8 kinds of kitchen scales: the pros and cons, features

Culinary scales in each house have different roles. One kitchen without them does not do any cooking, and on the other scales are used occasionally.

In addition to the direct functions - weighing food, the balance is used for cases far from the cooking. They show mass jewelry Medicine, beads or yarn.
In the variety of kitchen measuring technique difficult to make a choice.

types

If you know the following signs of classification, to choose suitable is not difficult:

By the method steps:

• mechanical;
• Electronic.

By type:

• a flat platform;
• with the measuring cup.

By the presence of additional functions:

• with the volume measurement;
• with counting calories.

The material construction of the shell and cup:

• plastic;
• metal;
• glass
• wood.

Knowing these nuances can be no doubt unnecessary to make a choice. Now more about each type.

Mechanical Kitchen Scale

This type is familiar to everyone, he has long been accustomed to the everyday life, and is considered a reliable and proven. The principle is simple - under the weight of the spring products in the base shrinks and moves the arrow pointer along the measuring scale.

Further ease of use, low cost mechanics differ. For work that requires a power source in the form of a battery or batteries.

Equipment capacity to withstand impact on the dimensions: the heavier the load can withstand the scale, the greater the area they occupy in the kitchen.

Mechanical scales is not entirely accurate, and are used in conditions where 10-20 grams will not play a decisive role, as in the conservation and harvesting of the product stock. Over time, the spring is stretched inside and precision continues to decline.

Mechanical scales are giving way to electronic. Despite this, the mechanical adherents use them today.

On sale there are mechanical scales with LCD display, which looks difficult to distinguish from electronic. Although the function of them is one - weighing. To distinguish the mechanics, you have to press on the base, and if the housing is integrated spring, it will be felt immediately.

In addition to desktop scales are used in the kitchen hand, or as they are called, steelyards. This compact device is suitable for use in the home, and save from obveshivaniya at a campaign to market. Inside the spring balance is also a spring which is stretched under the action of gravity of the product suspended on a hook.

Electronic kitchen scales

Electronic scales mechanical ahead on many indicators. With built-in options, they are compared with a mini-computer. All electronic devices are equipped with an LCD display, which reflects the weight in grams, and other data.

Useful options that differentiate electronic scales mechanical:

• Automatic shut-off. A few minutes after the termination of the work they are turned off independently. This will increase the battery life time, because the device does not work in vain.
• The opposite function - switch light touch on the platform without the use of a dedicated button.
• Zeroing of container. Function for measuring product weight excluding container.
• Successive weighing. With this option, it is possible to recognize stepwise the mass of each ingredient in a new dish, zeroing the previous figure. The memory stores the received data, and after the addition of the last component outputs the combined weight of the finished food.
• Unit selection: gram, kilogram, ounce and others. This option is for people preparing for foreign recipes, peculiar to those countries measures measurements.
• Counting calories. A useful application for people who take care of their own weight.
• Built-in timer, determining battery charge sensor, and others.

The data obtained are displayed on the display, which shows in some models, even the room temperature or the current time.

The functionality and the price depends on the selected device. The most primitive electronic scales show only a lot of products, and are not so expensive.

However, they are more accurate mechanical.
Management on different models, too, are different, and happens to touch or touch keys.

Practicality and both are worthy of attention, so you need to choose based on preferences in appearance.

To operate electronics needs a power source in the form of a battery, the battery or network connection. This is the only difference, in which the mechanical scales compare favorably with electronic, not counting the price.

When using an electronic balance, you need to set aside out devices with strong electromagnetic radiation. This proximity will affect the weighing results and speed up the breakdown of equipment.

When you buy should assess the manufacturer provided protection against moisture, as it affects the quality and durability of the work. Most often it is a rubberized buttons and elements of the case.

To check the accuracy of electronic scales in the purchase stage, you can conduct an experiment. For this to take with you to the store item with a fixed weight, suitable even a packet of biscuits. When checking put a load on the selected surface and verify the accuracy of readings. If the error is 1-2 grams, you can safely make a purchase.

Kitchen Scales with bowl

Device with a bowl suitable for measuring the mass of loose products or liquids. To weigh the overall things that do not fit into the cup, better to use scales with flat platform.
In case there is a special recess, which is securely mounted measuring cup.

Removable container easier to clean, unlike the scales with integrated cup. One-piece design is difficult to wash due to ingress of water risk in the electronics, and the storage it occupies a lot of space. The device with a removable bowl to store more conveniently, after putting the device into it.

When selecting the equipment needed to immediately determine the volume of the cup. There vesys capacity of 200 ml to 3 liters. The larger the cup, the more convenient to use in a large family.

Ample storage capacity is useful for kneading. And if the electronic scales, it is possible to alternately add ingredients, using the function of the sequence weighting.

An important aspect when selecting - the material of construction of the bowl. There are three main material used for its production - plastic, glass and steel. Each inherent advantages and disadvantages:

• Plastic - lightweight and inexpensive material, which was easy to care. Most fitted with a plastic cup. It is easy to clean, including in the dishwasher. However, plastic - brittle material, and if used carelessly, the cup can be broken, and the original is almost impossible to buy. Over time, this material loses its original form, and on the surface there are small scrapes and scratches.
• Glass - is more reliable. Elements of kitchen scales are made of heat-resistant and impact-resistant glass, they are heavy and durable. Glass perfectly clean, well tolerated by the action of high and low temperatures, and does not absorb odors.
  If the bowl broke suddenly, it is also impossible to buy in the store. You can only be ordered from the manufacturer. Therefore it is necessary to protect the glass bowl from falling.
• Metal. Bowls made of metal more resistant to falls and injuries, so you can not worry about the possible replacement of the part. Another advantage - absolute resistance to temperature changes.

It seems that the metal container is better suited for other household scales, but here there is a caveat. When interacting with certain products the metal may be oxidized.

There are even wooden bowls, and some housewives prefer to use only such because they believe this material is the most environmentally friendly. However, the tree requires the most careful care: it is not easy to wash off, and does not tolerate long interaction with fluids.

It is important to remember that weighed on the empty platform, provided under the bowl, absolutely not. Therefore, before purchasing it is worth considering whether the bowl is necessary at all or can do weights with a flat platform. Plus the past is the ability to weigh in every pot, there is only a pre-reset its mass.

Kitchen scales with measuring the volume of liquids

This option is not integrated at all scales, and most considered a supplement than a mandatory function. With such a device measures the volume of water or milk, because only these liquids have a weight approximately corresponding to the equation 1 ml = 1 c.

To determine the amount initially weighed containers for liquids. After zeroing the display fluid is filled, and the score is the volume in milliliters immediately reflected.

Sales, individual instruments in the form of glasses, intended only for the weighing of liquids. The handle is mounted sensor, showing the amount of substance in milliliters.

Kitchen scales with calorie counting function

Such a device is called dietary weights. With their help, you can control the volume and nutritional value of food eaten.

There are two variants of data input to calculate the value of the dishes:

• The introduction of codes manually. By the instructions supplied with the reference list of popular products, each assigned a code. The instrument has a keypad on which you have to press the appropriate combination of numbers from the directory.
• Selection of products in the electronic menu. Such a device is easier to use, and therefore much more expensive. To select the product enough to find it in the electronic list.

The rest of the working principle is the same. A bowl or platform fits the product and make a choice on the menu. Now, on the electronic board can be seen product weight, caloric and amounts of proteins, fats and carbohydrates based on the predetermined weight.

If zero has a function of weight, after adding all the ingredients alternately it will show the nutritional value of a dish.

Some models have additional memory capabilities when installed on caloric restriction dishes. Libra will alert if exceeded a predetermined limit.

A useful feature in dietary balance - the possibility of making the list of additional products not listed in the menu. Another option - to add an existing product, but on the other calories as the same foods have different nutritional values, depending on how they are cooked.

Kitchen scales with a load of 5 kg

There is run at maximum load different types of devices. This difference depends on the type of scales and the purposes for which they are acquired.

If the device is only used for weighing ingredients for food, it is possible to restrict the limit of 2-3 kg. A weight for counting heavier products, such as vegetables and fruits, it is best to pick up device with a larger load.

Most household measuring devices, mechanical and electrical, designed for weighing loads up to 5 kg. This is a happy medium that is optimal for home use.
Maximum weight included in the memory device, and no matter what the load was placed on the platform, more than this figure, the display shows.

Also, do not get to know the real subject of weight exceeding the limit, such an experiment can damage equipment.

And in order to avoid accidental overload, the scales are equipped with a special indicator that alerts the user of an error.

Thanks to this device is installed smoothly and perfectly straight, otherwise the weighing results may be very different from the truth.

Wall-mounted kitchen scale

Wall there are also electronic and mechanical scales. In addition to its convenient location and compact storage, the instrument has an original appearance, so will decorate the kitchen interior.

A electronic balance in this position may further function as a thermometer or hours.
For fixing to the wall using a special bracket or factory loop on the back. Installation options, too many, and if you hang on the railing hooks, do not have to make a hole in the wall.

After use, all moving elements again neatly folded into a compact design.

Glass kitchen scale

Glass - a material that is widely used for the manufacture of utensils and kitchen appliances. The popularity is due to the fact that it is easy to clean, resistant to temperature effects and retains the functional properties for a long time.

The producers of weighing equipment, as well as buyers, the glass takes pride of place. There are 2 kinds of models produced with the use of this material:

• Devices with monolithic glass housing. In this case the filling is made of metal and plastic.
• A housing in which the glass is combined with other materials, such as metal or wood.

Popular model - digital scale with a smooth glass surface and touch-sensitive buttons.
This design, in addition, that looks stylish, is resistant to corrosion. It is no dire consequences to the platform to put a hot pot or pan.

Scales with a measuring cup are often made of glass. In this case the measuring vessel and the design of the housing are made of the same material. Besides these advantages, the apparatus can be installed without a loss of efficiency in any part of the kitchen. This is unlike plastic or wooden weights that are afraid of moisture and heat.

Apart from the rich functionality available on the market models for every kitchen there is an option in an appropriate style orientation.