Photo credit: www.bonappetit.com
If your cookies consistently turn out differently, your bread lacks the perfect texture, or your macarons are more of a disaster than a delicacy, you might want to consider one crucial tool: a kitchen scale.
Many home cooks hesitate to invest in this seemingly clutter-inducing gadget. However, a simple kitchen scale can transform your baking experience, making it more accurate and less messy. Imagine achieving consistently perfect results with less effort and fewer dirty dishes.
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Using a kitchen scale allows you to bid farewell to measuring cups. Moreover, as expert bakers often emphasize, a scale provides precise measurements that are critical for successful baking. Ingredients like flour vary significantly in weight based on how they are measured—scooping directly from the bag can lead to a denser pack than spooning and leveling it off. Such discrepancies can drastically affect your baking outcome, especially in recipes where hydration levels in the dough are essential.
For those who may not bake regularly, a kitchen scale still proves beneficial. It simplifies portioning for items like meatballs or burger patties, enhances meal prep efficiency, and helps minimize the number of dishes used, like when preparing pancakes on a leisurely Sunday morning.
Ultimately, incorporating a kitchen scale into your cooking arsenal is a game changer, regardless of your cooking prowess. After thorough testing of 16 different models, we have identified the best option for home cooks, and it’s priced attractively at just $27.
Best Kitchen Scale Overall: Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
Despite its simple appearance, the Escali Primo Digital Food Scale has been a consistent favorite on culinary review sites, and it has garnered praise in professional kitchens as well. This scale combines durability, high accuracy, user-friendliness, and affordability—qualities that every kitchen needs.
The scale is constructed from lightweight plastic and is available in various fun colors, along with metallic options for minimalist decor. Its two-button operation is straightforward, featuring a button for power and tare calculations, and another for toggling between measurement units (ounces, pounds, and grams).
In our tests, the Escali Primo was praised for its responsiveness and accuracy, quickly returning to zero when tared and providing precise readings with each additional weight. A lengthy auto shutoff period of 4.5 minutes is particularly useful, allowing cooks to work without the worry of losing their measurements mid-recipe. With a maximum weight capacity of 11 pounds, it is suitable for virtually any home cooking task.
Additionally, thoughtful design features enhance its usability. The elevated weighing platform allows for easy reading of the display, even when measuring into larger bowls. Its sealed control panel and plastic body simplify cleanup after messy baking sessions, and rubberized feet ensure stability on kitchen surfaces.
It’s worth noting that while the Escali measures in 1-gram increments—standard for many kitchen scales—it may not meet the needs of those seeking higher precision for coffee brewing. The display is not backlit, and the buttons require a bit of pressure to operate.
Size: 8.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches
Capacity: 11 lbs
Gradation: 1 gram
Auto-off: 4.5 minutes
Power: AA batteries (included)
Best Budget Scale: Amazon Basics Kitchen Scale
The Amazon Basics Kitchen Scale stands out as an exceptional budget option. Priced at less than half that of the Escali, it appeals to newcomers who want to explore the benefits of using a scale without a high financial commitment.
Similar to our top pick, this model features an intuitive two-button interface, an elevated platform for easy visibility, and an 11-pound maximum capacity. Made from plastic with a stainless steel top, it also facilitates easy cleaning and is slightly larger than the Escali.
During testing, the Amazon scale demonstrated impressive accuracy relative to its low price point. It efficiently responded to weight changes, with an accuracy rate of about 99%. The occasional minor inaccuracy was easily corrected by resetting it. At just $12, this scale offers substantial value.
However, the Amazon model differs slightly in that it lacks protective seals around the buttons, making them prone to trapping crumbs. Compared to the Escali, it was slightly less quick to adjust after weight changes. The stainless steel platform is also more susceptible to scratches, despite being easy to wipe clean.
Size: 8.3 x 7 x 1.3 inches
Capacity: 11 lbs
Gradation: 1 gram
Auto-off: TBD
Power: AAA batteries (included)
Testing Methodology for Kitchen Scales
Our evaluation process began with detailed assessments of each scale’s design, materials, and any unique features they offered.
For accuracy testing, we used nickels weighing exactly 5 grams as calibration weights. Following this, scales that performed well were employed in baking projects such as pound cake and pizza dough, allowing us to gauge their practicality in real kitchen settings. We also subjected each scale to a mixture of flour, water, and oil, allowing them to sit overnight before assessing their cleanability and resistance to damage.
Critical evaluation criteria included:
– Consistent accuracy and quick responses when adding and removing weights of varying sizes and materials.
– Effects of weight distribution on readings, ensuring that results were reliable regardless of item placement on the platform.
– Measurement precision, focusing on 1-gram increments as a favored range for all-purpose kitchen use.
– User-friendliness that required no instruction manual.
– Capacity, with a focus on scales capable of holding between 1.65 to 16 pounds, finding that 11 pounds tended to suffice for general home kitchen tasks.
– Durability, ensuring that the scales were well-made, stable during use, and easy to clean.
– Preference for lightweight, compact designs that could be conveniently stored away.
Additional Kitchen Scales We Tested
While these alternatives did not make our top recommendations, they still impressed us during testing and may be suitable for specific needs.
The Fellow Tally is specifically designed as a coffee scale, but its 5.5-pound capacity and attractive design make it a contender for general use as well. However, if your primary need is not coffee-related, its specialized features might not justify the price.
The Escali Arti Glass Kitchen Scale offers a more modern aesthetic and a slightly more advanced feature set. With a four-button interface that includes a “hold” function, we still felt that the added cost over our top pick wasn’t justified.
The OXO Good Grips Food Scale is favored by chefs for its ease of cleaning and innovative design. Although it performs well, its price is about double that of the winning model, making it difficult to recommend as a budget-friendly option.
The Ozeri Pronto shares a design philosophy with the Escali but was observed to have less responsive buttons and a shorter auto shutoff time. Nevertheless, it is well-priced and remains a solid choice for those looking for color variety.
Kitchens Scales We Do Not Recommend
Among the scales we tested, the Etekcity Precision Scale offers various measurement options, including .1-gram increments. However, its reliance on a specific bowl for usage and easily scratched surface led us to question its overall versatility.
Another model, a rechargeable digital kitchen scale, excelled in features such as Bluetooth connectivity and a large capacity. However, its significant inaccuracies disqualified it as a reliable option for most kitchen tasks.
A highly stylized model from Zwilling, with its attractive design and USB charging feature, struggled with measurement accuracy and frustrating button design, detracting from its potential.
Some heavy-duty scales were found to be impractical for home kitchens given their size and professional-grade capabilities, and a miniature scale was shown to have too limited a capacity for regular culinary projects.
Cuisinart’s model offers a removable bowl and glass surface but lacked in precision and came with a clutter issue due to additional parts.
Lastly, a scale from Joseph Joseph had a unique folding design but failed to deliver reliable performance during testing, making it less favorable for everyday use.
FAQs About Kitchen Scales
How do I use a kitchen scale?
Using a kitchen scale involves understanding the “tare” feature. Taring resets the scale to zero with an object on the platform, simplifying the measurement process, especially when adding multiple ingredients directly into a bowl.
What applications are best suited for a kitchen scale?
While baking is an evident use case, kitchen scales are also invaluable for portions such as meat, aiding meal preparation, or in any context where precise ingredient measurements are crucial.
Source
www.bonappetit.com