How To Clean A Sieve Correctly

For those of you wondering ‘how to clean a sieve correctly’ you have certainly come to the right place. We understand as key providers of baking machinery/utensils that the sieve is an integral part of any kitchen and bakery setting. We also recognise that baking sieves can be incredibly troublesome to clean due to the tiny mesh holes that can easily trap food. As such, we are going to discuss how to clean a sieve correctly as well as provide you with some neat tips and tricks on how to improve the longevity of these pieces of baking equipment. 

How to Clean A Sieve

Since a sieve’s main function is to trap food, it’s often difficult to then thoroughly remove it. Below, we have listed the top action points on how to clean a sieve effectively, which will increase the longevity of these nifty pieces of equipment.

Clean Immediately 

Clean your sieve immediately after use. Failure to do this will cause the food contents to harden. The more it hardens, the more difficult it will be to clean. Start by:

• Lightly tapping the side of the sieve on the sink, especially if you’ve used flour

• Gently dislodging any excess food

• Blasting the sieve through the tap (along with soap) to forcefully drain any leftover substances

Since a mesh sieve has many small holes, you will need to thoroughly inspect the sieve to ensure that all contents are removed from the utensil. If you’re planning on using the sieve again, you will not want any leftover food from previous use contaminating your ingredients. This is known as cross-contamination and is an absolute taboo in any kitchen setting.

Use A Washing Scrub With Bristles

Utilise a washing scrub, particularly one with small bristles. These can get into even the smallest of areas. Due to the nature of how a sieve is manufactured and utilised, there will be minuscule holes with trapped food, which can be a nightmare if you want to maintain strong hygiene practices. However, with a washing scrub, you can easily dislodge the contents on the sieve and give it a deep and thorough clean. 

Not to mention, If you fail to dislodge any food from the mesh sieve soles, it will render your sieve useless. Your baking process will become more time consuming or ineffective altogether.

Pro tip – Be sure to let the sieve soak before using the bristle brush for at least 15 minutes. By letting the sieve soak in very hot water, it further removes any bacteria that may be present on the sieve from previous use and will make thoroughly cleaning it that much more straightforward. 

Dry it Out Properly 

This may be a surprise to many people, but towel drying isn’t actually an effective solution when cleaning your mesh sieve. Since water itself can get stuck in the mesh, the only suitable way to guarantee that the sieve will completely dry out is to let it air dry on the kitchen counter. Additionally, if your towel isn’t washed sufficiently enough beforehand, unwanted bacteria from dirty towels are transferred straight back onto your already clean sieve.

What to Consider When Cleaning a Sieve

Be Mindful of Heat

There is every possibility that you can accidentally melt the mesh and ruin the strainer if it is left near heat. When cooking or baking, it’s easy for things to get left everywhere. Always pay attention to where you leave your sieve when using or cleaning it.

Use A Toothbrush 

If you don’t have a bristle brush handy, you can use the next best alternative, a toothbrush. A toothbrush possesses very small bristles where you would normally brush your teeth. It can act as a superb substitute by easily dislodging any stubborn food trapped in your sieve. Simply wet the toothbrush in warm water and scrub away. 

As a side note, it is advised that you use a spare, new toothbrush. If you are using cleaning chemicals to wash your sieve, you don’t want this transferring from the toothbrush into your mouth.

Purchase A New One 

If your sieve is beyond recovery, you can always purchase a new one. Thankfully, here at Creeds Direct, we stock high-quality and trusted sieves that can be utilised all year round. All baking sieves are made of stainless steel for strength and durability purposes and are of course, very much affordable. Get in contact with us today if you are interested in purchasing a new and reliable sieve for your kitchen applications.