Kitchen Tip- Using a Kitchen Scale

If I were to impart one and only one cooking tip it would be this: Use a Kitchen Scale.

For years kitchen scales have been viewed as a tool useful only for calorie counters and people on fad diets.  Let me break the stereotype right now.  A scale is one of the most useful tools in your kitchen.  Measuring cups and spoons are whoefully inadequate.  The same person measuring 1 cup of flour multiple times can result in different measurements by up to 28%.  In a cake or pastry that can create significantly different results.  Traditionally North American cookbooks and recipes do not provide measurements in weights but this is changing.  More and more often weight measurements are provided alongside the traditional cup and spoon (inaccurate!) quantities.  Where it is available- rejoice!  Your cooking/baking just got easier.

Here is how to use your scale:  Place a bowl on your kitchen scale and tare your scale (bring it back to zero).  Measure your first ingredient and tare the scale again.  You can then continue to add ingredients to the bowl, taring each time to ensure that each is measured.  No need to dirty additional cups and spoons.

A scale is also useful in organizing your freezer, ensuring that when you freeze meat and other items, you freeze them in useful quantities (such as 1 lb of ground beef).

Digital scales are inexpensive and compact.  Standard scales will provide measurements in pounds, ounces and grams, allowing for quick conversions.  What are you waiting for?