Kitchen Scale Recommendations (2003 – 2010)

[Risotta]

I'm awed by the wealth of knowledge and experience represented by all you posters here, and I'd like to draw on it.

I'm interested in buying a good kitchen scale for under $100. It shouldn't be too big or heavy, and I'd prefer one that gives metric as well as Imperial measurements.

A kitchenware store near me recommended one by Aquatronics (sp?) at $60 US, but I'm pretty sure it only gives measurements in ounces. It also does not operate by a pendulum, which I read somewhere is the best.

What are people's experiences with scales? Any recommendations?

[fifi]

Cooks Illustrated did a piece on scales some time ago. It was their usual anal retentive analysis. (which is a good thing.) I don't remember the results. I will see if I can find it and post.

[Steve Klc]

Home kitchen or pro kitchen? Will you do pastry? If so, make sure it measures down to 2g increments with 1 g increments even better. The ability to switch between grams and ounces without having to turn the scale over in order to switch back and forth is a very nice feature if you plan to work with alot of different recipes.

I think we had a few previous threads on this--have you searched? I think I mentioned we've had good luck with several of the inexpensive battery-operated flat, sleek, light, low-profile plastic Soehnle (sp?) scales. It travels well, we've packed it and taken it everywhere. It holds up. I haven't ever used the Salter models, which Sur La Table sells, but have the Edlund in one restaurant and it is excellent. It's also more expensive than you need if you're working at home.

(I do like my Pelouze digital best, though, which is more expensive as well. Model FS2 weighs to 1 g, has a two pound capacity, electric and rechargeable internal battery, don't have to turn it over to switch g/oz.)

[guajolote]

Read the excellent Kitchen Scale Manifesto by Barney the Dinosaur, err Vengroff.

[fifi]

I am in awe!!! I found the CI article. It was in the March 2000 issue. They favor electronic scales. First choice is Soehnle $125, Salter $60, and Cuisinart $70. The last two did not rate very high for accuracy but probably accurate enough for the typical cook so they were left in the top three. They focused a lot on design, ease of use, being able to see the display, etc.

[vengroff]

Read the excellent Kitchen Scale Manifesto by Barney the Dinosaur, err Vengroff.

Thanks for the plug. The manifesto is still being edited, but a final version will be available by the time the eGullet Recipe Archive goes beta.

[glenn]

Here's a previous discussion about scales. I ended up getting the Pelouze as a result of this discussion, though I don't recall the price and if it was within your monetary restraints.

[nightscotsman]

I have a small digital Salter that I really like - model Number 2001. Think I paid about $40 for it at a kitchen shop. Max weight 2kg/5lb in 1 gram or 1/8 oz increments. There are two buttons on the front, one to turn it on and zero-out, and one to switch from grams to ounces. The small size and low profile make it very easy to store and it doesn't take up much counter space.

Available here: Kitchen Kapers for $39.99.

Edited March 13, 2003 by nightscotsman (log)

[JSD]

I bought a Sunbeam digital electronic scale for about $30 at an office supply warehouse. It measures in grams and in tenths of an ounce, has the tare feature, and goes up to 5 pounds. I looked everywhere before I bought this one and really thought it was the best for the money. I usually put a plate on it for measuring, because it's really meant for postage.

[Steve Klc]

That almost sounds too good to be true! 5 pounds and by the gram? Do you have a model number and a link perhaps to where you bought it?

[nightscotsman]

Could it be this?

[Fat Guy]

I think I mentioned on one of the other threads that consumer-level kitchen scales are often just marked-up versions of the postal scales you can get for half as much at Office Max, Staples, etc. Here's the Sunbeam $29.99 model at the 'Max that I recommended awhile back:

http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/pro...ckOID=536966697

[nightscotsman]

Yeah, but the kitchen versions are much prettier. Also, at least on mine the buttons are seamless, making it possible to clean.

[JSD]

Could it be this?

Yes, that's the one, and I think it was Office Depot (I really can't remember, it's the one next to Costco??). I actually bought it for weighing fiber, but I usually put a plastic camping plate on it and then reset it, so cleaning hasn't really been an issue. I had gone to a restaurant supply store to look, but they were all incredibly expensive, over $200. For casual use, this has been a pretty good deal.

[Timo]

i also recommend the salter digi scale that nightscotman uses. i bought one at williams-sonoma because they were on clearance after the holidays. it was gift wrapped and everything,

now, of course, i am irreversibly spoiled by it and am too lazy to use measuring cups and the like. a scale will simplify your life beyond belief.

[Risotta]

Thanks for all the wonderful responses. I will study Vengroff's Manifesto, but your personal experiences with these scales are also very helpful. I knew I came to the right place!

[memesuze]

Just picked up the Sunbeam postal scale ON SALE at Office Max for $26. Go for it....

memesuze

[Stone]

There are some cool looking scales on this site.

Which should I buy?

[fifi]

Cook's Illustrated rated EKS, Terrailon and Cuisinart as tops for electronic scales. I did not see any in this link that were rated by CI. They rated based on accuracy, precision (how is that different???), and design. In the design category they looked at things like being able to see the read-out with stuff on the weighing platform.

[chezcherie]

I've used the Salter 1002 pictured on that page for several years, and I recommend it--easy to clean, very portable (important to me, because I cook in several different kitchens), and reliable. That's a pretty good price, too.

[Fat Guy]

Just go to OfficeMax and get a potal scale -- they're electronically the same but less expensive to buy. This one is 30 bucks, has 1-gram gradations, tare, and metric/English, plus the readout is nice and far from the platform. Also check on eBay.

[Dave the Cook]

It's really helpful to be able to remove the weighing platform for cleaning. This information is not always explicit in product descriptions, unfortunately.

Accuracy is how, well, accurate it is -- if you put a one-pound weight on it, does it show one pound on the read-out? If it doesn't, what's the margin of error? (What is never disclosed is the accuracy across the measuring range, which is too bad, because it matters. Scales -- even digital scales -- are inherently non-linear.)

Precision is how small an increment (e.g., 1/10 of an ounce, or 0.25 grams) it can weigh with a given accuracy.

I think. If that's not what they mean, that's what they should mean, because they're what's important. IMHO.

[Suvir Saran]

It's really helpful to be able to remove the weighing platform for cleaning. This information is not always explicit in product descriptions, unfortunately.

Accuracy is how, well, accurate it is -- if you put a one-pound weight on it, does it show one pound on the read-out? If it doesn't, what's the margin of error? (What is never disclosed is the accuracy across the measuring range, which is too bad, because it matters. Scales -- even digital scales -- are inherently non-linear.)

Precision is how small an increment (e.g., 1/10 of an ounce, or 0.25 grams) it can weigh with a given accuracy.

I think. If that's not what they mean, that's what they should mean, because they're what's important. IMHO.

So what do you use in your kitchen?

[fifi]

Accuracy is how, well, accurate it is -- if you put a one-pound weight on it, does it show one pound on the read-out? If it doesn't, what's the margin of error? (What is never disclosed is the accuracy across the measuring range, which is too bad, because it matters. Scales -- even digital scales -- are inherently non-linear.)

Precision is how small an increment (e.g., 1/10 of an ounce, or 0.25 grams) it can weigh with a given accuracy.

I think. If that's not what they mean, that's what they should mean, because they're what's important. IMHO.

Of course... I knew that!

[Raynickben]

I too have the Salter 1002. Love it.

(Oh and I had a friend borrow it for her son's science experiment and he got an A)