How accurate are electronic kitchen scales?

Just purchased a Salter 1008.  Weighs up to 11 lbs etc etc etc.

On the way home, I also purchased a 5# bag of flour.

When I weighed the bag, according to the scales, it was 18 oz short.

Next, I called Taylor (Salter), the representative said the question had never been asked and they would need to consult the engineers.

Looks like I will either keep the Salter and ask the grocer about shorting the flour, or take the machine back, or maybe both.

What is the experience of others?

I have had two Salters, and no problems with weights with them.  I got rid of them both because they shut off too quickly, sometimes while I was in the middle of weighing one ingredient, so it was a huge pain in the neck.

I have a MyWeigh DX7001 now, and I love it.  It weighs in increments of .05 ounce, and has an AC adaptor, so it never shuts off until I shut it off.

Try weighing something else, like a pyrex measure of water at 8 ounces, or one cup of sugar at 7 ounces.  I’m sorry you are having troubles with your new scale,but if it’s a manufacturer defect, they should make good on it.

MrsM

I have a salter digital scale that is very accurate.  Did you allow your new scale to come to room temp before you tested it?  If not, I’d suggest trying again to see if your results are different.

Thanks for the comments.

I’m still waiting on Taylor.  In the meantime, I weighed several canned goods but they are all net weight ... not gross.

I really like the features of the Salter 1008 scales and hope it is accurate enough.

Well, I decided that whether accurate or not, it should be relative.  Therefore, I decided to keep the scales and baked my first loaf of oatmeal bread and it was a great success!

Guess I worried over nothing.

Thanks for the replies.

I have an idea about how you can test your scale—other than going out and buying some sort of standard weight like the kind they used to use on the old-fashioned “pan” scales—

Put a bowl on the scale and then zero the weight out. Empty in a can of canned goods and see if the weight is close to what the can says it should be. Repeat several times with different cans just in case the first one was over- or under-filled.

Second alternative—find someplace that has a really accurate scale and measure the weight of something on that. Take the “something” home and measure it on your scale.

Third alternative—if you decide you must have some sort of stardard weight, you could try someplace like Edmund Scientific:  http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3107700

Thanks for the suggestions.  I had already checked at the “UPS” counter at Office Depot and they will allow me to bring some items for weighing.

If I ever do, I will fill three water bottles (1/3rd, 2/3rds and full).  Obtain the “UPS” weights of each and the do the same on the home scales.

Anybody have, or know anything about, either of these two scales?

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/srch/index.cfm?words=scale

I received a $60 gift card as a wedding gift last year and thought about using it to purchase a scale.  I know a lot of people here love the MyWeigh scale, but if either of these are comparable, I might be just as happy.

The OXO states it runs off batteries.  The Salter does not state it, but I see no cord.  Is that an issue/nuisance for some people?  Do you have to change them frequently?

Wow, what a nice gift!  I’ve had a Salter for several years and have not had to change the batteries yet.  I like that I can switch it from grams to ounces/pounds when needed.  It has been a great digital scale for me.

I have a Soehnle that runs off batteries and also have not had to change them very often. It depends on how often you use it, of course. You’ll love having a scale, whatever you decide on!

YIPPPEEE!!!!  I got my scale yesterday!!!  It was on my doorstep when I got home.  Christmas in July!!  I initially ordered it gift wrapped (since it was bought with a gift card given to us as a wedding gift) but they charge an extra $5.  So I decided just cutting the tape and throwing the peanuts up in the air would have to suffice.

Anyway…couple questions….
Do you guys use the oz or g setting?
This one has a setting that you can switch from solid to liquid measurements.  Is that common?  Do you ever need to use it?  Is it accurate?

It came with a booklet of weights of common ingredients.  I meant to bring it and run it by you guys to see how accruate it was but forgot it on the counter.

Any tips for me???

Weighing your ingredients for baking is so much easier than measuring. You are going to love it. You should use the setting for grams, it is more accurate than weighing in ounces.

Glad you’ve got your scales at last!  As I am in the UK I am used to weighing rather than measuring ingredients so it is no big deal to me.  I do sometimes use cup measures though when I bake from Dorie Greenspan’s book and the recipes work out just fine, but i do prefer to weigh, it just seems more accurate to me.  It will to you too when you get used to it!  As for grams. versus ozs.  I think it depends on your age!  Even though we have been metric over here for some years now I still think in Imperial measurements, whether it is in cooking or when buying fabric .  I can visualize an inch or a yard much more easily than centimetres or metres. The same goes for ounces and pounds, I can almost guess the weight correctly before putting it on the scale!  But if I am cooking from a new cookbook and the weights are metric then I use metric weights to make it, it will be the most accurate.  Now get on with your baking and let us know how you like your scales!

Woohoo - Merry Christmas.  I weigh in grams whenever possible.  You may need to let your scale acclimate for a day or so before it will read accurately, but maybe not.  I’m sure the included documentation will tell you what to do.  Have fun with your new toy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8102&id=100000084691742&l=c25084de8a

i sure would love EACH OF YOU to own a MyWeigh KD-8000 which is a slight improvement to the KD-7000.  What I am most impressed about:  it reads SO FAST!!!!!!!!  I have never used the KD-7000, so i am unsure if it is slower or the same.

although i have invested hundreds of dollars on other brands and it is THE thing i can’t live without, i decided to give MyWeigh a shot. YOU WILL LOVE THEM.

i also have the MyWeigh MX-500 (similar to the MX-300), the accuracy is to the 0.1 gr, and it also reads ULTRA FAST.  it is so accurate that when i blow air it starts to register.  this little scale will be handy to verify the accuracy of my measuring spoons when using baking powder, baking soda, salt, etc.  this little scale also helps me verify how accurate my larger scales are.  i have installed my MX-500 under my kitchen cabinets, as the top cover slides out.

MyWeigh beats Salter, in my humble opinion.

I got the My weigh 7000 (rememebr about a few weeks ago) and i LOVE it.