If you like to bake, then you’ll certainly want to include kitchen scales in your collection of appliances. Baking requires accurate measurements – after all, it’s as much science as it is an art. With access to recipes all over the world you may come across some where the measurements are in ounces or pounds so having a scale to do the conversions takes the guesswork out.
We can compare them all side by side – we’ve got the testing down to a fine art. But whatever our experience may be, it’s feedback from our members that guides how we test.
Our expert testers
There’s no doubt our home economist Fiona Mair knows her way around a kitchen. With 30 years’ experience, she’s seen lots of new technology and gadgets enter the kitchen space. But one thing never changes when testing products – our experts need to get their measurements right every time. So we focus on the importance of accuracy and ease of use so that when it’s time for you to buy, you can be sure you’re buying a product that will do the job well.
How we choose what we test
Why do we choose one set of kitchen scales over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in stores.
We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models and check market sales information, and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and buy each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they’re the exact same product any consumer would take home and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.
CHOICE is all about accuracy, so we have our own calibration lab where our lab manager checks all of our equipment, including our scales, for accuracy on a regular basis. We don’t use ingredients to check the accuracy of the kitchen scales: we use precision weights for our test that are specifically used for calibration. We then test as follows.
Calibrated weights ensure accuracy when reviewing digital kitchen scales’ performance.
Performance tests
Our testers check the electronic kitchen scales for:
10g increment accuracy
1kg weight accuracy
maximum capacity accuracy
tare function (reset to zero).
Each test includes three runs, and the score is based on the maximum increment. With the smaller calibrated weights, we make sure that they’re handled with tweezers and soft gloves so oils from fingers don’t affect the accuracy of the result.
Ease of use tests
These include assessing the ease of reading measurements and if there is possible obstruction of the display when the bowl is in position as it should be easy to read. We also look at how easy the controls are to use and whether the scales have a tare function, an auto turn off and a memory recall. They should be easy to clean, free from cracks and crevices, and easy to store.
Test criteria explained
The overall score for kitchen scales is made up of:
performance (40%)
ease of use (60%).
Our test lab
We maintain a kitchen lab that is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results.
I joined CHOICE in 2008 as a work experience student while studying my Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Food) at the University of Western Sydney. I've been with CHOICE ever since.
My first job was in a room full of muesli, collecting all their nutritional data. When I completed my course, CHOICE offered me a full-time position as a Test Officer in the Kitchen Lab. In 2009, I moved into the role of household content producer.
I write about a wide range of children's and household products, ranging from cots and strollers to ovens, BBQs, espresso machines and electric blankets. I even write about grocery items such as nappies, sanitary pads and laundry detergents.
I love my job and the extremely talented and passionate group of people I work with. I love knowing that our research, testing and results go a long way to helping consumers with their buying decisions by highlighting great products – and singling out poorly performing ones.
You can find me on LinkedIn.
I joined CHOICE in 2008 as a work experience student while studying my Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Food) at the University of Western Sydney. I've been with CHOICE ever since.
My first job was in a room full of muesli, collecting all their nutritional data. When I completed my course, CHOICE offered me a full-time position as a Test Officer in the Kitchen Lab. In 2009, I moved into the role of household content producer.
I write about a wide range of children's and household products, ranging from cots and strollers to ovens, BBQs, espresso machines and electric blankets. I even write about grocery items such as nappies, sanitary pads and laundry detergents.
I love my job and the extremely talented and passionate group of people I work with. I love knowing that our research, testing and results go a long way to helping consumers with their buying decisions by highlighting great products – and singling out poorly performing ones.
You can find me on LinkedIn.
I'm a home economist and test coordinator at CHOICE. I work in the kitchen lab, testing and comparing kitchen appliances. I am also involved in Test Research, helping manufacturers with product development for kitchen appliances such as microwaves, ovens and cooktops.
I help conduct food taste tests and have been on the judging panel for a number of taste tests such as hummus, strawberry jam and pesto, and coffee when we test coffee machines. I also write recipes for our members on some of the food products that we test so they have the option of making the product themselves (like corned beef, baked beans and mulled wine). I have just been accepted as an associate judge for the Royal Agricultural Society and hope to be participating in the Sydney Royal Fine Food show this year.
I started working at CHOICE in 1997 and previously worked as a dietary supervisor at a children's hospital. I have a degree in home economics and dietary supervision.
I've been at CHOICE for over 20 years and have cooked over 8000 scones, 4000 chickens, 3000 sausages, 1000 meringues and 500 pizzas, to test over 3000 appliances!
I want to help consumers save time and money in the kitchen, reduce waste and landfill, and enjoy eating foods that they've prepared from scratch.
Read more about my day-to-day life at CHOICE (and pick up a few kitchen lab secrets along the way).
You can find me on LinkedIn.
I'm a home economist and test coordinator at CHOICE. I work in the kitchen lab, testing and comparing kitchen appliances. I am also involved in Test Research, helping manufacturers with product development for kitchen appliances such as microwaves, ovens and cooktops.
I help conduct food taste tests and have been on the judging panel for a number of taste tests such as hummus, strawberry jam and pesto, and coffee when we test coffee machines. I also write recipes for our members on some of the food products that we test so they have the option of making the product themselves (like corned beef, baked beans and mulled wine). I have just been accepted as an associate judge for the Royal Agricultural Society and hope to be participating in the Sydney Royal Fine Food show this year.
I started working at CHOICE in 1997 and previously worked as a dietary supervisor at a children's hospital. I have a degree in home economics and dietary supervision.
I've been at CHOICE for over 20 years and have cooked over 8000 scones, 4000 chickens, 3000 sausages, 1000 meringues and 500 pizzas, to test over 3000 appliances!
I want to help consumers save time and money in the kitchen, reduce waste and landfill, and enjoy eating foods that they've prepared from scratch.
Read more about my day-to-day life at CHOICE (and pick up a few kitchen lab secrets along the way).
You can find me on LinkedIn.
