Level up your baking game! Learn how to use a kitchen scale to precisely measure all your ingredients for foolproof results every time! Step-by-step instructions plus a simple video included!
Read a mechanical scale by observing the pointer on the dial that shows the weight of an item. The dial in grams usually also has kilograms at the top and grams at the bottom or vice versa.
The Easiest Way to Improve Your Baked Goods
Somehow we’re already right in the midst of baking season. If you’re looking to up your baking game this year and make perfect cakes, cookies, and pies every time, one of the best suggestions I can give you is to start using a kitchen scale.
I’ve mentioned this before in my post on how to measure flour, but this was the biggest game-changer for me in my own kitchen (not to mention it’s critical when you’re developing your own recipes like I do).
However, if you live in the US (like I do), chances are you’re using measuring cups (and you may not even own a kitchen scale!). My goal is to change that. Every baker should use a scale whenever possible.
Tip: This is the kitchen scale that I use (affiliate).
OK, I get it! Now how do I Use a Kitchen Scale?
Alright, let’s get to it:
- Turn your kitchen scale ON and toggle the “unit” button until you are set to the unit of measure that you need (oz, grams, etc.)
- Place your mixing bowl (or other bowl that you’ll be measuring your ingredient into) on the scale.
- TARE the scale by hitting the “tare”. Your display should read “0”.
- Measure your dry ingredient into the measuring bowl until you reach the measurement indicated in your recipe.
- Make sure to tare the scale again so that it reads “0” each time before measuring your next ingredient.
I linked to my favorite scale (affiliate) in the how-to card below. It’s accurate, the batteries last forever (mine have been working for years), and inexpensive! I think this one is around $12 on Amazon… comparable to the cost of a set of measuring cups!
How To Read Digital Scale Grams
FAQ
What does 1 gram read on a scale?
What is the symbol for grams on a digital scale?
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Unit Name
|
Symbol
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Equivalent in Grams
|
|
Grams
|
g
|
1
|
|
Kilograms
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kg
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1kg=1000g
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|
Milligrams
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mg
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1mg=0.001g
|
|
Micrograms
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μg
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1μg=0.000001g
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What does G mean on food scale?
How do you check a kitchen scale?
You can also check your kitchen scale by measuring a known weight. For example, you can weigh a 5-pound bag of flour on the scale and compare it to the weight of the scale. If the scale reads accurately, the two weights should be the same. If the scale reads differently, you will need to adjust the scale until it reads accurately.
How do you use a kitchen scale?
For example, if your scale is a 10-pound scale, you can use a 10- pound bag of flour or a 10-pound can of soup. Place the item on the scale and adjust it until the scale reads accurately. You can also check your kitchen scale by measuring a known weight.
How do you measure dry ingredients using a kitchen scale?
A brief tutorial on how to measure dry ingredients using a kitchen scale. Turn kitchen scale on and toggle to the unit of measure that you intend to use (grams, oz, etc.). Place a mixing bowl on the scale and hit the tare button so that the display reads “0”. Weigh your ingredient into the mixing bowl.
How do you use a scale to measure ingredients?
A few people have asked me lately how exactly one uses a scale to measure ingredients, and this post is for them: It all comes down to taring or zeroing out the existing weight of what you’ve got. Place you empty bowl on your scale and “tare” or “zero out” you weight.