Which food scale should I get?

RooRow

Hello everyone! I'm new to MFP and to counting calories. I've been doing it for 5 days now and have not gotten a scale yet. All of my calculations have been assuming that the packaging is correct and then figuring out percentages taken or just selecting size options for produce (ie. medium banana). Obviously this is not as accurate and it's also pretty time consuming. I've been looking at scales online but there are just so many with various features so I thought I'd ask the experts.

1) What scale should I get and why?
2) What features have been helpful for you?

Thanks!

-A

Ninkasi

There are plenty of good brands on the market. Mine is made by a company called Salter. It measures in grams and 1/8 ounce increments and goes up to 1 kilo. If you buy a scale make sure it has a tare button and that the pan has either a removable cover or a container that you can measure food into. That makes the scale easy to clean.

I've had mine for like 20 years so there are probably a lot more features on newer ones but mine works great. I just have to change the battery every few years.

Momepro

They are pretty inexpensive. My Ozeri was only $10 on Amazon. Personally the features that are most important to me are cleanability, portableness, and being able to tare or adjust between oz, grams, lbs and whatever else.
If it has a permanent bowl, or cant just be wiped clean with a clorox wipe, it will be a pain in the *kitten* to use, because you WILL spill on it. If you can't pick it up easily and move it around, it will just be annoying, obvious and in the way. And if you can tare and switch betwewn measurement types, it REALLY saves on mental math effort.

Also I like to have very light, single serve dishes that are mainly used for scale measuring. I keep them in places near my scale and my plates and bowls, because they are really handy for measuring with less mess and math, and if it's just a snack are great as my actual dish for limiting portoons.
My favorite are Mozaic plastic condiment dishes, but any small, light and dishwasher safe container will work, really.