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Do I really need a scale for baking?
Before we get too far into the best baking scales of 2024, let’s try using a quick illustration to convince everyone of the importance of a scale in baking. Baking is like a kitchen dance, and having the best baking scale is like having a partner you trust. Picture this: you’re whipping up your favorite cake or perfecting that artisanal bread, and you know precision is your true secret ingredient. Enter in: A good baking scale, ensuring you measure your ingredients are spot-on for that impeccable rise, soft crumb, and mouthwatering taste.
Ok, the illustration aside, why is having the best baking scale so crucial? It’s honestly like having a superpower in the kitchen. Think about your flour, sugar, and all those vital ingredients – a little too much or too little can be the difference between a showstopper and a kitchen blooper. With the best baking scale in hand, you’re the master of consistency, hitting those measurements with superhero-like precision.
The most frequent ingredient for nearly all bakers is flour, and flour is the problem ingredient when it comes to precision. If you use a measuring cup to measure out your flour, did you know you can easily be 25% off the actual amount needed? It comes down to how compact or loose the flour might be in your measuring tool. If only there were a better way…
Here’s the scoop: baking is a science, but it’s a fun one. And the best baking scale is your lab assistant, making sure you get the chemistry just right. Whether you’re a newbie baker or a seasoned pro, having a trusty baking scale makes the whole baking adventure smoother, more consistent, more enjoyable, and, of course, tastier. So, if you’re planning the next perfect pie or dreaming of the fluffiest cake, trust me – having the best baking scale is your golden ticket to upping your baking game.
If you still need convincing, check out this article on what makes a good baking scale.
How do I know anything and why should you trust me? Well I actually have a side business selling pies in my hometown, so baking is an area where I do have some expertise. So let’s dig into what are the best baking scales of 2024 and what criteria we used to come up with our list.
Best Baking Scales of 2024
| Baking Scale | Average Reviews | Best Features | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.7 Overall Easy to clean 4.8 Easy to read 4.7 Easy to use 4.7 Durability 4.6 Accuracy 4.6 Quality of material 4.6 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.7 Overall Easy to read 4.8 Easy to use 4.8 Portion size 4.8 Accuracy 4.6 Value for money 4.2 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.7 Overall Easy to use 4.7 Portion size 4.6 Accuracy 4.6 Battery life 4.6 Durability 4.3 Quality of material 4.2 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.7 Overall Easy to assemble 4.8 Easy to clean 4.8 Easy to read 4.7 Easy to use 4.7 Accuracy 4.6 Durability 4.6 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.6 Overall Easy to read 4.6 Accuracy 4.6 Easy to use 4.5 Easy to clean 4.4 Value for money 3.2 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.6 Overall Easy to read 4.6 Easy to use 4.5 Battery life 4.4 Portion size 4.4 Quality of material 4.4 Accuracy 4.3 |
| Check Price |
 | 4.6 Overall Versatility 4.5 Portion size 4.5 Easy to use 4.5 Quality of material 4.5 Durability 4.5 Accuracy 4.4 |
| Check Price |
Detailed Reviews of Best Baking Scales
My Weigh KD-8000
It won’t take you too long on this site to realize we really like this scale. The My Weigh KD-8000 kitchen scale earned its own rave review this year. The Cadillac of baking scales. This scale is definitely might not be for everyone, but if you are serious about your baking this is most definitely a scale worth looking into.
The reviews on Amazon alone have it at 4.7/5 which high rankings in all categories. The biggest drawback is the price tag which is usually around $50 USD if there is not a sale happening.
With a maximum capacity of 17 lbs (8000 grams), this scale has the highest capacity of any on our list. It can also measure in grams, ounces, pounds and kilograms. It takes 3 AAA batteries to power but can also be powered with an A/C adapter.
This scale includes an auto-off feature which enables the scale to turn off after a period of time to not waste battery. On top of that, it also includes the ability to turn off the auto-off which can be a huge help if you are working on some recipes that take a while.
The KD-8000 also has the tare feature, a calibration mode, a low battery indicator, a hold function and stability/overload indicators. The display is backlit and easy to read.
It also includes a plastic cover that goes over the display. While this can be a nuisance, it can also be removed. But we found it nice to keep flour off at least one thing in our kitchen when baking.
Finally, we have to mention the percentage mode. Also called the Baker’s Percentage Function, this is a tool that easily calculates a recipe’s ingredients by percentages. It’s based off of flour being the primary ingredient at 100% and all other ingredients are calculated in proportion to the flour.
As far as cons, we don’t have a lot of negatives to cover except 2 main complaints:
- The price tag – as mentioned, on the list of best baking scales, this does come near the top although we think value-wise it’s still a good deal due to its numerous features.
- This scale can also be powered by an A/C adapter which is a great alternative to the constant changing of batteries. However, most models don’t include the A/C adapter and it has to be purchased separately.
Etekcity Food Scale with Bowl
To be honest, we were surprised with how much we loved this scale. In our experience, the bowl/weighing platform gimmick hasn’t always resulted in an actual good scale experience. But, the Etekcity food scale with the bowl proved to be an exception.
The reviews on Amazon come in at 4.7/5 showing most buyers are more than happy with their purchase.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams) which is typical of most home food scales. It can measure in ounces, pounds, grams, fluid ounces and milliliters. It takes 2 AA batteries to power it.
This scale includes an auto-off feature after 2 minutes. It has the typical tare feature found in home food scales. The display is backlit and easy to read.
The detachable bowl is actually a really nice bonus on this scale. It can be removed to use the stainless steel weighing platform. When the bowl is removed, it also serves as a lid to the scale which is a nice way to keep the bowl stored.
For the cons on this scale, a couple to be mentioned:
- The auto shut-off after 2 minutes can be nuisance with some recipes.
- This scale struggles with very precise measurements and won’t always register changes 1 gram or lower.
- Some buyers questioned the durability after 1 year – although with this scale’s current price point, buying a new model every year or so won’t set you back too much.
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
The Escali Primo Digital Food Scale is a great scale for baking as well as any other kitchen or food tasks. This is an ultra flexible and functional scale that has all the features most people need.
The reviews on Amazon have this scale at 4.7/5 overall meaning you can have some confidence the vast majority of buyers are happy with their purchase.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams) like most other scales. It can only measure in ounces, pounds, and grams however. It takes 2 AA batteries to keep it powered.
This scale includes an auto-off feature. It also has the tare feature found in most home food scales. It also includes a low batter indicator.
One thing to note on this scale is it does not have a backlit display. This might not matter in well-lit kitchens, but it’s worth mentioning as most scales do include a backlight nowadays.
For the cons on this scale, a couple to be mentioned:
- Larger bowls won’t fit on this scale as it’s slightly smaller.
- This scale is made of plastic material and is not the most durable.
- No backlit display can make this scale difficult to read in certain environments.
Taylor Mechanical Kitchen Scale
This next scale breaks the mold of our normal line up of digital kitchen scales. This is actually an analog scale that requires no power! It’s included on this list for those bakers that might be looking for something a little different and also because we think it hits the mark across the board for a good baking scale.
Amazon buyers also give this scale a 4.7/5, so it has pleased a lot its buyers to date.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams) like most digital scales can. It can measure in ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms in either 1 ounce or 50 gram increments. Since its an analog scale it requires no batteries or power at all.
This scale includes a tare feature that will let you reset the scale to 0 if you want to exclude the weight of the included bowl or other container.
It also has a detachable bowl that is stainless steel and can be handy when measuring amounts of flour or other types of powder.
Like every other scale, there are a few drawbacks to mention:
- The accuracy of this scale can be more difficult to determine.
- This scale should be reset or calibrated frequently to make sure it is consistently providing accurate measurements.
Cuisinart KML-KO3B Precision Scale
Another scale that includes a bowl, the Cuisinart KML-KO3B is a good scale with a few flaws that make it fall down our list of best baking scales. However, if the flaws don’t apply to your situation or not an issue for you in general this scale can definitely do the job that bakers need it to in the kitchen.
The reviews on Amazon come in at 4.6/5 so most users don’t have regret in buying this scale.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams) which is typical of most home food scales. It can only measure in grams, ounces and pounds. The scale also takes 2 AA batteries to power it.
This scale has the typical tare feature found in home food scales. It also has the auto-off feature. The display is backlit, but we do not find this display easy to read. Due to the angle of the display, it can be difficult to read and can also be covered by the bowl.
The detachable bowl is pretty good on this scale. One minor feature of this bowl we love is the bowl has a spout making it easy to pour from.
To summarize the flaws of this scale:
- The display can be difficult to read due to its angle and positioning.
- This scale doesn’t provide decimals points when measuring in ounces – this can be a problem for smaller measurements.
- The auto-off feature is too fast and can not be turned off or changed.
Etekcity Food Scale
If your baking is pretty basic or you are sensitive to price, the Etekcity food scale might be for you. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other scales but it comes at a very reasonable price.
The reviews on Amazon come in at 4.6/5. It should be noted for the ‘Accuracy’ category, this scale came in at the lowest at 4.3/5.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams) which is typical of most home food scales. It can measure in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters. This scale takes 2 AAA batteries to power it.
This scale has both the auto-off feature and tare feature. The display is backlit, and easy to read. It’s also remarkably easy to clean as the weighing platform is flush with the display.
This scale is stainless steel so it’s durable and still manages to be lightweight.
Overall, we will call out the following cons of the Etekcity Food Scale:
- The auto-off feature is too fast and can not be turned off or changed.
- The batteries on this scale seem to drain faster than other similar scales.
- Although we didn’t have any noteworthy issues with accuracy, the Amazon reviews for ‘Accuracy’ were only 4.3/5.
Greater Goods Food Scale
Getting started with baking or cooking in general? The Greater Goods food scale is a good starting point based on its low price point.
The reviews on Amazon come in at 4.6/5. Many buyers appreciate the good value they get due to the cheap price of this scale.
This scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000 grams). It can measure in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters. This scale takes 2 CR2032 batteries to power it.
This scale has both the auto-off feature and tare feature. The display is not backlit, but mostly easy to read. It’s also easy to clean as the weighing platform is flush with the display.
The cons for this scale are:
- The display can easily be covered by bowls and other containers if used on the weighing platform.
- The buttons on this scale are not the most responsive.
- This scale struggles with the more precise measurements, such as items weighing around 3 grams or less.
Criteria for the best baking scales of 2024
Let’s take a look at what criteria we used to rank the above scales and what are the key components you should look at when considering your baking scale.
Price
Obviously price has to be considered when reviewing scales as most of us have a finite amount of money (unfortunately). However, the more important criteria for us is actually value. Value is impacted by price but if you are paying 20% more for 100% more useful features, the extra price might not matter as much.
We factored the value of these scales into our rankings and while some of the pricier ones came out on top, that’s because they provide enough value to make the price worth it.
Reviews
We use Amazon reviews as 1 variable in our rankings of these scales. We know Amazon reviews are far from perfect as they can easily be manipulated. Because of this we don’t put too much emphasis on these but we do think the experience of other buyers should not be completely ignored.
Power Supply
It’s important to know how your scale will be powered. If you are going to need batteries vs going to need an outlet for a plug, the power supply is another factor we look at.
Display
The display of the measured weight is one of the most important factors of any food or baking scale. A few considerations with the display are:
- Is the display backlit? This will make it easier to read regardless of the lighting or shadows.
- Are the numbers presented in a large enough size to read from relevant distances? You might not always be directly over the scale when needing to read the weight.
- Is the display easily covered by bowls or other equipment?
- Is the display organized in a way that makes sense? Are there too many items going into the display that can make it confusing?
Weighing Platform
The weighing platform is another important component of any food scale as it is the place you will actually place what you are trying to measure. The size of the weighing platform is important because if its too small you might not be able to weight what you need. The material can also be importance for both durability and cleaning purposes.
Some food and baking scales also come with additional features on the weighing platform like bowls that are included. This can be a nice addition to a scale since it gives you a place for ingredients like flour that won’t spill over the sides.
Weight Capacity
It would be a shame if your baking scale couldn’t handle the weights you are trying to measure. Most standard food and baking scales will weigh up to 11 pound or 5000 grams – which should do the trick for 99% of home bakers. However, it’s a good thing to make sure you know before you purchase.
Extra Features
What are some other features that can be found on food and baking scales? Here are some of the most frequent features to look out for in a food scale for your baking needs.
Tare Function
The tare function on a food scale is a feature that allows you to subtract the weight of a container or any additional items placed on the scale from the total weight measurement. This function is especially useful in cooking and baking when you want to measure only the weight of the ingredients you are adding to a bowl or any other container, excluding the weight of the container itself.
Here’s how the tare function works:
- Place the empty container on the scale.
- Press the “tare” or “zero” button on the scale. This will reset the scale to zero, effectively subtracting the weight of the container from the total.
- Add your ingredients to the container. The scale will now display the net weight of the ingredients, excluding the weight of the container.
Auto-Off
Pretty straightforward, this feature turns the scale off after a pre-determined amount of time. This will save on battery life.
One thing to note, 2 minutes seems to be the most frequent amount of time before the auto-off feature is activated. This can often not be enough time to complete activities with your baking scale and can be frustrating. Some scales come with the ability to change the timing of the auto-off feature (very nice additional feature) and some have the ability to disable it.
Baker’s Percentage
Baker’s percentage is a method used in baking to express the ratio of each ingredient in a recipe relative to the flour’s weight, which is always set at 100%. It is a standardized way for bakers to communicate and scale recipes easily. While baker’s percentage is not directly related to food scales, you can use a food scale to measure ingredients based on these percentages.
Here’s how baker’s percentage works and how you can use it with a food scale:
- Establish a Base Weight (Flour): The weight of the flour in a recipe is always considered 100%. All other ingredients are expressed as a percentage of this weight.
- Calculate Ingredient Weights: For each ingredient, calculate its weight as a percentage of the flour weight. For example, if the recipe calls for 500 grams of flour, and the water is listed as 70%, you would use 70% of 500 grams, which is 350 grams of water.
- Weigh Ingredients: Use a food scale to measure each ingredient according to its calculated percentage. Place your mixing bowl on the scale, tare it (zero it out), and then add each ingredient until you reach the desired weight. For example, if the recipe calls for 500 grams of flour and 70% water, you would add 500 grams of flour, tare the scale, and then add 350 grams of water.
Using baker’s percentage allows you to easily scale a recipe up or down based on your needs. It provides a consistent way to express ingredient proportions, which can be helpful for both home and professional bakers. While baker’s percentage itself is not dependent on a food scale, the scale is a valuable tool for accurately measuring ingredients according to these percentages, ensuring precise and consistent results in your baking.
Units of Measurement
Finally, it’s always a good idea to note the units of measurement that are used by food and baking scales. While grams and ounces are the most standard units of measurement and almost all scales can accommodate these, having other options can be a nice benefit. Pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters are also units of measure to look out for in your food scales. These can help you weigh heavier items and liquids more efficiently.