Accuracy with digital scales

I've run across a way that allows me better accuracy when weighing light ingredients, such as salt, yeast, etc.

Simply put, it seems that my scale has a range where it is more accurate, so I weigh out my flour, then weigh out my light ingredients on top of the flour. I do this by placing a sheet of paper towel on top of the flour, then add my little condiment bowl on top of the towel. I take a reading, then add however many grams of salt I need, for example. Then I pour the salt into the condiment bowl until I get what I need. My scale seems much more responsive while it is already weighing something that's medium heavy. I used to weigh my flour last, but now I weigh it first. Then I weigh the smaller items on top, remove the flour bowl and move on to the liquids.

I got this from the fact that I noticed when I weigh my water, then add things like sugar, butter or oils, it seemed much more responsive/accurate. It works just as well with the dry ingredients, just keeping them seperated by condiment cups.

Your mileage may vary, of course... but if your scale seems rather quirky when you need 5 grams of something and you're starting from 0 (Tare feature), try putting something around 200 grams on the scale, then a small container on that, then weigh out your 5 grams. It might just work better for you, as it did for me. Last 3 or 4 baking sessions, I have not gotten the Tsp set out of cupboard at all. I like that! : D

I still intend to get a higher resolution scale for light ingredients, and am surfing around trying to find the best value for what I need. If anyone has some experience with a particular brand/model, either positive or negative, please let me know.

- Keith