The Best Scales for Meal Prep

Ready to jump right to the list of the Best Scales for Meal Prep in 2024?  Just click here.

Overview of Meal Prepping

Meal prepping is the process of preparing meals ahead of time, usually for a week, to save time and reduce stress in the long run. It involves cooking and portioning out meals in advance, so that they can be easily reheated and consumed throughout the week.

Meal prepping can help you stay on track with your diet and nutrition goals, as it allows you to control portion sizes and avoid unhealthy food choices. It can also help you save money by reducing food waste and allowing you to buy ingredients in bulk.

By taking the time to meal prep, you can ensure that you always have healthy and delicious meals on hand, even when you’re short on time or energy.

Looking for some good meal prep inspiration?  Check out our recommendations:

The Meal Prep Manual (Great recipes and entertaining)

A Sweet Pea Chef (7 days of meal prep)

Sweet Savory and Steph (a lot of meal prep recipe ideas)

Overview of Food Scales

Using a food scale can help you stay consistent while turning out fabulous food results. By weighing ingredients with a food scale, you are much more likely to create a consistent product every time.

This is especially important when it comes to nutrition, where even small variations in ingredient amounts can lead to vastly different results. A food scale can help you stay within your calorie goals by allowing you to measure out precise portions of food.

This is particularly useful if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet.  For more information on losing weight and food scales, take a look at our article on how food scales can help you lose weight.

Additionally, some food scales can measure macronutrient content (macros), so you can track fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake. Check out our article on how to use a food scale to track macros.

Overall, using a food scale can help you achieve more consistent and accurate results in the kitchen, leading to better meals, consistent nutrition, and less food waste.

Why Use a Scale for Meal Prep?

Getting precise measurements is crucial for meal prep. Accurate measurement of ingredients is essential for creating delicious meals with perfect texture, presentation, and taste balance.

Whether you’re baking a cake or meal prepping, using the right measurements is key to making sure your food comes out just as you intended. Precise measurements can help you stay within your calorie goals by allowing you to measure out precise portions of food.

This is particularly useful if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet.

Overall, getting precise measurements is important for meal prep because it helps you achieve more consistent and accurate results in the kitchen, leading to more consistent nutrition and knowing exactly how many calories and macro-nutrients you are ingesting each day.

Weighing food is more accurate than measuring by volume because the amount of food you can fit in a measuring cup or spoon varies greatly. This is particularly true for more calorie-dense solid foods like nuts, proteins, starchy vegetables and certain fruits.

For example, one cup of cubed avocado has 240 calories. But, how big of a cube are we talking about? If you dice it, chances are there are significantly more calories in that cup. This may not matter much if you eat it only occasionally, but add a cup of diced avocado to your smoothie every morning and those calories add up over time.

Brown sugar is another good example. One cup of loose brown sugar contains 551 calories. Pack it tightly, though, and that same cup has a whopping 836 calories, enough to impede weight-loss goals.

Measuring utensils can undoubtedly be quicker and more convenient, but weighing food is certainly more accurate because weight is a direct measure of an ingredient itself. If you’re new to portioning and tracking your food, it’s a good idea to weigh the more calorie-dense items at least until you become proficient at approximating amounts by volume.

Doing a combination of both weighing and measuring can help you more accurately estimate portion sizes when you’re caught without your trusty food scale and measuring cups.

What to Look for in a Scale for Meal Prep

Important features for a meal prep scale

A good food scale for meal prep should have several features that make it easy to use and accurate.

One of the most important features is a tare function (sometimes called “zero”). This allows you to weigh your ingredients without including the weight of the container, which can be especially helpful when you’re working with multiple ingredients.

Another important feature is a clear display that is easy to read. This will help you avoid mistakes and ensure that you’re measuring your ingredients accurately.  Something to consider with meal prep specifically is you will use bowls and other containers for higher volumes of food.  You want a scale that won’t have its weight display blocked by these containers.

With meal prep, the maximum capacity of a scale is another consideration.  If you are making meals for the whole week, a maximum capacity of just a few pounds might become a problem.

Additionally, it’s important to look for a scale that allows you to toggle between ounces, pounds, grams, and more. This will make it easier to measure your ingredients accurately, regardless of the recipe you’re using.

As mentioned earlier, some food scales also come with additional features, such as the ability to measure macronutrient content (macros), which can help you track your fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake more accurately.

How a scale will fit and store into your own kitchen is yet another consideration.  If storing the scale is important to you, a small and compact scale might be what you are looking for.  If you have space on your counter, size might not be as much of a factor.

The Best Scales for Meal Prep

Details Reviews of the Best Scales for Meal Prep

Etekcity .1g Food Scale (w/ bowl)

Coming in #1 on our list of the best scales for meal prep is the Etekcity .1g Food Scale.  There are 3 primary reasons this scale ranks first on our list:

1. Display is easy to read even if you have the bowl full of food.  When you meal prep, you are usually dealing with larger amounts of food.  A very common issue with most of the other scales is how the displays are covered when you have larger items (or amounts) of food on the scale.  This scale was designed in a way that the display is always easy to read.
2. The bowl attachment makes it super easy to weigh all types of food.  Between small weighing platforms and food easily spilling over the sides of their platforms, other scales don’t always make weighing higher volumes of food easy.  And again when it comes to meal prep, higher volumes of food are usually what people are looking to use.
3. This scale is affordable.  This scale can usually be found for under $20 which is a great value considering all the areas where this scale comes in well above average.  For those that don’t want to break the bank on a new kitchen tool, this scale will more than satisfy.

The Eketcity .1 Food Scale can weigh up to 11 lbs (5000g).  It has the ability to weigh in a number of different units: g, oz, lb, fluid oz, and mL.  It can also get really precise for a kitchen or food scale, including the ability to get to .1g if you are weighing under 1000g total.  Most scales that get to this level of precision cost a lot more than this scale.

It will take 2 AAA batteries to run the scale.  The display is backlit and easy to read.  Even with the bowl attachment, the design will allow you to almost always read the display which is a huge plus for this scale.

This scale includes a detachable bowl that also serves as a cover to the scale.  It has an auto-off feature to help preserve battery life.  It also includes the tare feature as well as indicators for low batteries and overload.

A couple of negatives to mention for this scale include:

• There is a slight delay in the button response when pressing.  This impacts more precise measuring activities (like coffee extraction) but not as much meal prep activities with the scale.
• The bowl also serves as the cover to the scale, but it fits kind of weird and is not super secure.

Overall, we think anyone looking for a tool to help them meal prep will find the Etekcity .1g Food Scale extremely helpful.

BOSINTY Food Scale

Number 2 on our list of the best scales for meal prep is the Bosinty Food Scale.  Truth be told, we did not know anything about the “Bosinty” brand before we came across this scale.  But now we know they make a great scale – that is particularly good for meal prep activities.

The Bosinty food scale can weigh up to 33 pounds or 15,000g (15 kg).  That can be pretty handy if you are working with bulk ingredients for meal prep.  It can also weigh in a number of units: g, kg, oz/lb, fluid oz and mL.

To power this scale, you have options!  It can take 2 AAA batteries but also includes the ability to be charged through a USB-C port (cord included).  This can be a great money saver when you no longer have to worry about buying new batteries every few months (or more often depending on how frequently the scale is used).

The scale also has the auto-off feature after 2 minutes of inactivity.  For most that is a fair amount of time, but some might need more time and this scale does not include the ability to extend the auto-off time.  It also has the tare feature available.

The weighing platform of the Bosinty is stainless steel which is a big win for durability and ease of cleaning.

The cons to this scale that we found include:

• The display can be covered with large bowls or containers… when meal prepping this can be more of a problem if you are trying to weigh higher volumes of food.
• This scale does not have the ability to be calibrated.

Overall the Bosinty is a great scale that is also affordable.  It’s maximum capacity, durability and easy of use will make it a great tool for those meal prepping for the week.

NUTRA Track Food Scale

This next scale is a great tool for both general nutrition and for meal prep.  Although designed more for someone trying to keep track of their nutrition, there is a lot of overlap with what those who are meal prepping also look for in a scale.

Weighing up to 11 pounds (5000 g), this scale also provides a number of units to measure in: g, kg, oz/lb, fluid oz, and mL.

It will take 3 AAA batteries (included) to power this scale.  The display is backlit and while it has a lot of information on it, it is not the most easy to read.

The NUTRA Track scale also has a nutrition database included.  The key is represented with all of those codes and food types written on the weighing platform.  This nutrition database gives you the ability to track other information for the foods you weigh such as protein, fat, carbs, and calories (plus more).

This scale also has the ability add custom foods for those that are not already pre-programmed.  It can even save your daily nutritional totals to easily track macros.

The NUTRA Track includes an auto-off feature as well to help save battery life.  It has the tare function and the aforementioned nutritional database with the ability to add custom foods.

There were two primary negatives to call out for the NUTRA track:

• The scale is designed for lower volumes of food to track nutrition – not so much for larger volumes for something like meal prep, although it can do that too.
• The display can be somewhat difficult to read because there is so much information on it and the digits are not very big.

In a list of the best purely nutritional food scales, the NUTRA Track would be at the top.  For meal prep purposes, it still can serve as an extremely helpful tool in the kitchen and would make a great addition to any kitchen.

Etekcity Food Nutrition Scale

Another great option for those who want to meal prep and care about their nutrition in general, the Etekcity Food Nutrition Scale comes in at number 4 on our list.  This is the second scale from Etekcity to make our list for best food scales for meal prep.

The Etekcity Food Scale can weigh in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters.  It can weight up to 11 pounds or 5000 grams.

This scale is powered by 3 AAA batteries (included).  It has a backlit display that is easy to read.

This scale also has a stainless steel weighing platform making it very easy to clean and also very durable.

The Etekcity’s greatest feature though is its ability to connect through Bluetooth to its accompanying app.  This gives it access to a huge food database and other tools to track food and nutrition data.  You can add any food to this database simply by scanning its barcode!

It also has a configurable (through the app) auto-off feature although the default is 3 minutes which we find to be the right balance of time.  Of course, it has the tare function as well.

There aren’t very many negatives to this scale either, but the 2 we have to mention:

• Compared to the other scales, the backlight of the display for this scale is a little dim, making it a little bit more difficult to read.
• The weighing platform of this scale is not that big, so making bulk recipes with this scale is not the easiest.

Overall, this is an amazing tool.  Like the NUTRA Track, for nutritional purposes it is at the top of any scale list, but for meal prep purposes it is still a very powerful tool.

Greater Goods Nutrition Scale

The Greater Goods Nutrition Scale is another powerhouse food scale in general.  When it comes to meal prepping, this scale is definitely one that will improve any kitchen.  This is a great scale for anyone looking to improve their health through nutrition.

This scale is another that caps out its maximum weight at 11 pounds or 5000 g.  It only measure is grams or ounces – which for food purposes will serve just about any need.

It takes 2 AAA batteries to power the Greater Goods Nutrition Scale and these are included.  The display is unique – it’s not backlit and the numbers are small but it does include a large amount of information.

This scale has a nutritional database of over 2000 foods with the ability to add 99 custom entries as well.  It includes a free digital code booklet that will help with knowing how to enter the right code on the scale to pull up the additional nutritional information available (calories, protein, carbs, fats, etc.).

This scale has an auto-off feature that can be programmed to 2 minutes or 5 minutes.  It also has the tare function, called “Zero” on the display.

A few of the downsides to this scale with regards to meal prep:

• The display is difficult to read and can very easily be covered by larger containers or bowls.
• The food library is somewhat random and does not have some pretty common foods.
• The buttons of the scale are just not that reliable.

This is a powerful scale with a lot of good features to help with nutrition and tracking what you eat.  When it comes to meal prep, it has some opportunities.  But, if you are looking for a multi-purpose food scale with nutrition in mind, the Greater Goods food scale is a great option.

GGQ Food Scale

Another good option for both meal prep and general kitchen use is the GGQ Digital Food Scale.  This scale has the highest maximum capacity and charging options that

With a maximum weight of 33 pounds or 15,000 grams (15 kg), you should not have a problem weighing as many ingredients as you need to for meal prep purposes.  The GGQ scale also weighs in a variety of units: grams, kilograms, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters.

This scale can either run on 2 AAA batteries but it also has the USB-C port for charging.

The display is backlit and easy to read, but like other scales it can be easily covered with bowls and other containers due to its design.

Other features of the scale include an auto-off after 2 minutes and the tare function.  The weighing platform is stainless steel which is another plus (durable + easy to clean!).

A couple of cons to mention for the GGQ scale include:

• The display can easily be covered by bowls and other containers if you are measuring larger amounts of ingredients.
• The buttons of the scale are overly sensitive.

All in all, this is a scale that has some impressive features.  For meal prep specifically, it does meet the mark like the scales above it, but we can still recommend this as a high quality food scale.

Geek Chef Food Scale

The Geek Chef Food Scale is an interesting scale that provides lots of nutritional information using another food database.  This scale utilizes an app for all of the nutritional information it provides.

This scale has the standard maximum weight of 11 pounds or 5000 grams.  It can weigh in a variety of different units: grams, kilograms, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters.

This scale does require 3 AAA batteries that are NOT included – which is strange and contributes to where this scale falls on the list.

The display is also not backlit which can make it more difficult to read in low or poor lighting.  However, it’s worth mentioning this scale can connect to an accompanying app that you are expected to get most of the information off of so the display is not as important for this specific scale.

This scale includes the auto-off feature, the tare function, overload and low battery indicators and Bluetooth connectivity to an app that can be downloaded on your phone.

The app will provide additional nutritional information for the foods you weigh as well as recipes and other data.

The 2 biggest drawbacks of the Geek Chef Food Scale in our opinion are :

• The app has to be used for all the additional nutritional information and many other functions of the scale.  The scale itself is very basic.
• For some reason, this scale doesn’t come with the 3 AAA batteries required to power it.  At one of the higher price points of scales on our list (> $30), this was very surprising.

There are some cool things you can do on the app for this scale and if you don’t mind always having to use your phone when you want to use this scale, it’s worth checking out.

Fuzion Nutrition Food Scale

The Fuzion Nutrition Food Scale is a great food scale, but it is not necessarily designed for food prep.  If you are looking for a general food scale for your kitchen and want a top-quality scale, this is a great option.

The Fuzion Nutrition Food Scale only has a maximum weight capacity of 6.6 pounds or 3000 grams, which puts it at the bottom of the list in this category.  It can weigh in grams, kilograms, ounce/pound, fluid ounces and milliliters.

It takes 3 AAA batteries (included) to power this scale and the display is backlit.  The numbers are a little small, but this is another display that is giving quite a bit of information.

The weighing platform of the scale is stainless steel which is provides durability.

This scale has an auto-off feature and the tare function.  It also has a ‘save and recall’ feature that can be a valuable feature if you are weighing a lot of repetitive ingredients.

This is another scale with a nutritional database as well although compared to the others this database is a little more limited.  But because of the nutrition database, you will have access to additional macronutrient information like calories, carbs, fats and protein.

The cons of the Fuzion Nutrition Food Scale are:

• The weighing platform is kind of small and the display can be covered with bowls and containers.
• The nutritional database is limited compared to other scales on the list.
• The battery life of this scale seems to be lower than other food scales.

For someone who is regularly making single meals, sticks to repetitive meals and wants to track their nutrition closely, this can be a great scale.

URAMAZ Smart Digital Food Scale

The URAMAZ scale is another one that is a good option for a food scale, but doesn’t quite hit the right features to make it a great meal prep scale.

With a maximum capacity of 11 pounds or 5000 grams, this scale is right in line with many others.  The URAMAZ can weigh in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces and milliliters.

It takes 2 CR2032 (the little disc batteries) to power this scale.  The display is easy to read and backlit.

One note about this scale’s build is that it is clearly built out of plastic and does not seem to have long-term durability.

This is another smart scale that can connect to a downloadable app and most of the features of this scale are only available through the app.  Overall most users agree the app is somewhat confusing to use.

The app can be used to track food and nutrition like most other smart scale apps can.

The scale has the normal tare function, auto-off after 2 minutes in addition to its ability to connect to the app.

To summarize the cons of this scale:

• The scale is made of plastic and is not very durable
• Most of the additional features of this scale are only accessible through the app
• The app is confusing for most people

Whether or not this scale is good for you really comes down to how you like the app that accompanies it.  If you do your research and think the app is not a problem, this can be a good scale at a good price.

Smart Weigh Digital Food Scale

Although, the Smart Weigh Digital Food Scale comes in last on our list of the best scales for meal prep, it is still a good option for many kitchen uses.  This is the cheapest option of scales on our list at usually under $12 but it does lack many of the features you will find in the other scales.

The maximum capacity of the Smart Weigh is 11 pounds or 5000 grams.  It also can weigh in grams, kilograms, oz/lb or milliliters.

It takes 2 AAA batteries to power the scale (included).  And the display is easy to read and backlit.

Overall, there are not a lot of additional features to the scale.  It does have the tare function and auto-off after 2 minutes.

The main pro for this scale is its price point as it is the cheapest scale on our list.

The cons for this scale include:

• The buttons are not sealed and can be prone to easy damage
• If weighing small amounts, the accuracy of this scale is questionable
• It can automatically go off on its own even when its in use
• It does not have any additional features or functions

If you have a tight budget and aren’t looking for any bells or whistles, the Smart Weigh Digital Scale can be a passable scale.  However, we would recommend to take a look at the other food scales on our list of best food scales to find one that could meet your needs as well.

Conclusion

Meal prepping is a highly effective strategy for saving time, reducing stress, and staying on track with diet and nutrition goals. By preparing meals in advance, individuals can control portion sizes, avoid unhealthy food choices, and save money by minimizing food waste. To enhance the meal prep process, investing in a good food scale is crucial.

A food scale offers precise measurements, ensuring consistent results in the kitchen and helping individuals meet their calorie goals, especially for those focused on weight loss or maintaining a healthy diet.

Unlike measuring by volume, weighing food provides accuracy, particularly for calorie-dense items like nuts, proteins, and starchy vegetables. Some advanced food scales even go beyond weight measurement and can track macronutrient content, offering a comprehensive understanding of fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake.

When selecting a food scale for meal prep, important features to consider include a tare function, a clear and readable display, sufficient capacity for larger meal quantities, and the ability to toggle between different units of measurement.

Additionally, the scale’s size and storage convenience should align with the user’s kitchen preferences.

Using our list of the best scales for meal prep, we hope you are able to find a true companion for your kitchen to make meal prep a breeze!