July 16, 2012 - 5:05pm
Scales
I am looking for a good scale. I bake a lot (not really good - but family likes the breads), but I want to learn to measure and weigh correctly. Would someone please recommend a scale that you use. I am assuming it would be metric and probably digital.
Thanks,
Maudy
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I use the Escali Primo Digital. It's on amazon for $25. It does everything I want it to and isn't that expensive. I've had it for 3 years and never had a problem and never have had to change the batteries. I've used it A LOT too. I'd definitely recommend it.
I've been using the Escali Primo Digital forever, it was my first scale and I'm still using it daily. My one complaint would be that the readout is a little short, so when I have my big mixing bowl on top of it I have to bend over to check the amounts I'm weighing...gets a little tedious. Otherwise no problems.
I like the Oxo scale for its separable weighing platform (stainless top), large digital readout that can be pulled out on a four-inch cord in the event of a larger vessel overhanging and obscuring it in its normal position. 11 kilogram weight limit should handle most domestic recipes. Claims accuracy to 1 gram. Also reads in pounds and ounces. Tare function and lighted LCD.
I in turn am looking for a scale for weighing smaller quantities with 0.1 gram accuracy for things like yeast and malt powder. 2 grams of yeast on the Oxo might be as little as 1.5 grams or as much as 2.499 grams rounded to 2 grams in the readout--and that's assuming it really is accurate to 1 gram. And, no, I am not selling stuff in baggies by the gram.
I use this scale for my small items:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-Signature-AWS-100-Digital/dp/B0012LOQUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342487992&sr=8-1&keywords=grain+scale
Works great and does exactly what I need it to.
I second this recommendation. Love my Oxo scale. It's really easy to wipe down when flour our dough gets away from you (ask me how I know), which is always a plus if you tend to have butter fingers.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Weigh-KD-8000-Bakers-Scale/dp/B001NE0FU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342495552&sr=8-1&keywords=my+weigh+8000
Besides doing baker's math, it also makes a great postage scale (up to 17 lbs) while measuring down to the gram. Not the cheapest out there, but not the most expensive, either, and very versatile and accurate.
I have several scales. The Escali scale as well as the 2 scales mentioned by Breaducation and Shastaflour above. Of the three the two I use the most are the Escali and the small MyWeigh which I use when I am scaling items that weigh less than a gram.
The reason I use the Escali over the larger MyWeigh scale is due to size. The Escali fits perfectly into a shallow kitchen drawer that I keep my scale and calculator in. The larger MyWeigh is a lot taller and doesn't fit into the drawer and I don't have the counter space to leave it out so it sits in a larger drawer and doesn't get used BUT it is a great scale too. Can't go wrong with any of them - just have to decide what will suit your needs and space.
Good Luck,
Janet
Maudy,
I'm another who likes the My Weigh KD8000; it weighs in grams, kg, oz, lb/oz, and lbs. The platform is large enough to support my 10qt mixing bowl as I add ingredients directly. The baker's math function is also very helpful with scaling bread recipes. I've used (& abused) this scale for a couple of years. It's still going strong with no problems.
Scott (Phxdog)
I agree with Scott. I have been using a MyWeigh 8000 for two years with no problems. The Baker's Math feature is intriguing but I find I rarely use it. Switching between oz and grams and the tare feature are what I use mostly. The accuracy has always been spot on and I have yet to change batteries (I use it daily). For $30.00 I think it is a great buy. It is accurate to one gram so you will need a second mini-scale for low weight ingredients like yeast and salt. I picked up a Fast Weigh M-500 which is accurate to 0.1 gram on Amazon,com for $5.00. I must admit though that I usually use measuring spoons instead of breaking out the mini-scale.
Paul
The Oxo is a great tool with many good features, but the most useful is you can pull out the display away from the scale, so it doesn't hide under your bowls. Cooks Illustrated rated it at the top. Plus, Oxo stuff is readily available at many stores, and even goes on sale from time to time.
I started with the Oxo, but it became my wife's postage scale... now I'm using the MyWeigh KD8000 for bulk ingredients, and a $10 pocket scale from Harbor Freight (1kg x 0.1g) for yeast, salt and spices. I think the MyWeigh, with a power adapter, was less expensive than the Oxo.