Why you should use weighing scales for baking

In this post, I will help you understand the #1 baking tool professionals always rely on for baking. Most importantly, you will know why weighing scales for baking are even more reliable than measuring cups & spoons. You will also learn how to use and maintain your weighing scales.

AUTHOR : KHUSHALI PATEL

*For the best results, read the entire post & follow the instructions.

Are you searching for the right baking tools to begin your baking journey?

While many beginner bakers rely on measuring cups and spoons to bake, weighing scales are less commonly used yet are one of the most transformational baking tools ever!

Measuring cups and spoons are widely used because bakers have always felt that measuring cups and spoons are a much easier alternative to weighing scales. But are they as easy as they are said to be?

Beginning or even trying to improve and transform your baking journey can be one of the most confusing times.

Trust me, I have been there.

With so much information out there, it can be so confusing to know what the best way forward is.

At such times, being a professional chef who has been where you are, I can’t motivate you enough to begin your baking journey by building a strong foundation. And one of the best ways to do that is by using the right baking tools & equipment.

You might be wondering what professional chefs use to prepare the best desserts ever. So, let me introduce you to the #1 piece of equipment that professionals can’t live without – the weighing scale.

Truth be told, weighing scales are easy to use. And they are tools that focus on accuracy, which is crucial in baking as it can make or break your desserts.

So, if you want to:

weigh your ingredients the right way
avoid wasting your ingredients, and
save time.

Then this post will guide you to begin and transform your baking journey.

That being said, let’s first understand what this life-saving equipment is.

What are weighing scales?

In simple words, weighing scales are baking tools that weigh the mass of different baking ingredients. You can weigh ingredients in different units like ounces, grams and millilitres, making them a versatile tool to use for baking. There are different types of scales, but traditionally digital scales are widely used for baking.

What is the difference between weighing scales and measuring cups & spoons?

Measuring cups & spoons measure the ingredients by volume rather than mass. A pack of measuring cups consists of 1 cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup and ¼ cup, sometimes more, and a pack of measuring spoons consists of 1 tablespoon, ½ tablespoon, 1 teaspoon and ½ a teaspoon.

They are made with different materials such as stainless steel, plastic and sometimes even glass.

Other than that, measuring jugs are also available for wet ingredients like milk, oil and more.

Now that you are aware of both the tools that you can use for weighing and measuring your ingredients, let’s talk about the benefits of using weighing scales.

What are the benefits of using weighing scales for baking?

Accuracy

Did you know there are various ways to measure your ingredients using measuring cups? For instance, you can measure flour using the scooping or spoon and level method. But imagine if you find a recipe you want to use, but it does not mention the method you should follow to measure your ingredients. That is a one-way ticket to a baking disaster. On the contrary, when you use a weighing scale, there is just one method to weigh your ingredients. All you have to do is add the ingredients into the bowl one at a time until you have the quantity you need. And it’s important to understand that baking is a science, and accuracy is crucial for a successful bake. So, I have to ask you a question; why should you rely on inaccurate tools for a skill that is based solely on accuracy?

Quicker

When you weigh dry ingredients like all-purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda, which usually go into a batter together, you can directly weigh them in the same bowl. It makes the baking process much easier to complete.

Minimal washing

Aha! Yes, this is the dream of every baker and weighing scales help you do just that. Weighing scales reduce the utensils and baking tools that you need to wash after each bake. But this is not the case while using measuring cups and spoons as you will have to spend more time and energy cleaning up especially when two ingredients have to be weighing using the same measuring cup.

Ease

Measuring cups and spoons were invented during a time when weighing scales weren’t as readily available for home bakers, and it did make baking a bit approachable and easy. However, these days weighing scales are much more common. On top of that, they are easy to use. All you have to do is weigh your ingredients in a bowl one by one. And the best part is that it is accurate which increases your chances of success making the process enjoyable.

Longer life

The thing about measuring cups and spoons is that their markings can vanish pretty easily, especially when using plastic ones. At such times, you may have to purchase a new set of measuring cups & spoons. But when using weighing scales, that’s not the case. When a quality scale is bought and used correctly with care, a weighing scale can last for years.

To explain the difference between weighing and measuring cups and spoons I have compared both of them to understand which gives accurate results.

Why are weighing scales the best for baking?

From the above comparison, you can clearly observe that when you use measuring cups and spoons no matter which the method, you always will end up with more than you need. Although, it might not affect each and every baked dessert, there is a high possibility that it will indeed lead to a baking failure. For this very reason, weighing your ingredients is reliable.

How to use a weighing scale for baking?

Turn on the weighing scale.
Set the weighing scale to grams or ounces.
Place a bowl right in the middle.
Zero out or tare the weighing scales to reset them so that you can weigh your ingredients.
Add the ingredient slowly into the bowl using a spoon (if needed) until you have the required quantity.
You can either change the bowl or use the same if the recipe states that those ingredients can go together.
If you are using the same bowl, zero out the weighing scale before weighing each ingredient.

You might wonder how to add multiple ingredients in a single bowl without adding extra and messing up the entire recipe. This is where patience and practice will help you.

When you begin using a weighing scale, use a spoon to transfer your ingredients into the bowl and weigh them patiently. Go slow, and with practice and observation, your speed will increase.

For instance, when I began using a weighing scale, I used to take about 20 to 30 minutes to weigh an entire recipe. But within just a month, my speed increased, and now I take 15 minutes as it is now a habit. You can achieve this too!

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06 tips for using a weighing scale for baking

Purchase a weighing scale that can measure ingredients from 0.5 grams to 1000g (minimum)

This is not necessary, but when you have a weighing scale that can measure 2.5 grams then it makes baking a smaller recipe much simpler.

Weigh on a flat surface

Sometimes if the weighing scale is not placed on a firm and flat surface, the weighing scale measures the ingredients inaccurately. So, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients either on your kitchen counter or on a sturdy table.

Make sure nothing touches the weighing scale

I have made a mistake where I weighed an entire recipe while the spatula was touching my weighing scale. Oops, I hope you can understand the outcome of it. So, always make it a point to check before you weigh.

Always keep an eye on the weight

Remember, always keep an eye on the quantity of the ingredient while weighing because just in case you are weighing an ingredient, and it gets over you know how much you need in case the weighing scale goes off as many digital weighing scales have an auto-off function.

Avoid purchasing a weighing scale with an attached bowl

They not only take up a lot of space but also are sometimes inaccurate. It can also be hazardous as there is a high chance of breakage eventually making you purchase another weighing scale. So, I recommend investing in a good-quality & simple weighing scale.

Zero out the weighing scale

If you are good with numbers, you can certainly skip this tip, but I always recommend zeroing out the weighing scale before you add another ingredient to the bowl because sometimes you might just forget or get confused. Zero-ing out will help avoid that.

What is the best way to maintain your weighing scale?

Avoid the auto-off function

These days a majority of scales come with an auto-off function. But I highly recommend not using that as this causes battery drainage. Yes, you can change the batteries but through experience, I have found that being mindful of switching it off yourself every time you don’t use it extends the life of the weighing scale.

Avoid hot pans

I have made this major blunder once and never before. Always remember that your weighing scale can be easily affected when something hot is placed on it. Always keep a thick cloth and then place a hot pan on the weighing scale.

Frequently asked questions

Should I sift ingredients before or after weighing?

I always recommend sifting your ingredients after weighing them. However, each recipe is different so read at the instructions of the recipe. If the word sifted is written before the ingredient (100g of sifted flour), sift it before weighing. If it is written after (100g of flour, sifted) sift it after weighing. If nothing is written (100g flour) sift it after weighing.

What type of scale is best for baking?

I recommend using a good-quality digital food weighing scale from a trusted brand than can weigh ingredients from 0.5/1 gram to 1 kg minimum.

Should I weigh the ingredients in ounces or grams?

I highly recommend weighing in grams as it’s much easier to do so.

What should I rely on when a recipe has ingredients mentioned in volume and weight?

I highly recommend trying to find out the method followed during recipe testing as that will give you better results. This is because when recipes are made with either one of them and just converted using a tool available online, rather than testing it out physically, it can be a bit inaccurate. So, I highly recommend using the method that the recipe originally used. But sometimes that is not possible, so at such times always use weight measurements.

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