Kitchen Scales: Recommendations? Warnings?

[kentauros]

Hi y'all!

Thanks to a thread yesterday, on of all things, the metric system, the subject came up of measuring your ingredients as a means to be more accurate in the kitchen. While I do acknowledge that not all cooks bother with such a tool, those of us that love to bake rely on a scale of some kind. It just makes it not only easier, but consistent, which is more important in baking.

It spurred me to go looking on the site I knew for reviews, Consumer Reports. Only, it appears they have never reviewed kitchen scales. My guess on that is related to the preceding paragraph. American cooks just don't use them, or not enough for CR to do any testing. So, I headed over to an equally fine site for product testing, Cook's Illustrated. There, I found what I needed.

So, now that I've recently discovered that my old Cuisinart scale is no longer accurate (it measured 3 Cups of water at 1# 9.5 oz.) I went with Cook's "Highly Recommended" scale by OXO. I haven't yet bought it, but it's in a shopping cart online at this moment

I would like to know what scales the rest of y'all use, as well as your recommendations, or warnings of ones to stay away from.

Thanks!

[Warpy]

1. I have a super cheap analog scale

that packs up and takes only 2"x2.5" of counter space. That was absolutely essential when I was shopping for a scale since one thing my 1946 kitchen doesn't have is counter space.

I've been able to kludge it well enough that it will also weigh wool and yarn, but it only goes up to 2.2 pounds, 1 KG.

I would love to have a flat digital scale, it would make a lot of things easier. Until I bite the bullet to have workmen clomping through this place 9 hours a day (groan), I'll have to keep the wee scale.

[flamin lib]

2. I have a Taylor TE10C

It ain't cheap but I really like it.

http://www.chefessentials.com/default/taylor-precision-te10c.html?gclid=CM2kkoOx2bQCFXCmPAodKTQAig

Measures in oz and gm up to 10 lbs @ .1 oz incriments, digital and battery operated.

[Major Nikon]

3. I have two of these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1V70H07757&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA

I don't remember how I wound up with two. Lot's of places sell them and they all seem to be around the $25 price range. I've been using them for a few years now with no issues.

[blaze]

4. I have this one as well and have been quite happy with it. nt

[TxDemChem]

5. We have a Taylor brand digital scale

It has a The biggest Loser logo on the box and scale itself. We got it at Bed Bath & Beyond for $14.99 about 2 years ago. It has a limit of 8 lbs though.

[lizerdbits]

6. I have this Salter scale

http://www.salterusa.com/salter_us/catalog-us/kitchen-scales/glass-slimline-kitchen-scale.html

I like it, it fits in a drawer when not in use. I did have to replace the batteries after about 6 months of light use, so if it's used a lot make sure to have extra batteries around. I was worried about getting a glass one, but so far so good in not dropping it or dropping anything on it.

As for reviews, check Amazon. I look through the low star reviews looking for consistent problems and try to ignore the idiotic ones ("Died after 6 months" before figuring out you have to change the batteries, etc.). I have a Cook's subscription too and have had good luck following their advice, so that may be the best way to go.

[Glassunion]

7. I've never had an issue with my Cuisinart KS-55 scale.

I have checked the calibration on my scale several times, and never has it been off.

I never measure dry products using measuring cups for baking. I always weigh as it is more accurate. Flour, sugar and other dry ingredients can settle in the packaging, so you may inadvertently add more of a dry ingredient than you intend to. For fluids, I will usually use a measuring cup.

[kentauros]

8. I looked up your scale, and it looks like a nice one.

I have a SA-110, and it looks like this:

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/B1181-Cuisinart-digital-precision-electronic-6-pound-scale-new-model-SA-110-/00/s/OTYwWDEyODA=/$(KGrHqF,!hsFBZ8ZUCM8BQnB-vMnlg~~60_35.JPG

It's pretty compact, fits perfectly in a cabinet on it's side, tucked out of the way. My new one I'll likely have to keep out on a counter as it's larger and thicker.

I really don't know how old the SA-110 is, but I did just now discover it was made in Israel. I don't think I've ever seen that on anything I've owned.

Oh, one thing about measuring I learned years ago in baking/pastry classes was that the three liquid ingredients of water, milk and eggs are all equal by volume and by weight. That was one reason why I measured out three cups with my various liquid measuring cups and discovered the inaccuracy of my scale. There's nothing inside to adjust it, either, (or nothing I recognize as such) so I have to replace it.

[Glassunion]

9. Mine is fantastic, does both Imperial and Metric

The tare function is also a must. I believe that I picked it up for about $30.

[kurtzapril4]

10. I bought the kitchen scale

That America's Test Kitchen recommended. I think it's a taylor. Holds up to 11 lbs., imperial and metric, has a tare function and a pull out display in case the container you're weighing stuff in covers the display.

I think I got it from Amazon, and it was around $40. When I'm in the market for kitchen implements, I always check out America's Test Kitchen.

[TheManInTheMac]

11. I have a Polder digital scale I got at Costco. Works well,

easily switches between US and metric.