Equipment Review: Best Digital Kitchen Scales & Our Testing Winner & Best Buy

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Full testing details and ranking chart:
Behind the Testing:
We tested 10 digital kitchen scales to find the best one:
OXO Good Grips 11 lb Food Scale with Pull Out Display
Polder Easy Read Digital Kitchen Scale
Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale
Salter Aquatronic Glass Electronic Kitchen Scale
Escali Alimento Digital Scale
Escali Arti Glass Kitchen Scale
American Weigh EDGE-5K Digital Kitchen Scale
American Weigh CITRON-5K Digital Kitchen Scale
Soehnle Page Evolution
Polder Slimmer Stainless Digital Kitchen Scale
No matter what you’re cooking or baking, weighing the ingredients helps guarantee perfect results. But only if your scale is accurate and easy to use.
Love baking? Don't miss our review of stand mixers:
Know the correct way to use a whisk? Think again:
WINNING TRAITS OF A GOOD DIGITAL SCALE
- Consistently accurate within 2 grams
- Clear, easy-to-read screen that isn’t obscured by large items
- Responsive, intuitive, easy-to-reach buttons
- Removable platform and/or tight seams that keep out food and water
WHAT WE EXAMINED
ACCURACY: We tested three units of each model, weighing 30-, 200-, and 500-gram lab-calibrated weights 10 times on each unit, at the beginning and end of testing. We preferred scales that gave consistently accurate readings; models that routinely ­varied by more than 2 grams lost points.
EASE OF USE: We timed how long it took to turn on the scales, switch from grams to ounces, and measure 5 ounces of flour. Several test cooks also subjected top-performing models to a week of daily use. The best models had intuitive controls that were easy to access.
LEGIBILITY: We preferred digital displays with sharp color contrast or a backlight option, big digits, and large screens. Scales lost points if a 5-quart mixing bowl blocked or obscured the screen.
DURABILITY: We dropped each model onto the counter from a height of 2 inches, checking to see if any pieces fell off or if the scales became damaged.
CLEANUP: We stained the platforms with a measured amount of yellow mustard, tomato paste, and canola oil; after 36 hours, we washed them by hand. The best models had removable platforms that we could wipe off or scrub. Scales that trapped water and food residue lost points.
ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.
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