If you're ready to take your baking to the next level, you need a kitchen scale. These gadgets allow you to precisely measure ingredients by weight, which is more accurate than using a measuring cup. Think about it like this: when you measure flour, there are a couple of different methods. You can scoop your cup in and flatten the powder at the top, or you can add pour flower directly into the cup and then flatten it. While both methods will give you a cup of flour, there will be a noticeable difference in the weight of the flour in the cup, and since baking is science, small errors can lead to big problems. That's why you need a kitchen scale. Because when you're measuring 4.25 ounces of flour into a container, with a scale, you'll get the perfect amount no matter how you get it in there. So to sum it up, kitchen scales deserve a place in every kitchen. If your kitchen doesn't have one yet, pick one of the ones on our list. You'll find the features you need at the price point you want. GreaterGoods Digital Food Kitchen Scale You’ll be pleased to know, dear reader, that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good kitchen scale. This one is very budget-friendly, and it certainly isn’t lacking in features. You can easily account for and subtract the weight of the container you’re putting food into by using the Zero button. Then, you can begin adding food. This scale is accurate to within one gram, which is pretty darn precise, so you can be confident you’re adding the right amount of each ingredient. The digital display on this kitchen scale is easy to read since the numbers are large. Additionally, this scale is sleek and will look great on your counter. If you decide to store it in a cupboard or drawer, it won’t take up a ton of room, either. All in all, folks, this one’s a good bet at a better price. Pros Can measure up to 11 pounds, handling just about anything you need to weigh Smooth, easy-to-wipe surface so you won’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning Lightweight scale that’s easy to move around your kitchen Comes in a few different colors so you can get your favorite Cons The batteries don’t last long, so you’ll want to shut it off when you’re done to help them last longer Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Kitchen Scale Kitchen scales don’t have to take up a lot of space in your kitchen, and this compact scale from Ozeri is proof of that. It may be small, but it’s perfect for almost any kitchen project. It can accurately weigh over 11 pounds, and the measuring surface is large enough to hold a big bowl. This will reduce the number of dishes you need to wash when you’re done baking. More importantly, perhaps, you won’t have any trouble while using this scale. The buttons make an audible sound when you push them, so you won’t have to sit and push them over and over again wondering if it worked. The two buttons allow you to convert between units and set the tare. Once you add this little scale to your kitchen, you’ll wonder why you lived without it for so long. Pros Fun color options so you can find one that complements your space Can go negative, allowing you to put a container of food on it and remove some to see how much you removed Lets you convert units so you can quickly get the perfect measurement Small profile that isn’t going to take over your countertop Cons This measures in increments of .3-ounces, so you won’t get a precise measurement on tiny amounts of food (such as when you’re adding spices) Weigh Gram TPO-100 Digital Pocket Scale If you’re trying to track your macros, you’ll want to always have access to a kitchen scale. This portable one makes it possible to weigh your food even when you’re not in the comfort of your own home. It has a protective cover, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally pushing buttons when it’s in your purse or bag. When you’re ready to use it, you can simply flip the cover back and start your measuring. If you forget what any of the features are for, there’s a handy user guide attached to the back of the cover. This way you can easily glance at it while the scale is in use. Another great feature is that the display is backlit, so you can easily read the weight regardless of the lighting of the room you’re in. You won’t go wrong with this portable kitchen scale. It’s ready when (and where) you are. Pros Good design that protects the scale when it’s not in use Can weigh up to 100 grams, which is perfect for small measuring jobs Precise up to 0.01 grams, which means it’s very accurate Cons You may need to recalibrate your scale occasionally to ensure it’s accurate, but there are directions for that on the user guide, so there’s no need to get intimidated by the process OXO Good Grips 11214800 Food Scale Sometimes when you’re measuring food in a larger container, you wind up blocking your view of the scale. Then you’ve got to contort yourself into all sorts of crazy positions to try to read what it says. Fear not, though: this scale from OXO won’t get you all twisted out of shape. How? Simple: the display portion extends, so you can easily read it no matter what’s on top of the scale. The display design isn’t the only great feature of this scale: you can remove the platform to clean it completely without damaging the working parts. There’s also a unit conversion button, so you can easily switch between ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms. In addition, you’ll love how sleek this stainless steel scale looks in your kitchen. Pros “Zero” function so you can tare the scale once you have your container in place Stainless steel design that’s smudge- and fingerprint-resistant so that it looks great between cleanings Scale remembers the unit you were using the last time, so if you always measure in grams, you won’t have to take the time to rotate through the other units before it’s ready Cons The tare feature is on the on/off button, so you’ll have to remember that a quick click is a tare and a longer push shuts it off and turns it on The directions aren’t the best as they don’t have instructions for removing the platform for cleaning. You pull it off, but it’s a hard pull Koios Food Scale Some kitchen scales can go through batteries like candy, and that’s an expense that can really add up. To help you save money, pick up this rechargeable model instead. It charges through a USB connection, and once fully charged, it can last as long as a couple of months. That’s a lot of batteries you’re saving, which isn’t just great for the environment, but for your wallet, too. This sleek-looking scale features tempered glass on the panel. This material is durable and easy to clean. It can accurately measure up to 500-kilograms, which is just over 11 pounds. In addition to kilograms, this scale measures in ounces, grams, fluid ounces, and milliliters. No matter what you need to measure, this is a great scale to get it done. Pros Waterproof design, so if something spills on it accidentally, you’re less likely to ruin it Graduation of 0.4 ounces, so it’s accurate enough for almost all home kitchen use Doesn’t need a constant supply of fresh batteries – you simply plug it in and let it charge, which saves you money in the long run Can be hung up to store so that it’s out of your way Cons Doesn’t come with a wall port for the USB cable, so you’ll need to purchase one if you don’t have one already. Otherwise, you can hook it up to your computer to charge Charging can take a bit of time (about 90 minutes), which can be annoying if it dies just when you need it. Keep an eye on the batteries to prevent this problem Frequently Asked Questions What is a tare? Most people don’t want to plop their food down directly on the platform of their kitchen scale. Instead, they use a container or plate to put the food on. But that container weighs something, and if you don’t account for that weight, your measurements will be off. A scale’s tare function does exactly this: it accounts for the weight of the container and then zeros out the scale. This way, you can add food without having to do mental math to subtract the container’s weight from the total weight. Kitchen scales with tare buttons are essential since they save so much time and brainpower. Are kitchen scales hard to use? Most kitchen scales are designed with simplicity in mind. However, even with easy-to-use features, getting into the habit of using a kitchen scale can take a while. You are, after all, probably accustomed to measuring a different way, likely with measuring cups. Doing it another way will require practice and time. Once you get used to using the scale, though, you’ll almost definitely prefer it. It’ll become second nature and you won’t even have to think about it anymore. 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