Digital kitchen scales are extremely inexpensive and far more accurate than other types of kitchen scales. But what is the best cheap kitchen scale to pick? We sifted through the best sellers, read the reviews, and sorted out the problematic models to present you with the best budget kitchen scale currently available. Our pick is the Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale. Keep scrolling to learn why it’s our number one pick and some good alternatives if the Etekcity doesn’t strike your fancy.
Our Number One Pick:
Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale
Most digital kitchen scales are inexpensive because they use commodity electronics that have been proven in more expensive applications in the past and now are cheap to purchase. This means that the basic active components between the competitors are going to be pretty similar across the board. This means accuracy isn’t going to be your primary concern in your selection process. We recommend you pay more attention to is how user-friendly the scale is as well as how reliable it has proven to be.
The Etekcity Scale gets high praise for it’s slim design, looks, and easy to read display. Occasionally purchasers complained about buttons not cooperating when their hands were wet or that the tare weight function was less than intuitive.
The tempered glass surface is very high quality and makes keeping it clean simple. The design is ultra thin which makes it easy to store in tight spaces for those with a cramped kitchen. It’s also arguably the most attractive scale currently available which may not be a big deal to some but I personally prefer a sleek appliance versus something more clunky and dated looking.
This scale also had extremely limited comments regarding failures or problems. Battery life is good and the scale has a low battery warning indicator which helps rule out inaccuracies due to low power situations.
One quibble with this unit however is that it doesn’t have a hold function which means if you’re weighing a large item that obscures the display you’ll be challenged since it won’t store the weight so you can read it after removing the item.
Probably the best differentiator for this scale compared with the competition is the large LCD display which is easy to read. While most of the competition are pretty closely packed, the Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale edges out the competition.
Runner Up:
Greater Goods Nourish Digital Kitchen Scale
The Nourish Digital Kitchen Scale by Greater Goods is our runner up selection if you need to save a couple bucks. It’s very similar to the Etekcity in many ways with its large display and simple button layout. It’s also super slim and easy to clean, although it doesn’t come with the nice tempered glass surface.
You’ll also want to order a replacement battery as many customers report the included battery didn’t last very long or was dead on arrival.
The looks of the Nourish scale are fine even though it’s not quite as striking as the Etekcity. If you don’t mind the plastic surface compared to the tempered glass and purchase a spare battery then it’s a great alternative that can save you a couple dollars.
Worth Considering:
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display
The OXO Good Grips Digital Kitchen Scale is worth considering if spending more on a scale is worth it to you to get the best out there. There are several features that make this scale worth the extra expense:
- Removable stainless steel weighing platform makes cleaning even difficult messes easy
- The display pulls out and away from the scale to allow you to easily read weights and control the scale with large items
- It has a light-up display that is very large
- It’s intuitive to use
It is quite a bit more expensive than the competition but if you will be heavily using it then it may be worth it to you to upgrade to a little more well thought out scale.
Additional Information:
Things To Keep In Mind
What is a kitchen scale used to measure?
Kitchen scales are ideal for measuring ingredients for cooking, especially baking. Measuring cups can be somewhat inaccurate with some ingredients like flour. Accuracy in baking can make the difference between a well executed cake and a dud.
Also, many people use kitchen scales for counting calories. They will weigh out their various meal items and get a very accurate assessment of exactly how many calories they’re consuming.
How do you use a food scale?
Using a kitchen scale is pretty easy. Simply place what you would like to weigh on the scale and it will display the weight.
A great way to use one of theses scales when cooking or baking is to place the container you’re mixing ingredients in on the scale and then zero the scale out with the tare function. You can then add your ingredients directly to the mixing container.
Wrapping Up:
Best Budget Kitchen Scale
A good digital kitchen scale can be had for a song these days. You can spend more if you think you’ll benefit from the additional bells and whistles but don’t be afraid to go with some of the cheaper options. Especially if you’re not going to be heavily using it. The main components in these scales are commodity electronics and won’t vary much from one to another. Design and thoughtfulness is what differentiates them from each other.
