Commonly used in cooking to separate ingredients like flour or powdered sugar. Remember to run the powdered sugar through a sieve to avoid lumps in the frosting.
Pro Tip 2/3
Not for Liquids
A sieve is not typically used for thin liquids; it's for thicker mixtures or dry ingredients. To drain pasta, you’d better use a colander, not a sieve.
Pro Tip 3/3
Metaphorical Use
Can be used to describe a process of careful selection or elimination. They sieved the applications, selecting only the most promising candidates.