filled with flour, and the user gently shakes or taps it over the desired area to release a controlled amount of flour.

Here are some specific uses of a flour shaker:

1. Coating Dough: Before rolling out dough for making pastries, pizzas, or bread, it is often dusted with flour to prevent sticking. A flour shaker helps to evenly coat the dough with a thin layer of flour, ensuring easy handling and preventing it from becoming too sticky.

2. Dredging Meat and Fish: Flour is commonly used to coat meat and fish before frying, grilling, or baking. Dredging with flour helps create a crispy outer layer and prevents the food from sticking to the cooking surface. A flour shaker allows for an even and controlled application of flour to the meat or fish.

3. Making Sauces and Gravies: Flour is often used as a thickening agent in sauces and gravies. A flour shaker can help distribute the flour evenly into a liquid, preventing clumps and ensuring a smooth texture.

4. Decorating Desserts: Flour can be used as a dusting agent to add decorative touches to desserts. For example, it can be sprinkled over cakes, pastries, or cookies to create a snowy effect. A flour shaker provides precise control over the distribution of flour for these decorative purposes.

5. General Cooking and Baking: Whenever a recipe calls for dusting with flour, a flour shaker can be a convenient tool for applying the flour evenly and efficiently.

By using a flour shaker, you can avoid messy spills and ensure consistent coverage of flour, enhancing the texture and taste of your culinary creations.