Food Scale vs. Measuring Cup

Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz

What does the Food Scale measure that the Measuring Cup don't?

FredDoyle

Weight. Accuracy.

hookilau

The search function will give you tons of info about this. It's been discussed ad nauseum here on MFP :laugh:

Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

__Di__

What does the Food Scale measure that the Measuring Cup don't?

Grate some cheese and put it into the measuring cup, make a note of what the calories should be.

Now weight that same amount of grated cheese and make a note of what the calories are.

You might find there is a difference there. Not a problem if the food in question being measured in the cup is low calorie, such as salad veg etc, but if it is a calorie dense food, such as cheese, the difference in calories might be very large.

Any food in the database that is in "cups" measurements, I disregard. A scale is accurate.

retirehappy

I use the measuring cups for liquids primarily, The digital scale for everything else, since it will do grams or ounces.

Railr0aderTony

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

Ohh yes, Food scale is vital for accuracy. How can you measure chicken breast in a measuring cup? or Steak or a potato for that matter. It is a great investment and something you will wonder how you ever lived without in no time.

hookilau

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

I just replaced my digital food scale, it was 3 years old and cost me roughly 20$ here in NY. The new one cost 25$. It's hardly an investment though :blushing: :laugh:

kennie2

things you can measure in cups
like it drives me mad when a recipe is like "1/2 cup of butter"
how do i measure butter in a cup!! why cant you use grams!

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

There's a youtube video in this link that shows just one meal's comparison between measuring cups and a scale.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

things you can measure in cups
like it drives me mad when a recipe is like "1/2 cup of butter"
how do i measure butter in a cup!! why cant you use grams!

Find the database entries with no asterisk-- those have a 100g measurement. Butter is an easy one, for other foods try adding "raw" to your search box to find the right entry. Ex: "whole raw egg" instead of "egg"

retirehappy

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

Yes, a digital scale is a must for every kitchen. I have two, one by my cutting boards the other near the pantry, could not live without them.

If you want to be accurate with your cals, it is well worth it.

hookilau

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

It's very easy to use. Just press on button and tare, plop food (for digital) or put plate on mechanical scale (even cheaper) tare, then plop food. It's easy peasy.

dalgal26

I use the measuring cups for liquids primarily, The digital scale for everything else, since it will do grams or ounces.

I agree.:flowerforyou:

FitFunTina

I use the scale for all of my measuring, liquid included.

For example, for breakfast I have a bowl of cereal. I put the bowl on the scale, zero it out, and pour 53 grams (or whatever serving size it is). I then zero it out again and switch to ounces and pour my milk. Voila, breakfast is measured out. It's accurate, and I only have one dirty dish! (Plus spoon)

jetlag

Measuring cups are shockingly inaccurate for dry ingredients. I hate baking from recipes that call for cups of flour and butter. My mom showed me how to measure butter in cups using water, but it's a faff and so much easier to use weight. Baking requires accuracy which cups just does not give.

Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz

Thank you everyone for the help :-)

crackur

guesstimate

I can't structure my life that much to stress over the size.......I over estimate everything I eat.

FitFunTina

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

I just replaced my digital food scale, it was 3 years old and cost me roughly 20$ here in NY. The new one cost 25$. It's hardly an investment though :blushing: :laugh:

You're feeling a bit sarcastic, aren't you? Some people are better off than others, given that I have a child. I don't want to use $20 dollars on something that might be ****ty and take away from my son. But my financial life is not your problem. And I came here for advice not for your sarcasm. So go tag along onto another forum. :drinker:

Really? She doesn't know your financial situation. Many people who come on these forums have spent $ to lose weight some how or another (whether it be a gym membership, workout clothes, vitamins, healthier foods, etc). In light of those expenses, $18 for a food scale (I checked walmart.com) is an easy choice as most of us here with agree that it's an essential tool if you are aiming for calorie accuracy. I use mine multiple times a day. The only thing I don't use it for is pre-packaged single serve foods (ie. string cheese, yogurt).

All we are saying here is - if you want accuracy, it's well worth the money. But by all means if it is a financial burden, don't let your son go without.

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

I use the scale for all of my measuring, liquid included.

For example, for breakfast I have a bowl of cereal. I put the bowl on the scale, zero it out, and pour 53 grams (or whatever serving size it is). I then zero it out again and switch to ounces and pour my milk. Voila, breakfast is measured out. It's accurate, and I only have one dirty dish! (Plus spoon)

Except dry ounce and fluid ounce aren't the same. Liquid density varies so much you can't get an accurate measure on weight unless you weigh every liquid individually to determine what the gram or ounce weight is per ounce. Your better approach is to put a liquid measuring cup on the food scale, set it to zero grams, then pour in the liquid measure and determine the gram weight. Note it somewhere and pour to that gram weight the next time you add the milk to your cereal.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Measuring cups are shockingly inaccurate for dry ingredients. I hate baking from recipes that call for cups of flour and butter. My mom showed me how to measure butter in cups using water, but it's a faff and so much easier to use weight. Baking requires accuracy which cups just does not give.

I love to bake and most recipes I come across are in cups, which is annoying. Those recipes always end up needing more flour than they say they do, which means more calories. I get pretty excited when I come across one that's written in grams. :laugh:

hookilau

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

I just replaced my digital food scale, it was 3 years old and cost me roughly 20$ here in NY. The new one cost 25$. It's hardly an investment though :blushing: :laugh:

You're feeling a bit sarcastic, aren't you? Some people are better off than others, given that I have a child. I don't want to use $20 dollars on something that might be ****ty and take away from my son. But my financial life is not your problem. And I came here for advice not for your sarcasm. So go tag along onto another forum. :drinker:

No, actually, I was in a hurry so I posted quickly to try to help you out.

You're welcome. There... that was sarcastic. :bigsmile:
Lighten up, lots of us have kids and struggle to make things work, it'll be ok & it won't always be like that.

FitFunTina

I use the scale for all of my measuring, liquid included.

For example, for breakfast I have a bowl of cereal. I put the bowl on the scale, zero it out, and pour 53 grams (or whatever serving size it is). I then zero it out again and switch to ounces and pour my milk. Voila, breakfast is measured out. It's accurate, and I only have one dirty dish! (Plus spoon)

Except dry ounce and fluid ounce aren't the same. Liquid density varies so much you can't get an accurate measure on weight unless you weigh every liquid individually to determine what the gram or ounce weight is per ounce. Your better approach is to put a liquid measuring cup on the food scale, set it to zero grams, then pour in the liquid measure and determine the gram weight. Note it somewhere and pour to that gram weight the next time you add the milk to your cereal.

You learn something new every day.

Thank you!

sanndandi

Is it worth the investment? I've been measuring with a measuring cup and a few of my friends on my FL. So I'm wondering it's it easy to use/comprehend.

I just replaced my digital food scale, it was 3 years old and cost me roughly 20$ here in NY. The new one cost 25$. It's hardly an investment though :blushing: :laugh:

You're feeling a bit sarcastic, aren't you? Some people are better off than others, given that I have a child. I don't want to use $20 dollars on something that might be ****ty and take away from my son. But my financial life is not your problem. And I came here for advice not for your sarcasm. So go tag along onto another forum. :drinker:

Really? She doesn't know your financial situation. Many people who come on these forums have spent $ to lose weight some how or another (whether it be a gym membership, workout clothes, vitamins, healthier foods, etc). In light of those expenses, $18 for a food scale (I checked walmart.com) is an easy choice as most of us here with agree that it's an essential tool if you are aiming for calorie accuracy. I use mine multiple times a day. The only thing I don't use it for is pre-packaged single serve foods (ie. string cheese, yogurt).

All we are saying here is - if you want accuracy, it's well worth the money. But by all means if it is a financial burden, don't let your son go without.

^ this

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I use the scale for all of my measuring, liquid included.

For example, for breakfast I have a bowl of cereal. I put the bowl on the scale, zero it out, and pour 53 grams (or whatever serving size it is). I then zero it out again and switch to ounces and pour my milk. Voila, breakfast is measured out. It's accurate, and I only have one dirty dish! (Plus spoon)

Except dry ounce and fluid ounce aren't the same. Liquid density varies so much you can't get an accurate measure on weight unless you weigh every liquid individually to determine what the gram or ounce weight is per ounce. Your better approach is to put a liquid measuring cup on the food scale, set it to zero grams, then pour in the liquid measure and determine the gram weight. Note it somewhere and pour to that gram weight the next time you add the milk to your cereal.

You learn something new every day.

Thank you!

To the same token, if a non-free-pouring liquid has an ounces measurement you can't use the ounce lines on your measuring cup. Learned that the hard way with frozen yogurt.

chezjuan

Just adding my voice to the "scales are definitely the best way to go if you are looking for accuracy" chorus. As many others have mentioned, the weights associated with the measuring cups (or spoons) for a given substance can vary a lot.

For example, I was making a sandwich the other day, and was going to put 1 TBSP of Mayonnaise on it. The jar said one serving was 1 TBSP (14g). I decided to experiment, so I used a TSP measuring spoon, and weighed 1 level TSP... 10g. So 3 TSP would be 30 g, or about twice as much as the label suggested I would be getting. At 70 calories a serving, that can add up a lot over the day.

A scale also really helps for home cooked recipes. First, I weigh all ingredients and note them down so I can enter the recipe into the MFP recipe calculator with the most accurate counts. When the food is done, I put an empty container on the scale, tare, and then weigh the complete batch in grams. I divide that by the number of servings (either stated by a cookbook or estimated by me), and then weigh out the individual portion.

Fullsterkur_woman

For those (like me) who like to weigh everything, even liquids... voila, I give you

http://www.onlineconversion.com/weight_volume_cooking.htm.

You're welcome.