Sifting is a conjugation of the verb sifting: action of making a substance pass through a sieve (instrument that allows the largest particles to be separated from the smallest). Sieving, therefore, is the process that is carried out when using one of these devices.
The sieve can be considered a method of separation. Suppose we have a mixture made up of two solid substances, the particles of which have different thicknesses; If we put it in the sieve and start pressing it correctly, the smaller particles will pass through the mesh, while the larger ones will be retained. In this way, separation will occur.
If a person has a jar of sunflower seeds and sugar, they can use the strainer to separate these ingredients. To do this, you will use a strainer and another container: when you pour the contents of the jar into the strainer, the sugar will fall into the second container, while the sunflower seeds will be retained by the strainer. At the end of the process, you will have the sugar on one side and the sunflower seeds on the other. The success of the screening will depend on the size of the holes or pores in the screen. If these holes are too large, certain items may not be able to be separated. On the contrary, if the holes are small in relation to what is going to be separated, the two substances will remain on the sieve and the separation will not take place either. It is also important to note that the sieve is used with solid items. Two liquids can be separated with a sieve as they pass through the frame. It is important to mention that sieving is a procedure used in several areas, such as cooking, agriculture and chemistry. For example, in bakeries it is common to use a strainer to spread powdered ingredients such as icing sugar, cinnamon or cocoa on cakes or tarts; The purpose of straining, in this case, is to remove the very thick or grainy parts, so that the ingredient adheres and mixes correctly on the surface of the dish. Another example in gastronomy in which the strainer is used is the preparation of the dough, especially if yeast is not used; When someone decides to make a cake or a pizza, among many other recipes, without yeast, it is advisable to sift the flour more than once, so that the particles separate very well and the result is an aerated and malleable mixture. This step is especially necessary when the flour looks wet in the package.
Sifting the earth, on the other hand, is also a resource widely used in gardening to clean small stones and leaves, among other elements that we do not want to include in a specific job. It is widely used in the preparation of compost, a mixture of organic matter that serves to improve the characteristics of the soil, since it provides a series of nutrients that are very necessary for the correct development of plants and flowers. Before distributing or composting in the area that is intended to be treated, it is always advisable to penetrate it, for this it is enough to have a penis, a cheap tool that is easy to make at home, since it simply consists of a metal mesh rectangle supported by a rail of wood. The purpose of sieving, in this case, is to remove from the compost all kinds of elements that can contaminate it and, therefore, harm the benefits that are intended to be obtained from its contact with the soil, such as pieces of plastic, branches, etc. and stones. On the other hand, it also improves its texture and this has a positive effect on its application.
