Food scale.

DanniB423
DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I have a gift card to Target and want to buy a digital food scale with it. Up until now I have been using measuring cups and things and it's been fine but I realize that can be inaccurate. This question sounds silly but do the scales normally have a setting that automatically minuses the weight of the plate or bowl you use for the food? If you weigh the plate first? (I'll probably buy a pack of paper bowls or small plates). Just new to the idea of getting serious about weighing everything vs measuring and wasn't sure what you guys do. Thanks:)

Replies

  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    edited January 2015
    Most electronic scales allow you to put your plate/bowl on the scale then 'tare' it which sets it to zero. Then you can add whatever you are weighing to the desired weight.
  • Laurend224
    Laurend224 Posts: 1,748 Member
    Yes, it's called a tare function. IMO the most important feature.
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    I assumed this to be so. But I wasn't honestly sure. I just imagine myself plopping a big glob of PB right on the scale. Lol. I will read all of the directions it comes with too obviously. I feel silly now for even asking. But thanks! Lol
  • bobbinalong
    bobbinalong Posts: 151 Member
    I bought one at Target. Look for one that will tare out, put the bowl on the scale reset to zero. I also used wax paper to put food on to measure, less dishes and cheaper than paper plates. The food item to measure I got most excited about was to put the slice of bread on the scale, tare to zero, measure out peanut butter onto bread per serving and make sandwich!!! Yeah, it's the little things that count. I love using the scale, mine is a Taylor! Kinda ironic it is the same scale company for the bathroom :p
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    Yes, most digital scales have this... it's called the "tare" button. That button is UNBELIEVABLY vital to weighing your food lol... Unless you want to constantly clean the surface of your scale. :P
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    bobbinalong wrote: »
    I bought one at Target. Look for one that will tare out, put the bowl on the scale reset to zero. I also used wax paper to put food on to measure, less dishes and cheaper than paper plates. The food item to measure I got most excited about was to put the slice of bread on the scale, tare to zero, measure out peanut butter onto bread per serving and make sandwich!!! Yeah, it's the little things that count. I love using the scale, mine is a Taylor! Kinda ironic it is the same scale company for the bathroom :p
    I have a Taylor for the bathroom as well! Thank you! I will look for that! And parchment paper is a good idea!
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    I would also suggest to get one that has a setting to weigh in grams (surely, this is a common thing)...
  • aakaakaak
    aakaakaak Posts: 1,240 Member
    Just about all the digital food scales will tare. Just about all the digital food scales will switch between grams, ounces, etc. Look for one that will hold the dishes you intend to put on it. That's just about it.
  • acheben
    acheben Posts: 476 Member
    edited January 2015
    DanniBuchanan1 wrote: »
    I assumed this to be so. But I wasn't honestly sure. I just imagine myself plopping a big glob of PB right on the scale. Lol. I will read all of the directions it comes with too obviously. I feel silly now for even asking. But thanks! Lol
    You can also put the container on the scale, tare the scale, grab a spoonful of peanut butter out of the jar, and log the negative value as the weight. I use this a lot when adding peanut butter to my oatmeal that is in the pot on the stove.
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    jasonmh630 wrote: »
    Yes, most digital scales have this... it's called the "tare" button. That button is UNBELIEVABLY vital to weighing your food lol... Unless you want to constantly clean the surface of your scale. :P
    Haha! Well now I know what the "minus the bowl and plate button" is called. I'm learning! :)
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    acheben wrote: »
    DanniBuchanan1 wrote: »
    I assumed this to be so. But I wasn't honestly sure. I just imagine myself plopping a big glob of PB right on the scale. Lol. I will read all of the directions it comes with too obviously. I feel silly now for even asking. But thanks! Lol
    You can also put the container on the scale, tare the scale, grab a spoonful of peanut butter out of the jar, and log the negative value as the weight. I use this a lot when adding peanut butter to my oatmeal that is in the pot on the stove.

    Oh that is really smart too! Thanks for the tip.
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    aakaakaak wrote: »
    Just about all the digital food scales will tare. Just about all the digital food scales will switch between grams, ounces, etc. Look for one that will hold the dishes you intend to put on it. That's just about it.

    Will do. Thank you! There was one at Walmart that was not digital and was really tiny and had a little cup attached. I picked it up and the cup fell off. Lol. I decided this needs to be a little bit of an investment.
  • conita667
    conita667 Posts: 20 Member
    HI THERE! TARE it's the best function ever! for example if you make salads, you prepare it directly over the scale, each time you add an ingredient you press tare and it goes to zero again. Otherwise, you would mess up a plate for each ingredient you want to weigh ;)

    I started using the scale a month ago and I realized how much calories I was cutting!!! I don't weigh everything but I have the habit now at least at home

    good luck with that!
  • kismea
    kismea Posts: 45 Member
    I have a nice, flat glass electronic one that I love. Can measure in all sorts of weights (grams, etc) and tare function kicks butt. I put a plate on, zero it out, add one thing, zero it out add next and so forth. Makes it so easy to use and no fear of the plate sliding off :)
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    conita667 wrote: »
    HI THERE! TARE it's the best function ever! for example if you make salads, you prepare it directly over the scale, each time you add an ingredient you press tare and it goes to zero again. Otherwise, you would mess up a plate for each ingredient you want to weigh ;)

    I started using the scale a month ago and I realized how much calories I was cutting!!! I don't weigh everything but I have the habit now at least at home

    good luck with that!

    Awesome! And I have a feeling I am going to discover the same as far as calories! Not to mention I am sick of washing individual cup measures and tablespoons! Sounds like an all around good idea. Thanks!
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    kismea wrote: »
    I have a nice, flat glass electronic one that I love. Can measure in all sorts of weights (grams, etc) and tare function kicks butt. I put a plate on, zero it out, add one thing, zero it out add next and so forth. Makes it so easy to use and no fear of the plate sliding off :)
    Cool! I am excited now. I did see the flat glass one online. I am going to look in store this afternoon!
  • kismea
    kismea Posts: 45 Member
    DanniBuchanan1 wrote: »
    kismea wrote: »
    I have a nice, flat glass electronic one that I love. Can measure in all sorts of weights (grams, etc) and tare function kicks butt. I put a plate on, zero it out, add one thing, zero it out add next and so forth. Makes it so easy to use and no fear of the plate sliding off :)
    Cool! I am excited now. I did see the flat glass one online. I am going to look in store this afternoon!

    You will love it. I got mine for dirt cheap at like Superstore! lol
  • ruggedshutter
    ruggedshutter Posts: 389 Member
    This is the one that I have and I love it. So many features and it was cheap. It weighs upto around 4lbs so you shouldn't have to worry about putting something too big on it.

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IZ1YHZK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    This is the one I have: amazon.com/dp/B00FE8QXT0/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1421429565&sr=1&keywords=etekcity

    it goes up to 22 lb (10kg) so I can put my mixing bowl on it and just keep dumping ingredients in, taring after each one, and weigh out the entire recipe in one bowl.
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