Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
The best kitchen scales should be consistently accurate within one gram. They should also be easy to read, even under wide mixing bowls or pans; an elevated weighing platform or pull-out display makes that easier. Their user interfaces should be straightforward, with physical push buttons that are sealed against messes. A removable weighing tray is also a plus for cleaning. The scale shouldn’t include volumetric units, as they can be misleading and cause confusion. Scales that have long auto shut-off windows are preferable, so you don’t lose your measurement if you need to step away briefly. For the most adaptability, the scale should have a max weight of at least 10 pounds so it doesn’t get overloaded with large recipe batches.
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This scale’s impressively functional design has kept it in the winning spot after several years and multiple rounds of reevaluation. Its extendable display was its most prominent feature since it allowed for a flat scale that was easy to store and a cinch to use with almost any size bowl or pan. Less immediately apparent, though, was its handy automatic standby mode. If my attention got pulled away from the scale, it stayed on for five minutes before its screen dimmed. Most other scales turned off after only two or three minutes. Plus, it kept track of whatever I measured for an extra 10 minutes after it went into standby.
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The OXO model had the small details covered, too. The scale had physical push buttons that were sealed around the edges to minimize places where gunk could build up. Its tray came off for washing, so you could measure ingredients like raw meat directly on the scale and then sanitize it afterward. It had a low battery indicator and a max capacity meter to help the user avoid overloading (which can damage and wear out the sensor over time). It didn’t include any misleading volume measurements and always turned on to whatever preferred unit I had used previously.
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This affordable and simple-to-use Digital Food Scale is a great option for people who bake occasionally or want a small, lightweight option that’s easy to store. Although not as feature-packed as other models, the Escali was spot-on across the full range of accuracy tests. It rounded out to five-hundredths of an ounce, so it could accurately display quarter-ounce increments. It had sealed, physical push buttons, and a moderately long four-minute auto shut-off.
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The My Weigh KD-8000 digital food scale is a baker’s dream with plenty of specialized features. It was the only model tested where the user could disable the auto-off. Its angled display, paired with a highly elevated platform, stayed readable even under large bowls. This scale had a higher max weight than other models and could even be recalibrated at home. The hold button froze the last measurement in place. It also had the unique capability to measure with baker’s percentages, automatically calculating the ratio of ingredients based on the initial flour weight.
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A kitchen scale is absolutely worth the investment. A digital food scale is far more accurate than measuring by volume, and it can be easier and faster, too. You can also use it to check serving sizes, check fruit and veggie sizes for recipes, or evenly portion things like cookie dough.
