Do you measure or weigh your ingredients? If you weigh, do you use a digital scale? I don't have digital and find it's hard to be exact.

You'll never be.. "perfect" with weighing, but it is a hell of a lot closer than going by volume. Especially on dry ingredients. Weight also produces more consistent results.

scale

I Measure. Only because that is one less piece of equipment I have to find room for. My recipe calls for 8cp. so I use 8 cps. I figure I can always add more if I need to.

But I was helping at a bakery where everything was weighed and I thought the frosting sometimes came out a little drier than I cared for.

Just My 2 cents.

cCc

kpcrash and donnajf, what kind of scales do you have?

I have a digital scale I picked up on sale at Staples. Handles up to 5 pounds, was cheaper than what the kitchen stores were selling the same thing for.

kpcrash, I wouldn't have thought of going to Staples. It's right down the street. I normally go to bed bath and beyond with my 20% off coupon. Got a great deal on my pro ka there. Thanks for the info.

weight weight weight! I HATE cups and measures! If I need to half something, or triple it or whatever, it's a HECK of a lot easier to multiply without fractions!

I'm alllllll about the scale! Uh...unless I have to get on one myself!


Michelle

kpcrash and donnajf, what kind of scales do you have?

Here's a link to the one I have.

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&prodCatType=0&catalogId=10051&productId=99556&cmArea=SEARCH

I try to weigh whenever possible. This is the scale I have:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?id=4204
It even came with a little conversion chart with volume to weight equivalents for many different foods.

I have started using a scale and love how easy it is! I have this one
http://www.scalesonline.com/Detail.aspx?ID=331
in orange. I love that I can measure in grams, pounds or ounces and the tare feature is great.
Tracy

I do use a digital scale! I used to own a kitchen store and I can say that for our purposes it really doesn't matter what you get, as long as it's pretty accurate. I've seen expensive scales way off, and cheap scales that are terrific. If you want to test yours, or suspect it's not correct, take a stick of butter and weigh it. The diary industry is so well monitored, you can pretty much be assured a stick weighs what it's supposed to (4 oz).

If you really want a brand name, Salter scales are terrific. We used to sell them to people from the children's hospital who had kids on these very very specific diets that needed to have everything measured by wieght. The hospital recommended them.

Happy baking!
Michelle

Thanks for your help everyone. Have a happy baking day!

I bought a cheap digital scale somewhere and it works great. What I don't like is that it turns off too quickly when it is idle. If I am short on an ingredient, I don't have time to go get the extra stock out of the cupboard before it shuts down and zeros out my weight. BTW it weighs in grams and ounces. I use mostly gram measurements and have to reset it to grams every time I turn it on. When I replace it, I am going to look for one that shuts off after 5 minutes or more and holds it setting to grams.