The Best Kitchen Scale 2024 Consumer Reports (America’s Test Kitchen)

Precise measurements of food ingredients is an essential part of several cooking processes; making wrong measurements can lead to unfavorable results when cooking. Kitchen scales are designed to provide this exact functionality to both amateur and professional cooks.

Invest in a kitchen scale and watch your cooking skills get honed to the best of your ability.

How your cooking turns out largely depends on whether or not you took the appropriate steps to ensure every piece is perfect or short in terms of quantity. Baking, in particular, is a cooking process that requires the most careful measurements to implement. There are different models you can consider choosing from to complement your kitchen activities. 

Reviews of The Best Kitchen Scale America’s Test Kitchen

Here are list top rated Kitchen Scale by consumer reports 2020

1. OXO 1130800 Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display

This is a top-notch product with an 11 pounds capacity with increments of 1/8 ounce (US) and 1 g (metric). This allows the scale to produce precise measurements for your food ingredients. This is a battery-powered device with a remarkable display that detaches from the base of the scale. This enables you to easily read your measurements without having the figures blocked the shadow of the bowl placed on the scale.

You can also weigh both liquid and solid food ingredients with accuracy; there’s a feature on the scale called the Zero Function. This cancels out the weight of the container during measurements, giving you just the weight of the contents. Maintenance is made easy due to the detachable nature of the scale; hand-washing is the recommended form of cleaning for this product.

The display has an excellent backlight that provides clear visibility when reading the results. This product comes with 4 AAA batteries; you can easily store the device because of its compact and cord-free design.

Pros:

• Cancels out the weight of your bowls or containers
• Easy to read display with an effective backlight
• Versatile functionality
• Detachable parts to enable easy maintenance.
• Comes with 4 AAA batteries

Cons:

• Uneven weighing surface
• Quite expensive

2. My Weigh Bakers Math Kitchen Scale – KD8000 Scale

This is a digital scale with a huge weighing capacity reaching up to 17 pounds; the scale provides measurements in different modes such as pounds, ounces, pounds against ounces, and kilograms. This is ideal for most bakers, as it comes with some complementing features that can help when baking. There is a unique function known as Baker’s math. This enables the scale to provide a percentage weighing function. This simply means you can quickly scale your recipes up or down, depending on precisely what you need.

The scale features a stainless steel weighing platform that can be easily cleaned and maintained without any hassle. The device is both electric-powered and battery-powered; it comes equipped with an AC adapter for connection to an electric power source.

Another feature of this kitchen scale is that it has an automatic shut-off function to help conserve power when not in use. This model isn’t as bulky as some other kitchen scales; it is quite portable for storage in your kitchen cabinet.

Pros:

• Comes with a unique percentage feature
• You can customize your shut-off function.
• Portable scale
• Durable and sturdy construction
• Dual-source power – Electric and battery

Cons

• It isn’t as weight-sensitive as other scales.

3. Best Digital Kitchen Scale By CAMRY

This kitchen scale has a sleek design with a 2.15ml detachable bowl compartment provided above the weighing platform itself. You simply have to pour your food ingredients into the bowl and start reading the results. The scale is entirely made using stainless steel to ensure durability over the lifetime use.

The kitchen scale has a weighing capacity of 11lbs or 5 Kgs; you can measure your weights in different units, including pounds, ounces, or grams. This device comes with the tare function that enables it to cancel out the weight of the bowl or container used to carry the food items.

There is an LCD with an excellent white backlight to enhance the readability of the results when weighing. There’s also an in-built timer, an alarm timer, and a room temperature sensor to provide extra support and options when cooking. The scale is battery-powered and comes with two AAA batteries in the package. The manufacturer grants a 30-day no-risk guarantee as well as a 2-year warranty for every purchase on the model.

Pros:

• Has a weighing capacity of up to eleven pounds / five Kgs
• Clear LCD
• Comes with a tare function
• Has an automatic shut-off function
• Includes a detachable weighing bowl

Cons:

• Runs out of power quickly

4. GreaterGoods Digital Food Kitchen Scale – Measures in Grams and Ounces

When talking about precision and accuracy, this product deserves recognition as one of the best kitchen scales in those respects. The scale features four precision weighing sensors to achieve efficiency to a gram or 0.1 ounces.

You can switch between multiple units of measurements, such as pounds and ounces, grams, milliliters, and fluid ounces. This is an incredibly lightweight kitchen scale with a weighing capacity reaching up to 11 pounds. You can easily read the weights of your loads on the clear LCD integrated into its design.

You also have access to the tare function, which separates the weight of the bowl from that of the contents; this is achieved by resetting the scale down to zero after placing an empty bowl on the weighing platform.

The scale automatically shuts off after a couple of minutes of inactivity; you can also calibrate it to suit your preferences. This product is battery-powered and comes with two years of warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros:

• Very portable design
• Has a tare function
• Comes with a two-year warranty
• Clear-to-read LCD display
• The build can be easily maintained with its scratch-resistant surface.

Cons:

• Batteries run out of power within a week of use.

5. Ozeri ZK Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale

This is a battery-powered kitchen scale with a versatile range of uses; they can be used in cooking, baking, or any other cooking process that requires the most delicate of measurements.

A single structure, there is a weighing platform that can read up to a capacity of 11.24 pounds or 5.1 Kgs; you can also attain precise measurements down to a gram or 0.05 ounces. Below the platform is a big LCD you can easily read, even with the absence of a backlight.

You can switch your measurements between ounces, pounds, milliliters, as well as pounds and ounces. The tare function is also integrated into this scale to eliminate the weight of your measuring container like a bowl. This scale functions through the use of two AAA batteries and has an automatic shut-off feature that conserves the device’s power.

Pros:

• Easy and precise conversion of weights
• Clear LCD
• Compact and easy-storage design
• Can handle weights up to 11 pounds

Cons:

• The LCD doesn’t have a backlight.
• Strictly battery-powered

6. Best Kitchen Scale for Baking by Etekcity

This digital food scale can measure up to a capacity of 11 pounds or 5 Kg; the device is simply a flat platform with an LCD embedded into the base of the scale. Built using stainless steel, the device is strong and easy to clean. You can conveniently weigh your food ingredients with a bowl or any suitable container; there’s a tare function that cancels out the weight of the container from the reading.

The scale has an auto shut-off function that turns itself off after a while. It runs on 3 AAA batteries and also features a power indicator that denotes the level of power remaining.

Pros:

• Gives measurements in precise increments
• Weighing capacity of 11 lb. or 5 kg
• Has a battery indicator
• Comes with an auto shut-off function

Cons:

• The backlight of the display turns off after a few seconds.

7. Etekcity Digital Kitchen Food Scale and Multifunction Scale with Removable Bowl

This is another quality kitchen scale you can use to weigh up to a capacity of 11 pounds or 5 kg. The scale features a removable bowl you can detach and flip to cover the device in storage.

There’s a tare function embedded into its design to give readings based on only the contents of the container. You can take your readings in different units, including pound (lb.), kilogram (kg), fluid ounce (oz.), and milliliters (ml). The scale automatically shuts off after 2 minutes of inactivity, it runs on battery power, and the package includes batteries.

Pros:

• Has an automatic shut-off system
• Comes with a detachable bowl
• One year of warranty from the manufacturer
• Very affordable option
• Easy to read LCD

Cons:

• Cheap plastic build

How We Tested?

We bought a set of lab weights and weighed each one to see how accurately each scale measured the following: 1,000 grams (1 kg), 100 grams, 50 grams, 20 grams, 10 grams, 5 grams, 2 grams, and 1 gram.

We also tested the accuracy of the pocket scales that read in 0.1-gram increments for the following weights: 50.5 grams, 50.1 grams, 30.5 grams, 20.5 grams, 20.1 grams, and 10.5 grams. Then, for good measure (ha!) we did some milligram tests with the pocket scales: 500 mg, 200 mg, 100 mg, 50 mg, and 10 mg.

We timed how quickly the scale responded to adding or removing weights to test speed. Then we timed how long each scale stayed on with a weight on the platform before the auto-off feature kicked in.

We also baked pumpkin muffins with each scale, noting any unusual quirks or handling details, such as whether the scale turns off if you accidentally press the tare/power button twice.

How Do I Choose A Food/Baking Scale?

As previously mentioned, there are several models of food scales in the market, each of which comes with its unique features and mode of functionality. There are certain factors you need to consider before deciding on the product you want. You can think of them as criteria for building a model with all the requirements you desire.

Capacity:

This can affect the accuracy of measurements you can get from your kitchen scale; the higher the capacity, the higher the accuracy of the device, and vice versa.

This is simply because the higher the capacity, the better your scale can focus on weighing several pounds of food ingredients. The best models are designed to deliver results in increments of a gram; you need to go the right capacity that suits your cooking needs.

Unit of Measurement:

Kitchen scales produce results in three main types of units; it can either be in grams, pounds, or ounces. Weights displayed on an analog scale or a digital scale are to be read according to the unit they are designed with. Certain models allow you to convert your results into any unit of measure you desire.

This will enable you to avoid converting your figures manually in the kitchen; therefore, slowing down your work and reducing productivity. So it’s just best to buy a scale with several units of measurements.

Source of Power:

There are battery-powered kitchen scales that can last on a set of batteries for a few months. However, this depends on the frequency of use in the kitchen; another thing to consider is that the batteries tend to last longer if the scale has an automatic power-down function. You can also go for electric-powered models that come with an AC adapter for connection to your power sockets.

Durability:

This matters a lot if you intend to use your kitchen scale for a very long period. The construction must be strong and sturdy enough to handle the heavy quantities of food ingredients.

Without a solid build, your scale is prone to wear out within a few months of regular use. Also, if there are buttons on the scale you want, they must be sealed to prevent moisture from seeping into it. This could cause unintended damages or accidents, especially if the scale is electric-powered.

What Are the Three Types of Scales?

There are three types of scales you can choose from; this includes the mechanical/spring, balance, and digital scales. Each of these three scales functions on different working principles. Here are three types of scales you should consider:

1. Mechanical/Spring

This kitchen scale employs a weighing platform placed on a heavy spring that tracks any changes in force applied to it. Spring-loaded kitchen scales are not ideal for you simply because they portray the property of linear compression. This means they are prone to developing deformities after a certain period of use; the spring could end up stuck at a new length or even breaking in severe cases.

Another drawback is that small quantities can’t be measured as easily as large quantities. This is because spring kitchen scales can’t effectively register small changes in the weight placed on the platform; an ounce of weight will be quite hard for the spring to detect.

2. Balance

The balance scales work by making comparisons between established masses and that of the item you want to weigh. In strict terms, this scale calculates the mass of objects, not the weights.

The drawback of this type of kitchen scales is that they don’t provide accurate or precise results, they only indicate whether the mass of the measured object is bigger or smaller than that of the known mass.

3. Digital Kitchen Scale

These are the most accurate and precise of all three types of kitchen scales. They function through the use of an electrical component known as the load cell or strain gauge.

A program calculates the weight of a load by monitoring changes in the resistance of the strain gauge. The best digital scales perform at high efficiency and take constant readings per second, giving you access to rapid feedback on the results.

Video: How to use a Kitchen Scale?

Why Measure By Weight?

The purpose of kitchen scales is to ensure consistency. According to Alton Brown, 1 cup of flour can range from 4 to 6 ounces, depending on how you measure it, the age of the flour, the size of the bag, and the relative humidity. That’s the difference between a cake that’s light as air and one that’s tough or rubbery.

“Using a scale is much more precise,” pastry chef Jürgen David told us. “If you measure 100 grams of flour using a scale, it’s going to be the same for everyone.” He advises home cooks to “get a scale and ditch the cups.”

Not only can the amount of flour and sugar vary depending on what you’re measuring with. The same is true of cooking ingredients.

Consider cheese: a recipe may call for a cup of shredded cheddar, but grating with a box grater, a micro plane, or a food processor will yield different volumes. The same is true for any nuts, vegetables, or other ingredients you’ll be chopping up. Your dice or chop may differ from the recipe tester’s.

CONCLUSION

Kitchen scales provide you with the most accurate and precise measurements when cooking; this helps you avoid having bad cooking results due to poorly measured ingredients. Properly implement your cooking steps and witness your cooking improve to perfection.

Frequently Asked Questions