How to Use a Digital Scale for Baking

How to Use a Digital scale for baking by: Cece Kirkwood

Aka.. the most important tool in your kitchen and also the easiest way to improve your baking! 

Now before I lose you here or make anyone angry… I promise, I am not trying to make baking “less fun” by pointing out this important baking basic. 

In fact, I truly find baking more fun when I know I can count on the fact that the ingredients I am adding to my recipe are correct. I am more likely to have something delicious pop out of the oven. 

And, if I pre-measure the ingredients before I get into the mixing… I can relax even more and just have fun creating something beautiful and delicious in my kitchen. 

Why is it better to measure ingredients by weight instead of volume when baking?

For starters, baking is a type of science! And in science, you want things to be exact and precise. 

The best way to do this is by weighing out your ingredients using a simple scale. 

Ever baked a cookie using the same recipe, yet somehow it turns out slightly different each time? That is because when measuring by volume, you can’t be as precise. 

Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into how to use a digital scale for baking…

We’ve talked about why it is important to measure ingredients by weight instead of volume when baking. 

But now, how do you use the digital scale?

This handy dandy scale is my favorite tool for baking and guess what? It costs under $25. 

The first step in all of my recipes is to pre-measuring ingredients. For this important step, take out your scale and grab a couple bowls. 

Place the bowl on the scale and “tare” the scale or zero out the weight. Now, as you add the ingredients to the bowl, you are only seeing the weight of the ingredients. 

Once you reach the amount you need, remove the bowl and move on to the next ingredient. 

That’s it! It is truly the simplest, but most important baking basic I will ever teach.