Quick verdict
A stainless steel round-hole sieve that sorts blueberries, beans, coffee beans and other small produce by size: shake it and anything smaller than the holes drops through, leaving the larger grade on top. It is simple, washable and rust free. For a home grower selling or freezing berries it separates the plump fruit from the small, and for bean savers it grades seed. It is one sieve with one hole size, so sorting into three grades needs two.
Strengths
- Grades berries and beans by size with a few shakes
- Stainless steel washes clean and does not rust
- Also sorts coffee beans, peas and small seeds
- Works as a colander for rinsing
- Light and easy to store
Weaknesses
- One hole size; multi-grade sorting needs several sieves
- Soft overripe berries can crush against the mesh
- Generic brand with thin listing information
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Sorting the Big From the Small
A bucket of blueberries holds fruit from pea-sized to marble-sized, and the market, the freezer and the jam pan want different grades. A sorting sieve does it in seconds. PRETYZOOM’s is a stainless steel pan with round holes of one size: shake it over a bowl, the small fruit drops through and the large grade stays on top. The same screen sorts beans, peas and coffee.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how round-hole grading sieves are used for small produce generally. We have not used this sieve ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
How It Works
Pour a single layer of berries in and shake gently with a circular motion over a bowl. Anything smaller than the hole falls through; anything larger rides on top. Tip the top grade into its container and pour the next batch. A few pounds of berries grade in minutes, which is why pickers and small growers use screens rather than hand sorting.
Grades
One sieve gives two grades: above and below its hole size. For three grades, run the undersize through a second sieve with smaller holes. Large uniform berries sell best and freeze loose without clumping; small ones make jam and juice. For bean savers, the largest seed is the seed to keep.
Fruit Condition
Firm, fresh blueberries shake across the screen without harm. Overripe soft fruit bruises against the metal and should be sorted by hand or not at all. Grade on picking day.
Stainless
Stainless rinses clean, does not stain with berry juice and does not rust in the kitchen. It doubles as a colander for rinsing the harvest.
Who Should Buy It
- Blueberry growers selling or freezing their crop.
- Bean and seed savers grading seed stock.
- Home coffee roasters sorting green beans.
Common Owner Complaints
A single hole size and thin product information. Buy two for three grades; the tool is simple enough that the listing hardly matters.
Technique Tips
Work with a single layer of fruit so every berry meets the holes; a deep pile hides the small ones on top. Shake side to side and then in a slow circle, since berries need to roll to find a hole. Set the sieve over a wide bowl with a cloth in the bottom so the small grade drops a short distance onto something soft.
Beyond Berries
The same screen grades dried beans before storage, sorts peas for seed, sifts coffee beans by size for even roasting and separates lentils from chaff. Any small round produce that benefits from uniformity passes through it.
Alternatives to Consider
Nested grading sieve sets with several hole sizes sort in one pass. A slotted colander does a rough sort for free. Commercial roller graders suit farms.
Verdict
For separating the big berries from the small, a stainless grading screen is quick and this one is a sensible, washable version. Grade firm fruit on picking day and buy a second size if you need three grades.
Full specifications
PRETYZOOM Stainless Steel Round Hole Blueberry and Bean Grading Sieve FAQs
Pour a layer of berries in, shake gently over a bowl. Small berries fall through, large ones stay. Tip the large grade into its container and repeat.
Large uniform berries sell for more and freeze evenly; small ones go to jam. For seed saving, large beans are the ones to keep.
Firm blueberries and beans, no. Overripe soft fruit should be sorted by hand.
Yes. The holes drain and the stainless does not stain.
