Food Scale - how to know when accurate

MildredBarhopper
MildredBarhopper Posts: 99 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Now that I am nearing maintenance and wanting to me more accurate, I finally got a food scale! I like it so far, but am worried that maybe it's too good to be true for some things? For example, a bag of sweet and salty kettle popcorn I got says 3 cups is 50 g (240 cals). I measured out 50 g in a bowl (using the TARE function) but then transferred to a measuring cup just to see....it was more like 5-1/2 cups...way off! I am just not wanting to underestimate how much I am eating if this scale is wrong. It's a Taylor scale (not the biggest loser kind, it's small and I think it's an older model because I cannot find info anywhere).

Anyway, just want some tips on how to know if my scale is correct? how do you know?

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    A quick way is to put something on it with a known weight. For instance, a nickel should weigh 5 grams.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    make sure it's in grams for grams and ounces for ounces- mine can go back and forth.

    And especially for something with a high air content in terms of volume I could easily see how it would be off (in your favor) But this is also why I am extra generous with food- and extra conservative with working out.

    Meaning- I down play my workouts- and over guess my food. It's safer than trying to down play food and over emphasize working out.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Your scale is probably correct... That's why you weigh and don't measure, measuring in cups is WAY inaccurate, as you have noticed.

    If you really want to make sure, just pick a coin or something and weigh it (they're all the same weight, how much I don't know though but I'm sure you can google it).
  • perseverance14
    perseverance14 Posts: 1,364 Member
    What kind of scale did you buy? I have a Cuisinart and it is great and very accurate.
  • MildredBarhopper
    MildredBarhopper Posts: 99 Member
    The brand is called Taylor, model number 3868-49. I got it at wal-mart.

    And thanks for all the replies, everyone! I measured a couple of other things that I knew the weight off and it was accurate, so I feel better :)
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    RETURN IT, PRONTO!

    I had TWO Taylor scales (from Target) and both were absolute TRASH. Just look at reviews of Taylor food scales on Amazon - AWFUL.
  • MildredBarhopper
    MildredBarhopper Posts: 99 Member
    What problems did you have? Mine seems fine so far...

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