April 16, 2010 - 9:46am
Great Bakers Scale
I found an awesome scale for baking!
http://www.fgpizza.com/store/page4.html
Only $44.99 for all the features a baker needs.
Watch this video to see what I mean.
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I have these scales. They are pretty good. They can't weigh 1 gram on its own though. It waivers between 0 and 2 grams at that level. Someone else I know who has them says the same. A minor point but worth knowing. The plastic shield for the panel broke within two weeks of being flipped up and down too. I haven't got round to fixing it yet.
Their main usp is using for scaling dough using that 100 per cent function that it has. So you can plop your 2104 grams of dough in the bowl, press the magic button, take the dough out and scale say 20 buns at 5 % each.
However I haven't figured out how you would use to make a dough with several stages i.e. a sourdough starter or a preferment, so I don't use the so called Bakers Percentage function for that. That would only work for a straight dough I think. Or maybe I am missing something?
Also even run off the mains, it has an irritating way of switching itself off at the wrong point too! Presumably it is trying to save energy but I wish it wouldn't. It doesn't always come with a mains connector so if you do decide to go with this one, check that the supplier has them.
Hope this helps if you are considering them. Pretty good set of scales with the above caveats. Zeb
had it for a year and use it mostly every day. very reliable. easy on batteries. very light and smooth, tho. slipped out of my hand twice while cleaning. cracked the housing but still works perfectly. 8000g max. it won't measure less than a gram. I've learned that small measures are most accurate when added after there is some weight in the bowl. two switches in the back offer a back light and an auto shut-off feature. i never use the auto shut-off but the back light is sometimes handy. the bakers % function works fine but I use the tare function for most tasks. measures in grams, kg, oz. and Lbs.& ozs. all things considered, a great value.
I have been thinking of buying these scales for some time, because of the bakers percentage function. However, most recipes I come across do not have bakers percentage listed. This may be a silly question but, is it possible to convert from grams, ounces or cup measurements to bakers percentage seeing none of these measurements are seldom 100% accurate? I have never used bakers percentage and don't understand how they are worked out. Is it just trial and error by experienced bakers?
Incidentally, for Canadians, these scales are available in Cda. from Digital Scales Canada, online only. Unfortunately they are almost twice the price of those in U.S. With the Cdn. dollar now being, more or less, on par with U.S. dollar, it may be worth getting them from the U.S. if they ship to Cda. and the shipping costs are not too great.
Recipes given in weights(gr, oz, etc) are easily and accurately converted to baker's %. No trial and error here, it's just a ratio of each ingredient as it compares to the flour in the recipe.
Recipes given in volumes(cups) present the same challenges as always- that is; how much flour is in a cup of flour? But an understanding of baker's math even helps with these type recipes, in the sense that you can relate the recipe to similar recipes where the ratios(hydration %) are known. Once you know, or decide on a hydration %, all the other ratios fall into place.
Having said that, in no way do you need a scale like the one in this post to use baker's %. (Most)any accurate scale will do. Not in any way trying to discourage a purchase, but if you happen to already own a small, accurate scale, it will probably serve you well.
TFL Handbook, Baker's math:
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/handbook/baker039s-math
Thank you for this. After thinking about it, I realized that it is very easy to convert gr; oz; %; (using a calculator makes it a no-brainer). I never use cup measurements.
Incidentally, I have come across a posting on this site by ArtisanGeek (search 'baker's percentage') where you can put in your recipe and it automatically converts to baker's %.
I'm glad I've been saved from buying another scale as I already have two. Actually, I have three. I have a brass antique balance scale which I've only ever used as an ornament. It hangs from my kitchen ceiling. Balance scales have always been known as the most accurate. For some reason, I've never thought to use mine to weigh anything. Maybe I should give it a try.
I have the same scale only mine does not have the bakers percentage 1 step down and mine cost me more. I wanted the one for bakers percentage but for some reason I ended up with this one I have.
Mine has all the same problems of those in previous post. Every thing works ??? perfect except the gram function not reliable for sure.
Other than that for the price I guess it is a good deal.
Have a nice weekend
Mr.Bob
Hee hee how embarassing
I had no idea. They must have been on when I took it out of the box! Thanks. Bobm1 for that discreet explanation. I will turn the auto shut off thing off! I just thought it was something it did by itself. I should have read the instructions better, I was so engrossed in making the percentage thing work! I use them every day though and use the Tare function all the time