Some 4,000 years ago, Egyptians were using the lever principle for the purpose of weighing. Today, Americans realize that by using the same device, they can cook like the pros and help maintain a healthful lifestyle. Though the concept may be the same, the options have been updated to offer greater accuracy in measuring.
Why do I need a kitchen scale?
If you cook, then you need a kitchen scale. Its applications are endless. With a kitchen scale, you can help maintain a diet, precisely measure ingredients for baking or cooking, even weigh items for the home office. A kitchen scale is an especially indispensable tool if you are a novice chef and don’t have the « feel » for the correct quantities needed for a recipe.
Additionally, the scale measures coarser materials, such as chopped vegetables, with greater accuracy. The kitchen scale provides consistent results, allowing for quick and accurate adjustment of existing recipes and helping the user save money by eliminating waste.
Why measure by weight instead of volume?
A scale’s reading always displays the real weight, regardless of how finely or coarsely an ingredient is chopped. Measuring by weight guarantees consistent results. Conventional measuring scoops, which measure by volume, give approximations. Look for quality-made scales that replicate the same weighing results consistently.
Aren’t all kitchen scales alike?
Aside from the aesthetic differences, there are significant quality differences among scales on the market. Kitchen scales can be simple or sophisticated. Mechanical (analog) scales offer basic features at favorable prices and are easy to use. Electronic (digital) scales are also easy to use, with several models featuring one-button operation. A big advantage offered by digital scales is their better readability.
However, some digital scales are easier to read than others. Look for a weighing platform that is elevated far above its large base and angled away from the platform itself, allowing the consumer to easily read what is being weighed.
Both analog and digital scales are available in diet, as well as heavy-duty versions. Innovations include a computerized diet-health feature that analyzes nutritional values, including fat, cholesterol, protein, calories, etc., quickly. Computer interface is even available.
Many kitchen scales offer special features to enhance their use. Overload protection will prevent damage to a scale’s mechanism if the user accidentally exceeds the maximum capacity.
A recent development is the replaceable lithium battery, which offers long-life energy. Now users can make 100,000 measurements without a battery change! Another feature is the ability to weigh all the ingredients of an entire recipe one after the other in a single container. Simply place any container on the platform and set the scale to zero, then weigh your first ingredient. Reset the scale to zero, weigh the next ingredient, and so on. To make this process easier, look for a scale that has a large weighing platform to accommodate larger bowls or food portions easily. Additionally, look for a water-resistant scale for easy cleanup.
Why do chefs rely on a kitchen scale?
Precise measurements are crucial for consistent results. Scales simplify cooking and baking. A few grams too many of a curry powder, for example, can turn an aromatic dish into a fiery disaster. When baking, measuring the flour accurately will determine the « rise or fall » of the creation. One cup of all-purpose flour ideally equals four ounces or 115 grams. If a recipe calls for four or five cups of flour, volume measuring may vary by as much as one whole cup.
The scale also comes in handy for new recipes, or for recipes with quantities that need to be altered,
even for unusual quantities or combinations that have no direct comparison. How can a kitchen scale improve my life, health, and diet?
Kitchen scales allow users who are cooking or baking to adjust recipes to a different number of servings. For diet-conscious consumers, scales are a necessary tool for precisely measuring the quantities allowed per diets.
Precise measurement of food benefits weight loss, weight maintenance, and overall health, allowing the user to better track the « actual » portions of food they are consuming.
Similarly, a scale will help you prepare uniform portions for the freezer, weigh pet food, or make their own baby food. A kitchen scale can also be used for general household or utility tasks. Weigh letters or packages to determine the correct postage. Additionally, sportfishers can weigh their catches and campers their gas bottles.