This review is on the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker, item #1695 in the Pampered Chef catalog under the Baking Basics section.

From the Catalog:

"Dust on some powdered sugar, cinnamon or flour. Features lid and area for labeling contents."

From the Package Insert:

"Exclusive to the Pampered Chef, the Flour/Sugar Shaker neatly and evenly sprinkles flour, powdered sugar or cinnamon on baked goods or baking surfaces - even dust plates for a decorative touch! Handy recipe card gives suggestions for in the kitchen, and out of the kitchen uses."

How to use the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker:

1) Before first use, wash your Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker.

2) Unscrew ring, remove screen, and fill. When done filling, replace screen and ring, then tighten to close securely.

3) Cover with plastic storage lid when not in use.

4) Write contents of the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker with a permanent marker on textured bottom strip. (optional)

Sight and Feel:

The Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker comes out of the box looking somewhat like a coffee cup. It is white, making it a good color combination for almost any kitchen. It is around the same size as your everyday (non-super size) coffee cup and also has a curved handle similar to one as well. It stands (with screen and plastic top) at 4 1/2 inches high and approx 2 1/2 inches in diameter. While it feels to be of sturdy construction, it is fairly light in weight at just 2 oz. There is a raised area along the bottom of the cup that allows for labeling. Since I use my Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker for many different things, I chose not to label mine.

The Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker comes in four pieces. One being the main body (cup). The cup is made of white plastic and without screen and cover, stands 3 1/2 inches high and holds 1 cup of whatever DRY ingredient you choose. Next there is a stainless steel screen, silver in color. The screen is domed and is one inch deep, 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Because it is stainless steel, it is also rust resistant. Once placing the screen on top of the cup (dome side up) you seal with the third piece. This is a white plastic ring that screws on without a hassle. There are also 4 raised plastic grips to make screwing the ring on even easier. The last and final piece is a cap made of clear plastic and is meant to be placed over the stainless steel screen and white plastic ring. This cap goes on snug, but is also very easy to remove. It is snug enough so if your Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker were to fall, the cap would not fall off, yet it can easily be removed by a child or someone with arthritis.

Why Should I Buy the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker?

1) "Help" the hostess for under $10.

2) Rust Resistant, Dishwasher Safe, and Sturdy.

3) Useful in more ways than one.

4) Comfortable in the hand, easy to use.

5) Comes with great recipes.

6) Comes with the Pampered Chef 3 year guarantee.

I purchased my Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker at one of the many PC parties I have been to over the last couple years. I didn't feel like spending a huge amount, but wanted to at least get something so I could help the hostess earn her benefits. I wanted something useful that I didn't already have, but most of all, I wanted it to be inexpensive.

The Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker caught my eye. My sieve had been missing for quite some time and I was getting tired of using the spoon tapping method to flour or sugar my recipes. For those of you who do not know this method, you fill a spoon with whatever ingredient you want to top your recipe with, be it powdered sugar on French toast or flour on a bread braid. Then you carefully tilt the spoon over the food and ever so gently tap, tap, tap with your finger hoping to get just a bit at a time to fall down. Those of you who use this method know that it rarely works out the way you want it too. The best part of this handy gadget is that it was only $5.50 in the catalog. I figured, what the heck, I know I'll use it and my husband should be happy seeing that I spent under $10 instead of my usual $50 or so (blush).

When my Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker arrived, I immediately washed and dried it and filled it with cinnamon sugar. I was making Cinnamon Tortilla Cups for ice cream and wanted to see how the shaker would work. I'd like to say that it did well, but I can actually say it did better than that. I was very happy because I was able to sugar my tortilla triangles with very little fuss and it left behind little to no mess. All I had to do was place my tortillas on some wax paper, shake the shaker gently over the triangles by holding onto it's coffee cup like handle and the sugar went exactly where I wanted it to go. When I was done with that triangle, since the top is easy to unscrew, I folded the wax paper in half and poured the sugar back into the shaker. I was then ready to do it all over again. I would have to say that the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker cut my sugar sprinkling time and clean up time by half.

Since my original purchase, I have bought three more since I found that I use it so much. My toddler son is still in diapers, so I put cornstarch in one Flour/Sugar shaker and I am able to shake it over his tush when he has a diaper rash with no fuss. I also have one in my arts and craft room for my 7 yr old to use. Sometimes it is filled with powdered Tempra paint or powdered chalk so we can do artistic designs, and other times it is filled with glitter. I have found that the handle is comfortable enough for her to use and because of it's size she is able to make her masterpieces with mush more ease than with the regular shakers that came with the paint and/or the glitter. For my other two, those stay in the kitchen. One is always filled with either powdered sugar or a cinnamon and granulated sugar mixture. The other of course, is always filled with flour. With thePampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker, and the help of some homemade stencils, I have been able to make powdered sugar designs on cakes, without the stencils, the sugar looks awesome on crepes, brownies, French Toast, and Pancakes. I have also filled it with powdered cocoa and used that to make designs instead. Not only for practical uses, the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker has also gotten me lots of oooohs and awwws over my recipes.

.Of course, to help you out in the recipe department, Pampered Chef includes a little card with one or more recipes with each of it's products. The Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker comes with recipes for "Three Simple Shaker Toppers," The Perfect Cinnamon Sugar, Mexican Cinnamon Sugar, and Crazy Colored Sugar. There are also recipes for Simple Shortbread Buttons, Powdered Sunshine Kisses and Cinnamon Tostada Chips.

As with most Pampered Chef products, it comes with a guarantee, this one being 3 years.

Uses for the Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker:

Food: Flour, Powdered Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar, Cocoa, Premixed Spices

Non-food: Tempra paint, Powdered Chalk, Glitter, Cornstarch for Baby's bottom

Care and Handling:

The Pampered Chef Flour/Sugar Shaker is dishwasher safe if placed away from the heating element. Also it is best to dry thoroughly before storage and before use. If there is any moisture inside the shaker, whatever contents you have inside, will stick.

I have always washed mine in the dishwasher and have not had a problem. If I am washing a Flour/Sugar Shaker that has had glitter in it, sometimes I have had the glitter stick to the screen, but with a light flush of water, it has come out easily.

Any Negatives About the Product?

None.

How To Purchase

The Pampered Chef Four/Sugar Shaker is available only through Pampered Chef consultants or their websites.

To locate a Pampered Chef consultant call 1-800-266-5522 (US)

You can also learn more about Pampered Chef products at
http://www.PamperedChef.com.

Other Pampered Chef reviews include:
Cake Tester
Crinkle Cutter
Stoneware Deep Dish Baker
Garlic Press
Deluxe Mini Muffin Pan
Pizza Cutter
Baker's Roller
Oven Mitt
Oven Pad

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 5.50