Toss out those useless plastic shaker tops that come with them to avoid wasting time and under-seasoning your food.

While the perforated plate may seem like it's helping, it's easier to take the shaker tops off so you can get a spoon in the jar to measure the amount of spice you need accurately.

Adding seasoning multiple times while cooking helps build a dish's flavor, but as the tiny holes release a small amount of spice, removing the sifter allows you to season properly.

If you want to sprinkle spices on dishes, put a few tablespoons on a handheld cocktail sieve, hold it over your food, and tap the edge of the tool with the backside of a knife.

However, a sifter is useful for seasonings that you only use a small amount of and keep on the table, like salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.