How to choose the best kitchen scales
The right scale for you will depend on your personal needs. For instance, if you like baking bread at home or are trying something out from your best slow cooker recipe book, you’ll want to find a scale that has both a high weighing capacity and the ability to measure smaller percentages should you need to adjust your recipe. However, if you’re after something a little prettier for your kitchen worktop, then a classic vintage-style scale might be what you’re after.
Here are the main things to consider when choosing kitchen scales.
Choice of measurements - Do the scales offer a choice of measurements e.g. grams or pounds, ml or ounces and how easy is it to switch between the two? Does the scale remember your preferred choice when it’s turned back on again?
Accuracy of results - How accurate are the scales? What is the lowest weight they can register and in what increments? For measuring finer, lighter ingredients such as yeast or salt, you may want to consider scales with precision accuracy, that offer the ability to register small increments in weight.
Maximum weights - Are you likely to be measuring heavier loads such as potatoes or meat? If so, you may need to look for scales with a higher maximum capacity.
Suitable for liquids - Not all scales are suitable for use with liquids, so you’ll need to use a separate measuring jug or opt for scales with an aquatronic mode.
Auto shut-off time - Some screens turn themselves off quite quickly to preserve battery power. Whilst a small inconvenience, this can mean repeatedly turning the scales back on between weighing ingredients.
Ease of use - Are there lots of buttons and settings? Is the display easy to read? The best kitchen scales will offer backlit screens or screens that pull out to ensure simple readings even with larger bowls or containers.
Ease of storage - How big is it? Does the kitchen scale need to stay on display on your kitchen countertops or is it compact enough to pop in a drawer or cupboard when not in use? For those who are really limited on storage space or have a smaller kitchen, slimline models or those that fold or flatten away may be the most suitable choice.
Ease of cleaning - Kitchen scales can get pretty mucky, especially when cooking with kids. How easy is the scale to clean? Does it have a smooth surface that can be quickly wiped down with an antibacterial spray, or does it require more complex removal of individual parts for cleaning?
Safety features - Many kitchen scales use button batteries which should be kept out of reach from children. Look out for designs which offer screwed battery containers or ensure that they are stored in a high cupboard and only used under parental supervision.
How do I know if my kitchen scales are accurate?
There are several ways you can test whether your kitchen scales are accurate. Here are a few suggestions:
Weigh a 250g block of butter to see if the scale is in the ballpark.
Use calibration weights to check your scale’s accuracy.
Use the change in your purse. Set the scale to zero and weigh a coin or two. A 1p=3.56g, 2p=7.12g, 5p=3.25g and 10p=6.5g. Don’t worry if your coins are not fresh from the mint, but don’t use any that look old and worn. If a coin or two weighs the correct amount, you can stop there.
What if your scale is off? If it has a calibration feature (check the manual), follow the instructions to recalibrate.
Which is the best kitchen scale?
For price, ease of use, and functionality, the Salter Disc Electronic Scale is the best kitchen scale to buy right now. It can take large amounts and is really easy to use and clean. It’s often recommended on the Mumsnet forums and by consumers on review sites.
How we chose the best kitchen scales
Because we know that there’s nothing quite as valuable as real, honest recommendations from those who have personally tried and tested the latest kitchen scales out there, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which ones families had bought for their kitchen.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which kitchen scales had won accolades, been endorsed by experts or top chefs such as Heston Blumenthal or Michel Roux Jnr or had been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites. Having collated all that information, we picked the kitchen scales that we think are the best buys for a variety of needs.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Lucy loves cooking and baking at home with her family, so has personal experience of putting a variety of kitchen utensils through their paces.
Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.
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