Top Kitchen Scales Tested for Baking Success

For any home baker, a kitchen scale is an indispensable tool that can make or break your baked goods. Over a decade of experience in baking has reinforced this belief, and the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen team concurs, emphasizing the importance of gram measurements in their recipes.

A recent experiment involving two batches of cookies—one made with flour scooped from the bag and the other weighed—revealed a stark difference in outcomes. The scooped flour, packed tightly, resulted in more flour than intended, leading to inconsistent baking results. A scale ensures precision, maintaining recipe integrity each time.

Kitchen scales are not just for baking; they also simplify portioning for dishes like burgers and meatballs, making meal prep a breeze. After testing 16 different models over multiple years, we’ve narrowed it down to the best kitchen scale for home cooks, priced at just $27.

Leading our recommendations is the Escali Primo, which has been a favorite in the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen for over six years and has proven reliable through various baking projects. Shilpa Uskokovic, a senior Test Kitchen editor, has relied on this scale throughout her decade-long career in culinary arts.

The Escali Primo boasts a capacity of 11 pounds and measures in 1-gram increments, featuring an intuitive two-button interface. Its performance is commendable, delivering accurate readings and a quick tare function. Additionally, the scale’s 4.5-minute auto shut-off feature is among the longest evaluated, preventing any loss of measurements during baking.

Design-wise, the Escali Primo stands out with an elevated platform that allows easy visibility when weighing into large bowls, while its plastic body makes cleanup simple. Its compact size and durable design have made it a long-term favorite, with Uskokovic stating, "It’s compact and easy to store, it’s easy to wipe clean, it toggles between grams and ounces seamlessly, and it’s reliably accurate." However, it lacks the ability to measure in smaller increments, which could be a drawback for precision coffee measurements.

For those on a budget, the Amazon Basics Kitchen Scale is an excellent choice at around $10. Despite being half the price of the Escali, it shares many features, including an elevated platform and a similar capacity. During testing, it showed impressive accuracy, although it lacks some sealing around the buttons, making it more vulnerable to spills and crumbs.

The Fellow Tally stands out as the only coffee scale that could double as a kitchen scale. With a 5.5-pound capacity and features like a built-in timer, it’s ideal for coffee enthusiasts who also dabble in baking. While it’s pricier, its design and functionality cater to those who enjoy precision in both baking and brewing.

In our testing, we assessed each scale for accuracy using calibration weights, ensuring they could detect small weight changes and meet the minimum weight requirements. This thorough evaluation has led us to confidently recommend the best kitchen scales for home bakers looking to enhance their culinary creations.

Source: www.bonappetit.com