Batteries can be inconvenient when they have to be replaced. For some home cooks, a plug in kitchen scale is the best choice!
When choosing a good kitchen scale, there are two common scale types that you are likely to encounter. Analog kitchen scales and digital kitchen scales. In the modern age, digital kitchen scales are becoming more popular and are often the go-to for home cooking.
Digital kitchen scales can be broken down further into an additional two categories. Battery-operated scales and electrical scales. Electric scales are plugged into an electrical outlet to power them. Electrical scales do not utilize batteries and can be a great option if you don’t want to be changing batteries all of the time while cooking.
Plug In vs Batteries 101
There are a few general differences between battery-operated scales and plug-in scales. Battery-operated scales are often smaller and much lighter, this makes them ideal for moving around the kitchen. However, they also tend to have a lower maximum weight.
Plug-in sales are usually larger in size and heavier than their battery-operated counterpart. Because plug-in scales are larger in size, they will often accommodate higher maximum weights rather than the usual weight of 5kg/11lb which is typical of battery-operated scales. Plug-in scales are designed to be set up and left in one place. This makes them ideal for frequent bakers that want scales easily accessible and available when they cook.
But aren’t batteries more convenient?
This depends on what you are using your scales for. Yes, battery-operated scales are more convenient if you want to use your scales once a day and have them stored out of sight, but they can be more tedious in other aspects. Battery-operated scales often have lower weight limits, this means if you are cooking a large batch of food, you will often have to break your ingredients into multiple parts to get an accurate measurement. They also run out of power, there is nothing more annoying than your scales running out of battery halfway through a recipe, especially if you don’t have spares on hand and need to go out to purchase them.
Recommended Plug In Kitchen Scales
There are many plug-in kitchen scales available, we have prepared a few options below that we recommend if you are looking to move away from battery-powered kitchen scales.
My Weigh KD-8000 Kitchen and Craft Digital Scale & AC Adapter
PROS:
These scales include the bakers percentage feature and is a great tool for any home baker! This scale is not as accurate as the other scales in this list.
- Tare feature included
- Comes with a bakers percentage feature. This scale automatically scales recipes by adjusting baking ratios on your behalf. This feature is great for making meals for large families, meal prepping or people who want to cook multiple batches at once.
- Measurement increments of 1g
- Easy to clean with removable LCD screen covers.
- AC powered – However, it can operate on batteries as a backup if required.
- Max weight capacity of 8kg/17.6lb
- The scale weighs only 0.4kg/1lb
- Cheapest on our recommended list
CONS:
- Lowest measurement recognized is 2g
- Large size of 11.7 x 10.2 x 7.4 inches
- Made from plastic
- Not included in Amazon Prime
- Customer reviews indicate that scale is sometimes shipped without the AC adaptor – Beware of this if you are looking for a plug-in scale!
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CGOLDENWALL Lab Scale
This scale has high accuracy. Perfect for people who are looking to weigh herbs and spices for precision baking!
PROS:
- Tare feature included
- High accuracy with 0.1g increments
- High weight limit of 30kg
- Automatic unit conversion
- Count feature – This function allows you to count anything! For example, you can weigh one almond for calibration then weigh the entire bag to find out exactly how many are in the bag. Perfect for people looking to lose weight.
- Made from stainless steel
- Can be re-calibrated to improve accuracy.
- AC powered – However, it can operate on batteries as a backup if required.
- LCD Display
- 1 Year warranty
CONS:
- This scale is tied for most expensive on the list
- The scale is heavy weighing 2kg /4.5lb
- Large size 13.5 x 11 x 5.7 inches
Click here to read more about this product’s relevant reviews.
SurmountWay High Precision Scale
Very precise scale. This scale directly competes with the CGOLDENWALL Lab Scale listed above. Though this scale has a much lower maximum weight range.
PROS:
- Tare feature included
- Weighs up to 10kg
- High accuracy with 0.1g increments
- Weigh plate made from stainless steel
- Non-slip feet to ensure it doesn’t move on the counter
- 1 year warranty
- Count feature
- Adjustable feet to level the scale on any surface
- AC powered – However, it can operate on batteries as a backup if required.
- Also available with a max weight of 3kg, 5kg and 7kg. All with 0.1g accuracy.
CONS:
- This scale is tied for most expensive on the list
- Should be recalibrated every 2-3 weeks for the most accurate results
- Requires 3 minutes warmup before use
- The scale is heavy weighing 2.2kg/4.7lb
- Large size 12.9 x 9.53 x 5.59 inches
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TAYLOR TE10FT
This scale has a lower max weight than the rest, this makes it ideal for the occasional baker or someone looking to weigh smaller amounts of food.
PROS:
- Tare feature included
- Made from stainless steel
- Easily removable platform for easy cleaning
- NSF listed – This means that it has been tested and certified by an independent quality control organization.
- Lighter than the other scales in this list at 0.9kg/1.97lb
- AC powered – However, it can operate on batteries as a backup if required.
- Cheaper than the other two high accuracy scales mentioned in this list
CONS:
- Less accurate with measurement increments of 1g
- Large size 10.8 x 7.5 x 2.9 inches
- Weight limit of only 5kg/11lb
Click here to find the best value and fastest shipping for this product on Amazon!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable price range for a good plug in scale?
The price of your scale will depend on the quality of the product. You can get a decent plug-in scale from as little as $50 USD but the prices can be upwards of $200 USD for very high accuracy scales.
Are plug in kitchen scales better than battery powered ones?
Plug-in scales and battery-operated scales have different pros and cons. Neither is specifically better than the other and it all comes down to what you are using them for. Battery-operated scales can be easily moved to wherever you need them and don’t need to be located near an outlet, but they also usually have a lower weight limit. They can also run out of power at the most inconvenient times.
Plug-in Scales often have higher weight limits, are ready to use at all times (if left setup on your countertop) and won’t run out of power. However, they cannot easily be moved and take up more space in your kitchen.
What about an old fashioned analog scale that doesn’t plug in or use batteries?
Analog scales have pros and cons, just like digital scales. On one hand, they never run out of power and are simple to use. On the other hand, analog scales need to be calibrated before each use and cannot give as accurate readings as digital scales. If precision is key for your needs, analog is not ideal. If rough estimates (within 200g) is all you need, they are a viable option for your baking needs.
Conclusion
Scales come in all shapes and sizes and choosing the right scale for you depends on what you are intending to use them for. When considering a new kitchen scale, think about whether you want to store your scales on the counter ready to use, or out of sight in a drawer or cupboard. Establish whether you have a power outlet available for your scales. Also, remember to think about the heaviest item you want to weigh, will a digital scale be able to accommodate the weight or will you need something more powerful?
We hope that this article has been helpful and that you find the best kitchen scales to match your needs!If you are not sure a plug in scale is right for you, take a look at our article Most Precise Kitchen Scale for a breakdown of the different features available in digital scales to help you make your decision.