Hitting Nutrition Goals Can Be Tough—a Good Food Scale Can Help

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A GOOD FOOD scale is one kitchen gadget you likely don't have, but almost definitely need. Food scales provide more accurate measurements, which is helpful for tracking macros in a bulk or cut phase, or whipping up a batch of protein pancakes.

As Chef Marc Matsumoto explains in an article for PBS, measuring by weight is a lot more accurate than measuring by volume (using traditional measuring cups). Ingredients vary in density, leading to differing weight per volume. Weighing a specific number of grams of a food consistently yields the same quantity each time.

Best Food Scales of 2024

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Kitchen scales are also handy for watching portion sizes. Specific eating preferences, like counting macros or the ketogenic diet, rely on eating a specific amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, which is best obtained by weighing food.

After hours of testing, tasting, and deliberation, we've curated a selection of the best food scales that meet our stringent criteria with the aim that only the finest makes it onto your kitchen countertop. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a novice nutrition nut, rest assured that these scales will make your culinary endeavors a little smoother, and a little more precise. Below, the top 10 kitchen food scales to shop in 2024, vetted by us.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Food Scale

When choosing a food scale, pay attention to factors such as capacity, accuracy, ease of use, and additional features like tare function, unit conversion, and automatic shut-off. First, consider your specific needs and preferences—what do you plan to use a food scale for? Then, you can decide what style, size, and features are most ideal for you.

Precision and Accuracy

Whether you're measuring small quantities of spices or larger portions of ingredients, a scale that's precise and accurate is critical. Just as stability and cushioning are vital for running shoes, the ability to measure precisely is paramount for food scales. As a general rule of thumb, most quality, precise food scales should register weights from 2 grams up to about 5000 grams. It's also a good idea to look for options with sensors and calibration features to further ensure consistent and reliable measurements.

Display

Take note of different types of displays available to ensure you'll be able to use and read your scale easily. LCD displays offer clear numeric readouts but often aren't backlit, LED displays provide bright and high-contrast visibility, while touchscreen displays offer more interaction. Analog displays, though less common, may appeal to those who prefer a traditional aesthetic.

Material

Look for scales constructed from durable materials that can withstand daily use without dings, scratches, and breakage. Stainless steel platforms and reinforced plastic housing are solid choices for resilience against any liquid or impact your scale might be subjected to.

Size

Consider the size of the scale itself, and whether it fits comfortably on your kitchen counter or is easy to store when not in use. Also, think about what you plan to measure food in, and whether the scale is big (or small) enough to accommodate the vessel.

Additional Features

Features such as auto-off function for preserving battery life, and built-in timers are just a few of the extras that can make your life easier (well, just when using a food scale, at least). These features can enhance the versatility and functionality of your scale, allowing you to tackle a wider range of tasks with the most ease.

How We Tested and Selected the Best Food Scales

We're committed to bringing you only the best when it comes to the products we feature. That's why our team of editors and experts have put in the hours to meticulously test and vet the top food scales on the market. We understand the importance of precision and reliability when it comes to your nutrition and meal preparation, so we searched high and low for the most accurate and user-friendly options out there.

Led by seasoned culinary, nutrition, and fitness experts including our Food and Nutrition Editor Paul Kita and Fitness and Commerce Editor Talene Appleton, NASM, we embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of food scales from leading brands such as OXO, Etekcity, and GreaterGoods, among others. We didn't just rely on specs and manufacturer claims; instead, we put these scales through hands-on testing in our own home kitchen scenarios.

During our testing process, we paid close attention to factors such as accuracy, precision, ease of use, durability, and versatility. We assessed each scale's performance in measuring various ingredients, from tiny pinches of spices and dry tea bags to larger quantities of grains and proteins, ensuring that they delivered consistent and reliable results every time. We also considered features like tare function, unit conversion, and display readability to provide you with a comprehensive overview of each product's highlights and drawbacks.

Digital Kitchen Scale

This Amazon Basics food scale is about as basic and straightforward as digital kitchen scales get, which is really all most people need. It arrives with two AAA batteries you'll need to operate it so you can use it immediately, too.

Sporting a sleek black and stainless steel design, its just as simple as it is versatile. With two basic buttons flank the display, allowing users to toggle between units of measurement—be it pounds, ounces, fluid ounces, or grams—and initiate the tare function with just the click of a button.

My one issue with this scale is that it lacks a backlight, so while the LCD display is readable for most users, it may pose challenges for some in dimly lit environments. Despite its non-rechargeable nature (and the fact that I never have extra batteries on-hand), its reliability and accuracy, capable of measuring up to 11 pounds, and price make it a practical choice for most people.

Food Scale

I love the look of this sleek, stainless steel scale from Etekcity. It's thin and compact, taking up minimal real estate without skimping on any important functions. Because of the way it's constructed (single piece, metal unit), it's also more resistant to damage than other scales we're tested.

Capable of weighing up to 5 kg or 11 lbs with increments as small as 1 g, I've noticed consistent and reliable results when using this scale. With support for five different units of measurement and a tare button, it accommodates most people's needs, from precise ingredient measurements to portion control during meal prep. The backlit LCD display with large fonts further enhances its user-friendliness, providing easy-to-read measurements in any setting.

Food Kitchen Scale With Bowl

What stands out the most about this scale is that it comes with a detachable bowl, making food-weighing a little more convenient for those who may not have the perfect sized bowl on-hand already. The bowl fits perfectly on the weighing platform when in use, and fits snugly over the scale (upside-down) when not in use, saving space in a cabinet or drawer. Not only does the bowl provide a spacious and dedicated area for weighing ingredients, but its durable construction and pour spout make transferring ingredients easier, too.

The tare function is another great feature, allowing me to zero out the scale after placing a container with just the click of a button. Plus, with its versatility in handling a wide range of units, from pounds, ounces, grams, fluid ounces, and mL, this scale can pretty much do it all.

TriScale Digital Display Kitchen Food Scale

If you're serious about weighing out ingredients to hit your bulk or cut goals (or just accurately keep track of macros), traveling can introduce some hurdles. This foldable food scale from Joseph Joseph is the best option we've found for on-the-go lifestyles. Its compact folding design allows it to be easily slipped into a bag or stored away without taking up precious space.

Despite its compact size, this unit delivers with all the functions you'd expect from a great digital scale: a stable platform, easy-to-read LCD display, weight capacity up to 11 pounds, and the ability to measure in grams, pounds, ounces, fluid ounces, and milliliters.

I also love the "add and weigh" function, which simplifies prep by allowing users to measure multiple ingredients in the same bowl without the hassle of recalibrating.

Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Food Scale

Designed with meal preppers and multi-person households in mind, this scale can handle up to 11 pounds and has a roomy platform to accommodate larger weighing vessels. This is our go-to pick for large batch cooking or when portioning out three or more meals. The pull-out display is the winning feature here, eliminating any shadowing and view obstruction that usually comes with weighing out oversized bowls or plates.

Stainless steel construction adds a sleek and modern aesthetic, but also makes the scale smudge and fingerprint-resistant, keeping it looking good even with frequent use. Lastly, the removable platform makes cleaning a breeze when ingredients make their way onto the scale or counter.

Good Grips 6-Pound Precision Coffee Scale

Coffee enthusiasts, listen up. This scale has the ideal balance of precision and affordability, without being overly complicated. If the perfect cup of pour-over coffee is essential to your morning routine, you need a scale, and this is the one we recommend most.

Its super precise measurements in increments of 0.5 grams allow users to craft the perfect cup of pour-over every time. I love that it also has a built-in timer, which is more convenient than having to pull out your phone or an additional timer for keeping track of your pour. The sleek all-black design feels like it was made for the ultimate bachelor's pad, and it's also easy to clean and keep looking good.

Nourish Digital Kitchen Scale

People who count calories or macros seriously may want to invest in a kitchen scale which includes a food database. In addition to measuring weight of portions and ingredients (which any food scale can do), this unit allows you view nutrition information for 2,000 foods to accurately track macros in your meals.

Here's how it works: when you place food items on the scale, the Nourish scale not only weighs the food but also accesses its extensive nutritional database when you punch in the ingredient's corresponding code. This database contains information about various foods, including their calorie count, macronutrient breakdown, and other nutritional details. This scale syncs with your smartphone so you can seamlessly log your food in real-time.

Food and Nutrition Scale

Delving a little deeper into the world of the nutritional calculators, this scale from NUTRA TRACK stood out in our testing as one of the best. Compared to the Greater Goods Nourish Digital Kitchen Scale featured on this list, this unit has about half the number of pre-programmed custom foods in its database, but we found its readings slightly more accurate and consistent. It also features more customization capabilities, allowing users to add their own ingredients a la carte.

The interface is easy to navigate and read, while the included AAA batteries ensure you'll be able to use it straight out of the box. Plus, the lifetime warranty on this family-owned company product brings an extra dose of confidence when using this thing.

Bakers Math Kitchen Scale

I've been using the My Weigh Bakers Math Kitchen Scale for a little over two months now for all my baking endeavors. I am not a chef, but I like to do some chef-y things when baking, like calculating ingredient quantities based on percentages. Unlike most food scales, I've tried, this unit features a percentage weighing function which streamlines my recipe and baking process.

The scale's large, flat weighing platform is another feature that I've come to appreciate for baking and large batch prep moments. It allows me to utilize a larger area than other scales, making it easy to weigh bulky items or weigh multiple ingredients at once side-by-side.

Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale

Though it's not the fanciest, most high-tech option, this is the food scale I've seen out in the wild most often—at coffee shops, friends' homes, etc. At $15, it's budget-friendly, accurate, and, most of all, extremely lightweight.

Though it's relatively small, it works surprisingly well for larger batches, from measuring dry ingredients for baking to portioning out ingredients for meal prep. While the scale automatically powers off after 2 minutes to preserve battery life, I appreciate the ability to switch between a 2-minute and 5-minute timeout feature for added convenience.

Do I Need a Food Scale?

A food scale is a helpful tool for anyone looking to accurately track their food intake, whether for weight loss, muscle gain, or simply maintaining a balanced diet. It allows you to measure precise portions and accurately count calories, macros, and nutrients, helping you stay on track with your nutrition goals.

Can a Food Scale Be Used to Weigh Things Other than Food?

They sure can. Food scales can be used for various purposes beyond measuring foods for accurate dieting and portion-control. They can be handy for weighing packages for shipping, measuring ingredients for baking, and even for weighing small items like jewelry or coins.

How Do I Care for and Maintain a Food Scale?

To ensure your scale is taking accurate measurements and going to last a long time, it's essential to clean it regularly with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Avoid submerging it in water, and store it in a dry place away from heat and direct sunlight. It's a good idea to avoid dropping or being rough with a food scale to prevent damage to the sensitive components inside the unit.

Why You Can Trust Us

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors are experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality. For this story, we spent hours testing food scales, researching specs, and interviewing chefs and registered dietitians.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage, which is why you can always trust us to provide reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

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