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14 best kitchen scales for delicious bakes every time
These ones are really pulling their weight

While there are times when you can get away with a pinch of this and a little bit of that, accuracy is crucial for some recipes, taking your dinner or your latest bake from showstopper to disaster.
While it’s often tempting to measure with your heart (garlic, we’re talking about you), with lots of ingredients, adding the wrong amount can make that careful balance go awry. That’s why having a set of the best kitchen scales is so important.
In fact, when it comes to baking it’s a must. Add too much flour and you’ll be faced with a dry mix. Add too little and you’ll have a gloopy mess on your hands… There’s certainly truth to the idea that baking is a science, not an art.
Luckily, the Good Housekeeping Institute has put lots of kitchen scales to the test to give you the confidence that your favourite sponge cake recipes will come out perfectly every time. Here are our top picks to shop now or read on for our full reviews.
What to look for when buying kitchen scales
There’s not masses of variety when it comes to kitchen scales, but there are a few subtle differences to look out for.
What are you weighing?
If you’re planning on using your scales to measure ground coffee, look for more sensitive ones. The Bodum BISTRO Barista Scale, for example, measures to a tenth of a gram, giving a level of accuracy that you don’t typically need when baking.
If you’re curious about what’s in your meals, some kitchen scales also boast smart capabilities, analysing the food you’re weighing and sharing nutritional information including calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat.
Digital versus mechanical
The simplicity of mechanical scales has made them a popular choice for bakers. However, they aren’t the most accurate or reliable, so we’ve focused on digital scales in this list. While traditional scales have that old-school charm, they tend to lack the speed of digital models.
Of course, you can also use cup and spoon measurements when baking, but these rarely provide a good level of accuracy due to the different densities of ingredients.
Functions
Two helpful functions to have on your radar are the 'zero' and 'tare' buttons. The zero function does exactly what it says on the tin and resets the weight back to zero grams, helping to recalibrate the scales before you start weighing again.
Alternatively, the tare button is handy when you place a bowl or container onto the scales, and you don’t want to include it in the final weight reading.
Measurements
Before choosing your scales, look at which measurements they offer. All the scales on this list convert between metric and imperial measurements and most weigh liquid and solid ingredients.
Also note what the maximum weight is for your scales. Going over the specified weight limit could break the sensors and prevent an accurate reading. Most of the scales below weigh up to five kilograms but some, like the Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Scale, go up to ten kilograms.
How we test kitchen scales
To find the best kitchen scales, our testers use 50-gram, 500-gram and 1000-gram calibrated weights. They put them on each scale five times to assess its accuracy, noting down the results and calculating an average.
Of course, the chances are you won’t do this in your kitchen, so they also test each model as you would use it at home. They measure out the ingredients in this banana loaf cake recipe, using a separate set of scales as a control to make sure they’re weighing out the same amount of flour, condensed milk and banana each time.
Our experts weigh everything three times, again calculating an average. They also time how long it takes for the scales to settle and display the final weight, and score ease of use, design and instructions. These are the ones that really pull their weight.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Masudah has a master's degree in clinical drug development and combines this scientific background with a love for all things homes – from cooking appliances to smart home tech. She enjoys collecting and analysing quantitative data, ensuring that her product evaluations go beyond mere opinions. She particularly loves using the Digi Eye machine in the GHI lab to assess the colour and texture of products as part of our duvet cover and detergent tests. In her spare time, Masudah enjoys learning about new tech, baking delicious treats, and keeping her home spotless. With a passion for creativity and an eye for detail, she brings a unique perspective to every product she tests.


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