Sunday, January 17, 2010

If You Cook, Then You Need A Digital Kitchen Scale

By Ned Dagostino

Whether you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, or just prepare food from time to time, you will have to have a digital kitchen scale. This may seem obvious, but it gets even more clear when you think about all the things these scales can do.

You already recognize that if you make food using recipes then a scale will make sure you get in the correct measure of all the ingredients. Precise measurements mean a better finished result. The last thing you need is for your food to taste bad because you mistakenly put in too much or too little of an ingredient.

These scales are likewise great if you make your own recipes. I'll bet this has happened to you. You have just made a marvelous meal, but you can't recreate it just because you don't have any idea how much of a particular ingredient you put in the pot. If you've done this you know how discouraging this can be.

So why digital? After all, people got by for years using scales with a needle to weigh out their portions. An older model scale, while decent, is just nowhere near as accurate as a digital one. Try shifting your old scale around even a little bit with some food on it. I bet you receive a new reading. There is no way to avoid this just because that is how the mechanism works. Plus there's always the chance of not reading the position of the needle properly. Simply put, these old scales will lead to more mistakes.

And if you are watching your portion sizes for weight purposes or because of a health condition, you need an exact reading. A digital measurement will make sure you cook and portion your food more accurately.

But a digital kitchen scale can do more than just weigh your food. When you are cooking, you don't have time to "do the math". Built in unit conversions will make changing pounds to ounces or grams easy. You don't have to do this yourself even though you likely can.

There are other little extras like that you can get. Think of something you want your scale to do, count calories for instance, and you'll likely be able to find a scale that will execute it.

Search for a scale that utilizes long life batteries or a standard battery size. And if you want your batteries to last even longer, search for a scale that mechanically shuts off when not in use. Another crucial feature is a scale that is easy to clean. Remember you'll be placing food on the scale so make certain it washes off without any fuss. Stainless steel is a tremendous selection since it is difficult to stain, durable, and simple to wash.

Just about everyone who prepares meals can benefit from owning a digital kitchen scale. Your recipes will come out delicious because measuring is simple and exact. And if portion sizes are essential to you for health or weight reasons, you'll know you're consuming the precise amount you should be.

About the Author:

No comments: