Help with my food scale?

angelicprettyy
angelicprettyy Posts: 143
in Health and Weight Loss
My food scale says it weighs in mL. The symbol for mL is a little water droplet. When I do that, it's the same as grams, so I assume that one is for liquid. When I want to weigh things like sorbet or sauce, I press it again and the droplet then gets an "M" in it and the measurements are different. Is that the mL for food?

Right now I'm eating sorbet and it said 60 cals per 125mL serving (1/2 cup). Out of curiosity, I put it in a 1/2 cup, put it on my scale and it weighed as 68mL. That is way off. I'm confused... Is the water droplet thing with the "M" in it safe for measuring mL for food?? Have I been overestimating this whole time?

Replies

  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I don't have this kind of food scale but lot's of my friends do and some of them are quite "sciency" hopefully they can pop in here with answers.
  • angelicprettyy
    angelicprettyy Posts: 143
    I don't have this kind of food scale but lot's of my friends do and some of them are quite "sciency" hopefully they can pop in here with answers.
    Fingers crossed :(
  • shawmutt
    shawmutt Posts: 74 Member
    What's the brand and model of the scale?
  • abiparker2
    abiparker2 Posts: 9 Member
    I have the same problem!
    Just commenting so I can come back to the thread later, hope some one knows!
  • angelicprettyy
    angelicprettyy Posts: 143
    What's the brand and model of the scale?
    Brand: Starfrit
    Model: 93016
    This one:
    http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/CanadianTire/0424076_1?$medium$&defaultImage=image_na_EN&wid=250&hei=250
  • angelicprettyy
    angelicprettyy Posts: 143
    Bump! I'm so confused
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I'm sorry hun, I thought someone on my FL had that kind of scale and would answer. I don't have that kind. Mine is a cheapo with lines. Nothing fancy.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    It looks similar to my scale (but not exact), are you sure it's mL? Mine does ounces (not fluid ounces) and milligrams which are measures of weight. Milliliters is a measure of volume. Doesn't make sense to me that a scale would measure volume. Is there an instruction booklet with the scale?

    Edited: for clarity
  • sajd
    sajd Posts: 1 Member
    I have the same set of scales. In the instruction booklet it says the "m" droplet function is for measuring the volume of milk. I guess the serving size of your sorbet is not listed by weight at all?
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member

    Right now I'm eating sorbet and it said 60 cals per 125mL serving (1/2 cup). Out of curiosity, I put it in a 1/2 cup, put it on my scale and it weighed as 68mL. That is way off. I'm confused... Is the water droplet thing with the "M" in it safe for measuring mL for food?? Have I been overestimating this whole time?

    I would suggest you look at your owner's manual to find out what all the symbols mean, but I can answer this last part: Yes. You have been overestimating this whole time. There are some great videos on YouTube which show how important a food scale is for accurate measuring, particularly of dry goods, because 1/2 cup by weight (8 oz. or 226.8 grams) looks nothing like 1/2 cup by volume. Especially when you get into things with varied sizes and lots of air in between, like lettuce or cereal. Do you pack it in tight? Do you leave it loose in the cup? Do you scoop it so that it's mounded over the rim? Do you smooth the top with a knife? Who knows? Weigh it instead, and you don't have to guess.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
    What's the brand and model of the scale?
    Brand: Starfrit
    Model: 93016
    This one:
    http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/CanadianTire/0424076_1?$medium$&defaultImage=image_na_EN&wid=250&hei=250

    I am Canadian and bought my starfrit at Canadian tire...but the one you have sounds like it's for liquids at ML is a liquid.

    http://answers.canadiantire.ca/answers/9045/product/0424099P/starfrit-starfrit-5-kg-bakers-kitchen-scale-questions-answers/questions.htm

    are you sure the battery is okay...
  • aledba
    aledba Posts: 564 Member
    My food scale says it weighs in mL. The symbol for mL is a little water droplet. When I do that, it's the same as grams, so I assume that one is for liquid. When I want to weigh things like sorbet or sauce, I press it again and the droplet then gets an "M" in it and the measurements are different. Is that the mL for food?

    Right now I'm eating sorbet and it said 60 cals per 125mL serving (1/2 cup). Out of curiosity, I put it in a 1/2 cup, put it on my scale and it weighed as 68mL. That is way off. I'm confused... Is the water droplet thing with the "M" in it safe for measuring mL for food?? Have I been overestimating this whole time?
    edit to say whoops. wrong answer from me
  • angelicprettyy
    angelicprettyy Posts: 143
    I have the same set of scales. In the instruction booklet it says the "m" droplet function is for measuring the volume of milk. I guess the serving size of your sorbet is not listed by weight at all?
    I lost my manual, but this makes sense. Ahh. Darn. Then what should I do when a food has a serving size in mL and not g? Why is it even IN mL if its not a liquid?
  • JustFindingMe
    JustFindingMe Posts: 390 Member
    I was wondering if you had any luck with your question? I was weighing my ice-cream. The measurement said 140 per 125ml. I push the button for ml and scoop away. It looks ALOT more than a single serving of ice-cream. WTH. Are ml's even weighable?
  • arnostbilej
    arnostbilej Posts: 56
    "M" for metric system?
  • ssllgg
    ssllgg Posts: 1 Member
    I think it’s already been said by now but it’s a milk milliliter because milk is heavier than water. I can across this because I got a new food scale and was a little confused about it too but after researching a bit I learned this so now I know! :smile:
  • OldHobo
    OldHobo Posts: 647 Member
    edited November 2017
    Milk is slightly heavier than water. For whole milk, I think the difference is about 3%. I ignore it. You have my permission to ignore it too.

    By definition 1 ml of water weighs 1 gr. If I need the metric volume for a small amount of milk, that's close enough for me.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,201 Member
    Holly necro thread :)

    ml is indeed ml and indeed it measures the exact same as grams because the scale can only measure weight and is actually just measuring grams.

    The ml setting is assuming that any liquid you put on it has the same density as water (which it doesn't). And it is just a marketing ploy to give you another setting to play with so that you don't think that the other guy's scale is better than your scale.

    That said... 1000ml of milk at a temperature of about 20C is about 1033 grams Whether you can eyeball 1000 ml with an error of less than 3.3% or you would be better off to trust a scale and measure 1000g (or 1033g)... I would think the scale could actually be more accurate than your eyeball.

    https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/AliciaNoelleJones.shtml

  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,316 Member
    edited November 2017
    angelicprettyy wrote: »
    My food scale says it weighs in mL. The symbol for mL is a little water droplet. When I do that, it's the same as grams, so I assume that one is for liquid. When I want to weigh things like sorbet or sauce, I press it again and the droplet then gets an "M" in it and the measurements are different. Is that the mL for food?

    Right now I'm eating sorbet and it said 60 cals per 125mL serving (1/2 cup). Out of curiosity, I put it in a 1/2 cup, put it on my scale and it weighed as 68mL. That is way off. I'm confused... Is the water droplet thing with the "M" in it safe for measuring mL for food?? Have I been overestimating this whole time?

    The ml setting is for water usually. My scale does water indicated by a water droplet, and milk with a droplet with an M in it. Since the density of liquids varies, and that is especially true with things like sorbet that has air whipped into it, the ml setting for weighing it is useless for it. Usually, there is a mode button to switch between grams, milliliters, and milliliters of milk.
    angelicprettyy wrote: »
    I have the same set of scales. In the instruction booklet it says the "m" droplet function is for measuring the volume of milk. I guess the serving size of your sorbet is not listed by weight at all?
    I lost my manual, but this makes sense. Ahh. Darn. Then what should I do when a food has a serving size in mL and not g? Why is it even IN mL if its not a liquid?

    Because in Canada they let them measure it when it is still liquid before freezing. It is stupid and makes measuring ice cream and the like accurately pretty much impossible.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,316 Member
    arnostbilej wrote: »
    "M" for metric system?

    M in the droplet is for Milk on mine.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,201 Member
    edited November 2017
    rileysowner wrote: »
    arnostbilej wrote: »
    "M" for metric system?
    M in the droplet is for Milk on mine.

    Didn't even know they did had a milk scale option, though I don't understand how it really adds anything given that milk density changes based on the liquid's fat % and ambient temperature.

    So 1000ml of 18% cream would not weight the same as 1000ml of skim milk at the same temperature. And, of course, at different temperature they would weight a different amount.

    Be that as it may... marketing and options abound ;-)
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited November 2017
    angelicprettyy wrote: »
    My food scale says it weighs in mL. The symbol for mL is a little water droplet. When I do that, it's the same as grams, so I assume that one is for liquid. When I want to weigh things like sorbet or sauce, I press it again and the droplet then gets an "M" in it and the measurements are different. Is that the mL for food?

    Right now I'm eating sorbet and it said 60 cals per 125mL serving (1/2 cup). Out of curiosity, I put it in a 1/2 cup, put it on my scale and it weighed as 68mL. That is way off. I'm confused... Is the water droplet thing with the "M" in it safe for measuring mL for food?? Have I been overestimating this whole time?

    Mililiters (mL) are a measurement of volume not of weight. A scale measure weight so the scale is measuring grams not mL. Due to the density of water one mL of water weighs exactly one gram so for water calling 100 grams of water 100 mL is accurate. Beverages that are mostly water will be close to this. Foods have nothing to do with this however, density of food varies a lot depending on what it is and has no relation to water and does not share the 1 gram is 1 mL relationship.

    Your scale weighs grams, ignore that it says mL you should be fine. Do keep in mind though it is weight not volume you are measuring so if you put a bowl on the scale and pour in 100 mL of water it isn't going to display 100 because the bowl also has weight. Have to zero the scale with the bowl on it first.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,316 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    rileysowner wrote: »
    arnostbilej wrote: »
    "M" for metric system?
    M in the droplet is for Milk on mine.

    Didn't even know they did had a milk scale option, though I don't understand how it really adds anything given that milk density changes based on the liquid's fat % and ambient temperature.

    So 1000ml of 18% cream would not weight the same as 1000ml of skim milk at the same temperature. And, of course, at different temperature they would weight a different amount.

    Be that as it may... marketing and options abound ;-)

    My guess is it is for 2% but I would have to read a manual to know for sure. It certainly would not be for cream as it is not milk.
  • dwilliamca
    dwilliamca Posts: 325 Member
    mL is a milliliter, 1/1000th of a liter. There are 5 mLs in a teaspoon which comes in handy if you are taking liquid medicine. 1 ml of water weighs 1 g. so something like water will be the same on mL and g. Maybe countries using the metric system use it but I never do. Mine also has fluid ounces which I occasionally use on almond milk or juice which are pretty close to water and it is quick if I don't know the grams offhand.

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