How to measure food using a food scale?

Using a food scale accurately involves several key steps, ensuring you get the most precise measurements for your recipes or dietary tracking.

Steps to Accurately Measure Food with a Food Scale

Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively use a food scale, based on the provided references:

Choose the Right Scale: Select a food scale that suits your needs. Consider its capacity, accuracy, and features like digital displays or units of measurement.
Check the Batteries: Ensure your scale has sufficient power. Low batteries can lead to inaccurate readings.
Select the Appropriate Unit of Measurement: Food scales typically offer various units like grams (g), ounces (oz), pounds (lb), and milliliters (ml). Choose the unit that matches your recipe or dietary requirements.
Position the Scale Properly: Place the scale on a flat, stable surface. Avoid placing it on carpets or uneven surfaces, as this can affect accuracy.
Tare the Scale: This is a crucial step. Taring means setting the scale to zero with an empty container on it.
- Place an empty bowl or plate on the scale.
- Press the "Tare" or "Zero" button. The display should now read "0" (zero).
Weigh the Container (If Necessary): If you need to know the weight of the container itself for any reason, weigh and record it before taring.
Place the Ingredient in the Container: Add the food item you want to measure into the container on the scale. Watch the display until it stabilizes to get an accurate reading.
Calculate the Actual Weight (If Applicable): If you didn't tare the scale with a container, simply read the weight displayed. If you did use a container and tared the scale, the displayed weight is the net weight of the food.

Let's say you want to measure 100g of flour:

By following these steps, you can confidently and accurately measure your ingredients using a food scale.