Speaking of food scales....

glassyo
glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
edited November 20 in Food and Nutrition
I feel the need for a new kitchen toy. Who has a digital food scale that weighs liquid as well as dry? How accurate is the liquid part? How does the scale know it's liquid vs dry? HOW DOES IT KNOW?!?!?! :)

Replies

  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    I weigh solids on a food scale. I have measuring cups and measuring Tbsp and Tsp for liquids
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    Me too. :p But apparently there are scales out there now that can weigh milk and water.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    My scale has a button to switch from dry to liquid, and then water to milk. It's typically a very slight difference between the liquid and the dry weight. I don't know if it's accurate and have assumed it is not.

    I've wondered myself how it could differentiate, or what the difference in weight would be?
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    That's interesting about the slight difference in weight. I would probably do something like first pour the liquid into a measuring cup and then pour it into a bowl that's on the scale to test it.
  • panda4153
    panda4153 Posts: 418 Member
    My scale measures in grams, ounces, milliliters and one more but I can't remember. I use the ml measurement for small amounds liquids, or I use a measuring cup for larger amounts
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    I'm baffled by this discussion. A liquid or a solid weighs what it weighs-the scale doesn't know what is being weighed. What is it that these scales do?
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    sheldonklein wrote: »
    I'm baffled by this discussion. A liquid or a solid weighs what it weighs-the scale doesn't know what is being weighed. What is it that these scales do?

    In the days of yore (like last week) one wasn't supposed to weigh liquid on a digital scale. Liquid is measured by volume and not weight. But then these new, 21st century scales were invented where the inventor said, "Nay! You can now weigh select liquids on the scale as well as that cereal that you know darned well is a bigger portion size so don't be trusting that measuring cup."

    So that's how this came about. :)
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    Milk ranges from 242 (whole) to 247 (skim) grams/cup. That's the only liquid I weigh.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited June 2015
    sheldonklein wrote: »
    I'm baffled by this discussion. A liquid or a solid weighs what it weighs-the scale doesn't know what is being weighed. What is it that these scales do?
    American measuring seems wildly complicated if you didn't grow up with it. Someone on this board quit trying when she found out that a cup isn't a cup, lol. She was like, "That's it, when the unit of measure changes based on what you're measuring, I give up!" :)

    We use the word ounce in two different ways. One is a weight and one is volumetric. It's why you'll hear us say things like, "fluid ounce."

    It's not that complicated if you grow up with it. Like tying shoes, if you know it well, it's not confusing. Learning takes a bit of time.

    Most recipes these days will list weights and volume, English and often metric. I prefer the metric.

    Most Americans don't weigh ingredients, even when we bake. It's a new thing here. So, it's even confusing for some of us, all this weighing. :)
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  • roselemonade
    roselemonade Posts: 53 Member
    I just use a Pyrex measuring cup for liquids. It's a lot easier than weighing them, and nutrition info for liquids is most often by volume, not weight.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    I have this adorable measuring cup that only goes up to 5 oz but it also measures tablespoons, teaspoons, and something else that I can't remember...probably ml. I pretty much only use it for the milk I use for cereal. I figured, "Hey, one less dish to wash!" :)
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    So I tested it today. And 1/2 cup of (thin) juice measured in a measuring cup came up to 5.3 oz on the scale. So I have been shorting myself I'm assuming. I know everyone says weigh solids-measure liquids. But I guess my brain went into stupid mode, as I have been relying on the scale for liquids as well.

    Does everyone measure oil, etc? I have been weighing and am now realizing I have probably been way off
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    slaite1 wrote: »
    So I tested it today. And 1/2 cup of (thin) juice measured in a measuring cup came up to 5.3 oz on the scale. So I have been shorting myself I'm assuming. I know everyone says weigh solids-measure liquids. But I guess my brain went into stupid mode, as I have been relying on the scale for liquids as well.

    Does everyone measure oil, etc? I have been weighing and am now realizing I have probably been way off

    i found this out a few weeks ago…I used to use tablespoon for egg whites, but when I put three servings of egg whites in the bowl and measured it, I actually came up short by about one or two more tablespoons..

    I know try to weigh liquids when possible…

  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    slaite1 wrote: »
    So I tested it today. And 1/2 cup of (thin) juice measured in a measuring cup came up to 5.3 oz on the scale. So I have been shorting myself I'm assuming. I know everyone says weigh solids-measure liquids. But I guess my brain went into stupid mode, as I have been relying on the scale for liquids as well.

    Does everyone measure oil, etc? I have been weighing and am now realizing I have probably been way off

    i found this out a few weeks ago…I used to use tablespoon for egg whites, but when I put three servings of egg whites in the bowl and measured it, I actually came up short by about one or two more tablespoons..

    I know try to weigh liquids when possible…

    So you would go with the WEIGHED 5.3 oz, and not the measured 4 oz? The weighing being more accurate, even though it's liquid? This whole fluid oz thing is pissing me off. I have been fine-tuning my TDEE and would hate to think I may have been underestimating!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    edited June 2015
    slaite1 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    slaite1 wrote: »
    So I tested it today. And 1/2 cup of (thin) juice measured in a measuring cup came up to 5.3 oz on the scale. So I have been shorting myself I'm assuming. I know everyone says weigh solids-measure liquids. But I guess my brain went into stupid mode, as I have been relying on the scale for liquids as well.

    Does everyone measure oil, etc? I have been weighing and am now realizing I have probably been way off

    i found this out a few weeks ago…I used to use tablespoon for egg whites, but when I put three servings of egg whites in the bowl and measured it, I actually came up short by about one or two more tablespoons..

    I know try to weigh liquids when possible…

    So you would go with the WEIGHED 5.3 oz, and not the measured 4 oz? The weighing being more accurate, even though it's liquid? This whole fluid oz thing is pissing me off. I have been fine-tuning my TDEE and would hate to think I may have been underestimating!

    I would say weighed will always be more accurate than cups…right?

    ETA - egg whites were listed in grams, so I weighed it out as grams….
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    slaite1 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    slaite1 wrote: »
    So I tested it today. And 1/2 cup of (thin) juice measured in a measuring cup came up to 5.3 oz on the scale. So I have been shorting myself I'm assuming. I know everyone says weigh solids-measure liquids. But I guess my brain went into stupid mode, as I have been relying on the scale for liquids as well.

    Does everyone measure oil, etc? I have been weighing and am now realizing I have probably been way off

    i found this out a few weeks ago…I used to use tablespoon for egg whites, but when I put three servings of egg whites in the bowl and measured it, I actually came up short by about one or two more tablespoons..

    I know try to weigh liquids when possible…

    So you would go with the WEIGHED 5.3 oz, and not the measured 4 oz? The weighing being more accurate, even though it's liquid? This whole fluid oz thing is pissing me off. I have been fine-tuning my TDEE and would hate to think I may have been underestimating!

    I would say weighed will always be more accurate than cups…right?

    ETA - egg whites were listed in grams, so I weighed it out as grams….

    I agree, I have been assuming weighing was more accurate, I'm just not sure how to weigh it. They are all volume measurements. Juice is listed in fluid oz and ml-oil is fluid oz, ml and tablespoon. No grams, no regular oz. Something about the density of liquids being different.

    If it is slight than I'll stick to weighing. Maybe I can find the grams measurement for a fluid oz of the items im concerned with. I don't want to make myself crazy, but i would like my oil to be accurate.
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