Why You Should Always Use a Scale When Measuring Ingredients

Plus, expert tips for getting the most out of your kitchen scale when baking.

If you're a home baker, you likely own your fair share of cookie sheets , cupcake tins, and, of course, measuring cups. Those tools certainly have their place in the kitchen, but if you want to up your baking game, you should ditch your measuring cups and use a kitchen scale. It will allow you to measure ingredients by weight rather than volume, which is the method preferred by professional bakers. It is also the way it is done in Europe—and it's becoming more common in American recipes, as well.

Not convinced? Learn why it's better to use a scale when measuring ingredients, according to chefs and bakers.

Meet Our Expert

• Sarah Jardine , chef-instructor of culinary and pastry arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
• Melissa Cassese , baker and owner of Sweetie Pies
• Trung Vu , chef-instructor of pastry and baking arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York

Related: What's the Purpose of Sifting Flour and Other Dry Ingredients When Baking?

The Benefits of Using a Kitchen Scale

While we may be fond of our measuring cups, a kitchen scale is the way to go.

It's More Accurate

At its core, baking is a science that relies on chemical reactions to bind ingredients, leaven batters, and develop complex flavors. Thus, it's important to accurately measure ingredient, and a scale is the best candidate for the job. Take flour, for example. "When using a scale, [every] time you measure 22 grams of flour, it will be 22 grams of flour. It's exact and there's no room for error," explains Melissa Cassese, baker and owner of Sweetie Pies.

On the contrary, using measuring cups will yield different amounts due to each home baker's preferred techniques, says Trung Vu, chef-instructor of pastry and baking arts at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. "Some dip and sweep (overfilling and then leveling off), some pack the cup tightly, and some just shake off the excess," he explains. These different techniques can incorporate more or less air into the cup, resulting in varying amounts of each ingredient.

Yields Consistent Results

There's nothing worse than baking one of your favorite treats, only to end up with sub-par results. Using a scale can reduce this risk, as it will correctly measure ingredients each and every time. This is crucial in baking, as even small variances can change the final product, says Jardine. For instance, "too much flour would result in a dense or dry product, whereas too little flour would result in [poor] structure or too much moisture," she notes.

It's Less Messy

Let's face it: Baking can be a messy activity—but even more so when you're using measuring cups. That's because they involve scooping, leveling, and shaking multiple cups of ingredients, says Cassese. In contrast, when you're using a scale, you can pour ingredients directly from their canisters into the bowl on the scale. Another option is to transfer the ingredients to a smaller container, then add them to your mixing bowl. Either way, you won't have to transfer multiple smaller cups back and forth, helping minimize mess.

Related: The 10 Most Common Cookie-Baking Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them

Saves Time

"Using a scale vs. cups can be a great time saver when it comes to baking," says Cassese. Not only will a scale yield less mess, (and therefore, less cleanup), but it will reduce the need for repetitive movements. For example, if you need six cups of flour, "you'll have to spoon, level, and pour it in your mixing bowl six different times," explains Cassese. But with a scale, all you need is one steady pour from your flour canister , she adds. You can also use a scoop to transfer the flour, but even then, it will take less time to reach the desired amount.

Ensures Even Portion Sizes

When baking for yourself, it's easy to overlook the exact size of cookies , hand pies , and other pastries. But if you're planning to gift baked goods to family and friends—or if you simply want your treats to look professional—using a scale is key. This will enable you to weigh batter, dough, and other ingredients, ensuring more consistently-sized products, says Vu. "Not only will all your pastries look the same, but they'll also bake more evenly," he adds.

Makes It Easier to Convert Recipes

"If you need to convert a recipe up or down, the best way to do it is with weight measurements," says Jardine. You want to double a recipe or halve one: When you scale a recipe with volume measurements, or measuring cups, it can get tricky. "You may end up with 19 teaspoons of flour or .6 of an egg," notes Jardine. But when you're using a scale, "the quantities can be multiplied or divided without worrying about errors in rounding," she says.

Related: Your Most Common Cake Baking Problems, Solved

How to Use a Kitchen Scale for Baking

Using a kitchen scale can be intimidating at first, but it's actually quite easy. Here are the general steps for using a scale for baking:

1. Turn on the scale.
2. Place a bowl on top and tare it to zero. "This ensures you don't include the weight of the bowl in your ingredient measurement," says Sarah Jardine, chef-instructor of culinary and pastry arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
3. Slowly add the first ingredient to the bowl until the display shows the desired weight.
4. Press the tare button again.
5. Continue adding the remaining ingredients and follow the recipe as listed.
   

Tips for Using a Kitchen Scale

• Use a steady surface: When using a scale, always place it on a steady surface and clear the area of other objects. Otherwise, if the table is wobbling, the bowl on the scale can wobble as well, "making the number jump as you're measuring," says Cassese.
• Choose the right unit of measurement: "Many scales measure in ounces, pounds, and grams," notes Jardine. Check your recipe for the listed unit of measurement, then set your scale to match it.
• Tare your scale after adding the bowl: After turning on your scale, place an empty bowl on top, then tare it. Avoid doing the opposite—i.e., putting a bowl on the scale and then turning it on—as this can lead to an error, according to Vu.
• Center the bowl: Position your bowl or container on the scale so it's not leaning to either side, says Vu. This will ensure the most accurate measurement.
• Consider your bowl's shape: If your bowl is too wide, it might be difficult to read the display on the scale. It's also more likely to be off-center, depending on the size of your scale. In this case, "use a taller and narrower container that will sit on the scale comfortably," suggests Vu.
• Be patient: Let the scale set to zero between each measurement, and pour the ingredient slowly, advises Cassese. This will ensure you don't overpour an ingredient.