Food Scale: looking for a new one

I have a food scale and use it regularly, but I’m done with this one. It runs on batteries, which is fine, but it’s three tiny watch-size batteries and they’re going dead constantly. What brand and model food scales do you use, and would you recommend? No puny watch batteries, please!

Salter 1150 BKDR Digital Kitchen Scales. I have an older version of this one that I’ve been using for well over ten years. It will weigh up to 11 pounds, very thin and easy to store, runs on two AAA. If it died today I would buy another, it’s been a workhorse.

https://www.amazon.com/Salter-1150-BKDR-Electronic-Platform/dp/B00B5QL09S/ref=sr_1_9?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r1KnNIX4z244Qj3MJv0g_Gp-q6a61vapKskGpqnfIbkCEvG7doJSOTORqeTMO75MLzvCNYumfrdI4ytuYNuxYxyKXm3UJbzeer0vMJdoH4-urNGjOQemiCcY06Pz8WLsaq1RzXVJDn2tbY08PhuuaJyw_lkOMM6Ze_UkUj2yZjV2o6SZVCDLYrXj3yu2fCCwPc85uFmzK_QIQ4ceNRU5mVxv1wHYfMyA2nuf47P_YSklhBwjUMko4clG3QDTKPbyR9836yuTPswupVT5QaYK58RQrkoT5rulqjtfrQPzErg.C9o5X4QDU7bbuiwvCDjdJJD36eji-pN75awFDfgOI7g&dib_tag=se&qid=1752692115&refinements=p_89%3ASalter&sr=8-9&srs=2600019011&th=1

I also use their gram scale for small measurements, very happy with both.

https://www.westauction.com/auction/surplus-auction-from-myers-foodservice-equipment-supply-design-in-santa-rosa-california-4454/item/taylor-portion-control-scale-596191/

I have this an Heston / Salter collab, and like it. Main scale goes up to 10 kg. Though balancing such a heavy object on the platform can be a challenge, you need a dish and everything centred.

https://www.amazon.com/Salter-Heston-Blumenthal-Platform-Precision/dp/B00DW419G0?th=1

I like that, both of mine put into one.

This $30 Escali has served me for 15 years. Runs on 2 AA batteries that last a loooonnngg time.

https://a.co/d/hj2bp62

0.1g up to 3000g (~6.6 lbs.):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B3VFTY3?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

For 1g up to 10 kg (~22 lbs.):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R6V87ZB?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6

I like that I could adjust the auto-off feature to an extended time for both of these. Amazing how good these cheap ones are. I usually travel with the small one for making pour over coffee on vacation.

Does that first one legit do a good job with very small measurements? (i.e.: grams). My scale (a Taylor, I believe) does not do a good job when I’m trying to weigh just a few grams at a time (usually yeast) ---- I will add some product, and the weight won’t budge; I’ll add more, and no change. Add a bit more and suddenly it will jump a gram and a half. It’s annoying. Would love to have something that responds well in half gram increments.

Yes. I was skeptical of the accuracy, and being a WB geek, I invested in some calibration weights and it was spot on from 1g upwards. At 0.5g and below, it doesn’t always read. But, if I put say a 5g weight on it and add a 0.2g weight, it will show 5.2g. For my needs, I’m fine at +/- 0.2g and I feel comfortable my scale is accurate to that degree. Probably +/- 0.1g or better. You made me pull them back out to retest to see if it was still calibrated since it’s been 4 years. Yep. Results above are from tonight.

Plenty of cheap scales out there that go another decimal point and I bought one before I recognized the absurdity of measuring to that level for my needs - ever. Those also have a much lower maximum and that’s much more of problem for me. I can’t find mine at the moment and I may have tossed it. That might meet your needs better at the low end because of the sensitivity if you are really needing something better than +/- 0.1g accuracy. My most sensitive cooking need is single dosing coffee beans and grounds where I think I can taste the difference between 0.2g, but there are so many other variables that I’m likely fooling myself.

As cheap as these things are these days, you don’t have much at risk to try these out and see if they meet your needs.

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Getting within 0.2g or 0.1g will be plenty good for my needs. I’ve just been frustrated in the past when I can’t even be sure my scale is accurate to 1.0g!

Thank you for all of the great extra info, Chris! :cheers:

These work right down to 1/4g. Don’t ask me how I know.

IMG_1952

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I was coming here to recommend this. I got my second one recently when the first one’s buttons finally wore out after something like 20 years of daily use (coffee in addition to food). Cheap, gram accuracy, pretty bullet-proof, great tool, the timeless scale equivalent of my Benriner mandoline. Wirecutter top pick.

Currently making “pour over coffee” at a Airbnb rental that did not have a coffee maker so I went to goodwill and bought what turned out to be a non-working $12 coffee pot

Got your $12 worth I see.

It is going back today! Our rental is very pretty but totally lacking in the kitchen. 5 forks & no oven worthy pans. Had to burn out all the crud on the grill for 20 minutes before I could grill the chicken last night

And now back on topic….

Thanks for the tip. I’m not enamored with my current (much older) Salter, so I just replaced it with this. Well, the 10kg version instead of the 5kg version. :muscle:

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