Sifting icing sugar
Question
Are you allowed to sift icing sugar through a specialized can with holes on Shabbos? The purpose would be for it to sprinkle on nicely on the dessert, not for sifting out any thing unwanted
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
If I understand correctly, when you write “a specialized can with holes on Shabbos” I am going to assume you mean a flour sifter.
One may indeed use a flour sifter (or pretty much any similar utensil on Shabbat) to sprinkle icing sugar on a cake.
This is on condition that the sifter is only to make a nice looking covering of sugar. It cannot be used if there are lumps in the sugar that will remain behind while sifting. This would be a violation of “borer” and/or “merakeid” the ban on separating wanted material from unwanted material.
In order to ensure this won’t be a problem, one should press down on the sugar with a spoon or one’s hand before putting it into the sifter.
Answered by
Author of the "Dalet Amot BeHalacha" series
Smicha Yoreh-Yoreh (1999) and Yadin-Yadin, author of "Dalet Amot BeHalacha" (11 volumes)
Orach Chaim, Yoreh Deah, Even HaEzer, Choshen Mishpat (excluding laws of interest)
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