Tool Reviews

Cooking scales play a different role in every home. In one kitchen, not a single cooking can do without them, and in another, scales are used from time to time.

In addition to the direct function – weighing food, scales are also used for cases far from cooking. They will show a lot of jewelry, medicines, beads or yarn.
In the variety of kitchen measuring equipment, it is difficult to make a choice.

Types

If you know the following signs of classification, it will not be difficult to choose the right ones:

By way of action:

• Mechanical;
• Electronic.

By type of construction:

• with a flat platform;
• with measuring cup.

Availability of additional features:

• with volume measurement;
• with calorie counting.

According to the material of manufacture of the body and bowl:

• plastic;
• metal;
• glass
• wooden.

Knowing these nuances, you can make a choice without any doubt. Now more about each type.

Mechanical kitchen scales

This type is familiar to everyone, it has long been accustomed to everyday life, and is considered reliable and proven. The principle of operation is simple – under the weight of the products, the spring at the base of the body is compressed, and moves the pointer along the measuring scale.

In addition to ease of use, the mechanics are notable for their low price. It does not require batteries or batteries to operate.

The carrying capacity of the equipment is reflected in the dimensions: the heavier the load the scales can support, the larger the area they occupy in the kitchen.

Mechanical scales are not entirely accurate, and are used in conditions where 10-20 grams will not play a decisive role, as in conservation or food storage. Over time, the spring inside stretches and accuracy continues to decline.

Mechanical scales give way to electronic ones. Despite this, adherents of mechanical use them to this day.

On sale there are mechanical scales with a liquid crystal display, which are outwardly difficult to distinguish from electronic ones. Although the function in them remains the same – weighing. To distinguish the mechanics, you need to press on the base, and if a spring is built into the case, you will immediately feel it.

In addition to table scales, manual scales, or as they are also called, steelyards, are used in the kitchen. This compact device is suitable for work at home, and will save you from overweight when going to the market. There is also a spring inside the steelyard, which is stretched under the weight of the product suspended on the hook.

Electronic kitchen scales

Electronic scales are ahead of mechanical ones in many respects. Thanks to the built-in options, they are compared to a mini-computer. All electronic devices are equipped with a liquid crystal display, which reflects the weight in grams and other data.

Useful options that distinguish electronic scales from mechanical ones:

• Automatic shutdown. A few minutes after the cessation of work, they turn off on their own. This will increase battery life as the device does not idle.
• The opposite function is to turn on by lightly pressing the platform without using a special button.
• Resetting the tare. Function for measuring the mass of the product without taking into account the capacity.
• sequential weighing. Thanks to this option, you can gradually find out the mass of each new ingredient in the dish, resetting the previous indicator. The memory saves the received data, and after adding the last component, it displays the total weight of the finished dish.
• Choice of units of measurement: grams, kilograms, ounces and others. This option is needed for people who cook according to foreign recipes, with measurements inherent in these countries.
• Counting calories. A useful application for people who monitor their own weight.
• Built-in timer, battery charge detection sensor and others.

The received data is displayed on the display, which in some models even shows the temperature in the room or the exact time.

The price of the selected device also depends on the functionality. The most primitive electronic scales show only the mass of products, and are not so expensive.

However, they are more accurate than mechanical ones.
Management on different models also varies, and takes place on touch or rubberized buttons.

In terms of practicality, both are worthy of attention, so you need to choose based on preferences in appearance.

Electronics require a power source in the form of an accumulator, batteries, or an electrical connection to operate. This is the only difference in which mechanical scales win over electronic ones, apart from the price.

When using electronic scales, devices with strong electromagnetic radiation should be set aside. Such proximity will affect the weighing results, and accelerate the breakdown of equipment.

When buying, it is worth evaluating the protection against moisture provided by the manufacturer, since the quality and durability of the work depend on it. More often these are rubberized buttons and body elements.

To check the accuracy of electronic scales at the stage of purchase, you can conduct an experiment. To do this, take an object with a fixed mass with you to the store, even a pack of cookies will do. When checking, place the selected weight on the surface and make sure the readings are correct. If the error is 1-2 grams, you can safely make a purchase.

Kitchen scales with bowl

The device with a bowl is convenient for measuring the mass of bulk products or liquids. To weigh large items that do not fit in the bowl, it is better to use a scale with a flat platform.
The case has a special recess in which the measuring cup is securely installed.

A removable container is easier to clean than scales with a built-in bowl. The one-piece design is difficult to clean due to the risk of water getting into the electronics, and takes up a lot of space when stored. A device with a removable bowl is more convenient to store by placing the device inside it.

When choosing equipment, you need to immediately determine the volume of the bowl. There are scales with a capacity of 200 ml to 3 liters. The larger the bowl, the more convenient it is to use in a large family.

A capacious container is useful for kneading the dough. And if the scales are electronic, then you can add ingredients one by one using the sequential weighing function.

An important aspect when choosing is the material from which the bowl is made. There are three main materials used to make it – plastic, glass and steel. Each has advantages and disadvantages:

• Plastic is lightweight, inexpensive and easy to care for. Most are equipped with a plastic bowl. It is easy to clean, even in the dishwasher. However, plastic is a fragile material, and if it is used carelessly, the bowl can be broken, and it is almost impossible to buy the original one. Over time, this material loses its original appearance, and small scuffs and scratches appear on the surface.
• Glass is more durable. Elements of kitchen scales are made of heat-resistant and impact-resistant glass, they are heavy and durable. The glass is perfectly washable, tolerates high and low temperatures, and does not absorb odors.
  If suddenly the bowl breaks, it will also not be possible to buy it in the store. Can only be ordered from the manufacturer. Therefore, you need to protect the glass bowl from falling.
• Metal. Metal bowls are the most resistant to drops and damage, so you don’t have to worry about the possible replacement of this part. Another advantage is the absolute resistance to temperature changes.

It seems that a metal container is better than others for household scales, however, there is one caveat here. When interacting with certain products, the metal may oxidize.

There are even wooden bowls, and some housewives prefer to use only these, because they consider this material the most environmentally friendly. However, the tree requires the most careful care: it is not so easy to wash, and does not tolerate long-term interaction with liquids.

It is important to remember that it is absolutely impossible to weigh products on an empty platform provided for a bowl. Therefore, before buying, you should think about whether you need a bowl at all or you can get by with scales with a flat platform. The advantage of the latter is the possibility of weighing in any dish, it remains only to first reset its mass to zero.

Kitchen scales with measuring the volume of liquids

This option is not built into all scales, and is considered an addition rather than a mandatory feature. With such a device, the volume of water or milk is measured, since only these liquids have a mass corresponding approximately to the equation 1 ml \u003d 1 g.

To determine the volume, the container for the liquid is first weighed. After zeroing the display, liquid is poured, and the volume in milliliters is immediately reflected on the display.

On sale there were separate devices in the form of glasses, intended only for weighing liquids. A sensor is mounted in the handle, showing the volume of the substance in milliliters.

Kitchen scale with calorie counting function

Such a device is called a dietary scale. With their help, you can control the volume and nutritional value of food eaten.

There are two options for entering data for calculating the value of dishes:

• Entering codes manually. The instructions are accompanied by a guide with a list of popular products, each is assigned a code. The device has a keypad on which you need to press the required combination of numbers from the directory.
• Choice of products in the electronic menu. Such a device is easier to use, and therefore much more expensive. To select a product, just find it in the electronic list.

Otherwise, the principle of operation is the same. The product is placed on the bowl or platform, and a choice is made in the menu. Now on the electronic scoreboard you can see the mass of the product, calorie content, and the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in terms of a given weight.

If a weight reset function is provided, after adding all the ingredients one by one, it will show the nutritional value of the whole dish.

Some models have additional memory capabilities when a calorie restriction is set. The scale will notify you if the specified limit is exceeded.

A useful feature in diet scales is the ability to list additional products that are not listed on the menu. Another option is to add an already existing product, but with a different calorie content, since the same products have different nutritional values ​​depending on how they are prepared.

Kitchen scales with a load of up to 5 kg

There is a run-up in the maximum load of different types of devices. This difference depends on the type of scales and the purposes for which they are purchased.

If the device will be used only for weighing ingredients for dishes, then you can limit yourself to a limit of 2-3 kg. And to calculate the mass of heavier products, such as vegetables and fruits, it is better to choose a device with a larger load.

Most household measuring devices, mechanical and electrical, are designed to weigh loads up to 5 kilograms. This is the golden mean, optimal for home use.
The maximum allowable weight is entered into the memory of the device, and no matter what load is placed on the platform, the display will not show more than this figure.

In addition to the fact that it will not be possible to find out the real mass of an object that exceeds the limit, such an experiment can disable the equipment.

And to avoid accidental overload, the scales are equipped with a special indicator that notifies the user of an error.

Thanks to this, the device is installed evenly and without distortion, otherwise the weighing results may differ greatly from the truth.

Wall mounted kitchen scales

There are both electronic and mechanical scales. In addition to a convenient location and compact storage, the scales have an original appearance, so they will become a decoration of the kitchen interior.

And electronic scales in this position can additionally perform the function of a thermometer or clock.
For wall mounting, a special bracket or a factory loop on the back is used. There are also many installation options, and if you hang it on the railing hooks, you don’t have to make a hole in the wall.

After use, all moving parts neatly fold back into a compact design.

Glass kitchen scales

Glass is a material that is widely used for the production of dishes and kitchen appliances. The popularity is explained by the fact that it is easy to clean, withstands temperature effects and retains its functional properties for a long time.

For manufacturers of weighing equipment, as well as for buyers, glass takes pride of place. There are 2 types of models produced using this material:

• Devices with a monolithic glass body. In this case, the filling is made of metal and plastic.
• A case in which glass is combined with other materials such as metal or wood.

A popular model is electronic scales with a smooth glass surface and touch buttons.
This design, in addition to being stylish, is resistant to stress. You can put a hot pot or pan on the platform without disastrous consequences.

Scales with a measuring cup are often made of glass. In this case, both the measuring container and the body of the structure are made of the same material. In addition to the advantages described, the device can be installed in any corner of the kitchen without loss of performance. This is the difference from plastic or wooden scales, which are afraid of moisture and high temperatures.

In addition to the rich functionality of the models on the market, for each kitchen there is an option in a suitable style direction.

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