The 5 Best Food Scales of 2023
Whether you’re looking to lose weight following the WW program or just want to make cooking quicker and easier, a food scale is a must-have in your kitchen. These handy digital scales are perfect for measuring portions of food, ensuring you don’t go over your WW points. They can also be used to measure out ingredients by weight, allowing you to bake without pulling out 100 different measuring cups.
There are dozens of great food scales out there today, and the good news is that they’re often quite budget-friendly. To help you find the right one for your needs, I’ve put together a list of the best food scales I’ve used, as well as several other highly rated models you may want to consider. Here are my top picks for the best food scales you can buy.
My Top Picks
- What’s in My Kitchen: OXO Good Grips Food Scale – $55.95 at Amazon
- Also Great: Escali Primo Digital Food Scale – $26.08 at Amazon
- Best Budget: Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale – $12.59 at Amazon
- Best Design: Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Food Scale – $29.95 at Amazon
- Best for Bakers: KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Food Scale – $39.48 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Food Scales
1. What’s in My Kitchen: OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Food Scale
While it is a bit more expensive than many kitchen scales, I love this digital scale from OXO Good Grips and currently use it for my own cooking! It’s made from durable stainless steel and has a smudge-resistant finish that keeps it looking clean, and it can hold up to 11 pounds at a time, measuring in ounces, grams, pounds, or kilograms.
My favorite part about the design has to be the pull-out display. If you put a big bowl or plate on the scale, you can pull the display panel out from underneath it for better visibility, then just pop it back into place when you’re done. The whole thing is easy to wipe down if you splatter on it while cooking, and the measuring plate can be removed for more thorough cleaning, if needed.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 7 x 9.95 x 1 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Max Weight: 11 pounds
The Pros:
- Precise measurements
- Pull-out display
- Smudge-resistant
- Removable platform
The Cons:
What Others are Saying: The OXO Food Scale was named the best kitchen scale by Serious Eats and the “best splurge” by Food & Wine. Plus it has a 4.8-star rating from more than 6,000 Amazon shoppers.
Buy the OXO Good Grips Food Scale:
2. Also Great: Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
The Escali Primo is another top pick for your kitchen, and it’s a bit smaller and more budget-friendly than the OXO model. This cute little food scale comes in several fun colors, and while it’s made of plastic, the brand sells a stainless steel measuring plate that you can swap in if you want a more durable surface. This scale can hold up to 11 pounds, and it measures in ounces, pounds, and grams. There’s a spill guard over the controls and display screen to protect against splatter, and the whole thing is very easy to use, making it a top choice for beginners. Plus, the brand offers a lifetime warranty on this kitchen scale, so it’s a product you can buy once and use forever!
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches
- Material: Plastic
- Max Weight: 11 pounds
The Pros:
- Several colors
- Spill guard on controls
- Lifetime warranty
The Cons:
What Others are Saying: The Escali Primo Digital Scale was named the best kitchen scale by Wirecutter and Epicurious and it has a 4.7 star rating from more than 14,000 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Escali Primo Digital Food Scale:
3. Best Budget: Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale
You can’t beat the price of this digital kitchen scale from Amazon Basics. True to its name, the design is quite simple, but the scale has a large measuring plate to accommodate different vessels and can hold up to 11 pounds. This scale offers five different measurement units, including pounds, ounces, grams, fluid ounces, and milliliters, making it a good choice if you frequently measure liquids and want a more precise reading. The scale is lightweight and easy to store, and its stainless steel platform is easy to wipe clean when you’re done cooking.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.3 x 7 x 1.3 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Max Weight: 11 pounds
The Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Five measurement units
- Lightweight
The Cons:
What Others are Saying: The Amazon Basics Food Scale has a 4.7-star average rating from more than 81,000 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Amazon Basics Digital Food Scale:
4. Best Design: Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Food Scale
This food scale from Zwilling has a sleek modern design that will look great in your kitchen. It’s made from tempered glass with a totally smooth surface, and while most scales require batteries for operation, this one is rechargeable via a USB cable. It also has a higher maximum weight capacity, maxing out at 22 pounds. So it’s a top pick if you tend to make extra-large batches of food!
The only downside of this food scale is that it does take a while to get used to. There are no buttons, and you have to touch it in just the right spot to get it to work, which can be a bit frustrating.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
- Material: Glass
- Max Weight: 22 pounds
The Pros:
- Sleek design
- High weight capacity
- Rechargeable battery
- Easy to clean
The Cons:
- Learning curve for operation
What Others are Saying:
The Zwilling Enfinigy Food Scale was named the best rechargeable food scale by Good Housekeeping.
Buy the Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Kitchen Food Scale:
5. Best for Bakers: KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Food Scale
Most kitchen scales only measure down to 1 gram, but if you want even more precise measurements (which are sometimes required for baking), this scale from KitchenAid is the way to go. It has two separate measuring platforms: The larger platform can hold up to 11 pounds and measures in standard 1-gram increments, but the smaller one offers more precise measurements, down to 0.01 grams. It’s perfect for measuring small quantities of salt and yeast while baking.
This scale has stainless steel plates that are stain- and odor-resistant, and its backlit display screen is easy to read. However, the auto shut-off feature kicks in after just a few minutes, which can be a little frustrating, forcing you to keep turning the scale on while cooking.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 10.6 x 6.9 x 1.25 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Max Weight: 11 pounds
The Pros:
- Dual platforms
- Highly precise measurements
- Stain-resistant plates
The Cons:
- Larger than other scales
- Fast auto shut-off
What Others are Saying:
The KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Food Scale was named the best food scale by Delish, and it has a 4.4 star rating from over 3,000 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Food Scale:
Other Food Scales to Consider
My Weigh Bakers Math Kitchen Scale
The Baker’s Math Kitchen Scale might be a worthwhile investment if you do a lot of baking. It has a high weight capacity of over 17 pounds, and it has a unique percentage function that allows you to weigh ingredients in proportion to the main ingredient (typically flour). It also has a convenient spill guard over the control panel. However, this scale is large and quite bulky, taking up a lot of space in the kitchen. The My Weigh Bakers Math Kitchen Scale is available at Amazon for $49.95.
Greater Goods Food Scale
The Greater Goods Food Scale is another simple, budget-friendly option for your kitchen. It comes in a wide range of fun colors, and the slim plastic design can easily be stored in a drawer or cupboard. This affordable kitchen scale offers basic functionality, including an 11-pound max weight capacity and four measurement units, and while it’s not the most precise model out there, it’s a solid choice for occasional use in the kitchen. The Greater Goods Food Scale is available at Amazon for $17.99.
Etekcity Food Scale
The Etekcity Food Scale is a bestseller on Amazon thanks to its basic, easy-to-use design. It comes in two different sizes—medium and large—and it can measure in five units, including grams, pounds, ounces, fluid ounces, and milliliters. The scale is made from food-grade stainless steel that’s easy to clean, but some reviewers do question whether it’s totally accurate, as sometimes the measurements seem a little off. The Etekcity Food Scale is available at Amazon for $13.99.
Taylor Glass Top Food Scale
Most food scales are made from stainless steel, but this model has a tempered glass measuring plate instead. The simple black design can hold up to 11 pounds, and it measures in either pounds, grams, or kilograms. It’s simple to use and easy to clean, but you will want to be careful, as the glass surface can break if you bang or bump it. The Taylor Glass Top Food Scale is available at Target for $19.79.
Cuisinart Precision Chef Bowl Kitchen Scale
If you’re specifically looking for a kitchen scale with an integrated bowl, this model from Cuisinart is a top choice. It can be used with or without the stainless steel bowl, which is large enough to hold several cups of ingredients. The scale has a weight limit of 11 pounds, and the whole thing is made from stainless steel, making it easy to clean after use. The Cuisinart Precision Chef Bowl Kitchen Scale is available at Amazon for $45.99.
Fellow Tally Precision Pro Coffee Scale
For super-precise baking measurements, the Fellow Tally scale is a worthwhile splurge. It’s technically designed for measuring coffee, but it’s equally handy for baking, as it measures down to 0.1 grams. The scale has a handy rechargeable battery, but its maximum weight capacity is only 5 pounds, so it’s not ideal for large quantities of ingredients. The Fellow Tally Precision Pro Coffee Scale is available at Amazon for $148.
Why You Can Trust Me
Hi! I’m Gina, the creator and recipe developer of Skinnytaste, which focuses on sharing delicious and healthy recipes for the whole family, many of which are lightened-up versions of everyday classics. Many people discover Skinnytaste while searching for WW recipes, and if you’re following a WW plan (or any other type of weight loss guidelines), a kitchen scale is an extremely useful tool to help meet your health goals.
While putting together this list of the best kitchen scales, I used my own experiences with several different models and brands. For products I haven’t used myself, I relied on the insights from experts at a variety of trusted food publications, as well as reviews from thousands of real home chefs. All of my picks are great for everyday use while cooking or portioning out meals, and I’ve also included several more precise models for the avid bakers out there.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Food Scale
What to Consider Before Buying a Food Scale
There are hundreds of food scales to choose from today, and many of them look quite similar at first glance. Here are the factors that I recommend looking at to find the best product for your needs:
Units: Most food scales offer a few different units of measurements, commonly including grams, kilograms, and pounds/ounces. However, some offer additional units, such as fluid ounces or milliliters, which can be useful if you frequently measure liquids.
Weight Capacity: Most kitchen scales have a weight limit of 11 pounds, which is more than enough for your average recipe. If you frequently cook in large batches, you may want a scale with a higher weight capacity.
Precision: In general, you’ll find that most kitchen scales can measure down to 1 gram. If you bake, however, you may need to measure in even smaller increments, which requires a scale that’s more precise.
Cleaning: Kitchen scales often get dirty during using, whether from spills, splatters, or fingerprint smudges. The best scales are easy to wipe clean when you’re done cooking—stainless steel and glass are generally the best for this purpose.
How Do You Use a Food Scale ?
To operate a food scale, you’ll want to place it on a flat, stable surface like your countertop. When you turn the scale on, it should automatically set itself to zero. You can put ingredients directly onto the measuring plate, or you can put a bowl or measuring cup onto the scale, instead.
If you’re using a bowl or other vessel, you’ll want to put it on the scale while it’s still empty. From here, hit the “tare” button, which will set the scale back to zero. By doing this, you’ll automatically subtract the weight of the vessel from your measurement, allowing you to only measure the weight of your ingredients.
How Do You Read a Food Scale?
Today’s best food scales have digital screens, which make them easy to read. You’ll want to make sure the scale is in your preferred unit—whether that’s pounds/ounces, grams, kilograms, or another unit of measurement. Once you’ve set your ingredients on the scale, the screen will tell you the item’s weight, which you can then compare to the recipe or recommended serving size.
How Do You Measure Food Without a Scale ?
Food scales measure by weight, but many people prefer to measure by volume instead, especially when measuring raw ingredients for cooking or baking. If you don’t have a food scale, you can use measuring cups to portion out ingredients or meals. It might not be quite as accurate, but it’s still an effective way to measure food.
Can a Food Scale Help You Lose Weight?
Food scales can be a very useful tool if you’re trying to lose weight. It’s easy to overestimate portion sizes when cooking, which can lead you to eat more calories than intended. Weight loss is all about staying in a calorie deficit, and a food scale will help you track your calorie intake more accurately and eat appropriate portion sizes to meet your health goals.
The Best Healthy Recipes
If you’re following a WW plan, you’ll find hundreds of WW-friendly recipes across the Skinnytaste site, and all my recipes list the number of WW points per serving, making it easy to track your food intake—just look for the number listed in a round blue circle at the top of the recipe. And, of course, don’t forget to measure portions using your food scale to keep yourself on track!
Looking for some inspiration on where to start? The following are several of my most popular WW-friendly recipes:
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
