I received an email a short while back from a chap asking me if I would like to review a digital scale (Link goes to my Amazon page) for his company. Word got around that I am into weighing my ingredients, so I guess that is why he chose little me.
You see, the gentleman took a chance asking me to review his scale. His words were, “…this is a scale that is really targeted at the non-professional. It does all of the things your commercial scale does in a more compact, cost efficient little package.”
Nice packaging, understated, but nice
A while later, a package arrived, and I pulled out the nice scale.
The scale was remarkably light.
I won’t lie, my first thought was – Flimsy and cheap.
Hey! That was not a fair assessment. I have been known for judging something wrong. Okay, more than a few times. I decided I would take this thing through the paces. Let us see how it fared:
This is the most important part of the scale. Make it easy to tare!
The scale tared very well. All who know me know that this is the most important thing about the scale for me. It needs to be easy to tare, otherwise the user will NOT want to bother. This scale has a tare button that “clicks” and does its job well.
I am about to tare it... Look out!
Important for those of you watching your portions... how much is that red pepper you put into the salad? 97 grams? Sweet! I can have 3 more!
Next up, how easy is it to tare with another ingredient on it? Turns out, a simple little “click” and there you go.
The scale comes complete with a calorie counter based on weights. How do you think I did with that?
Honestly, that is not my cup of tea; I could care less about calories. I count carbs. This scale was made for those counting calories. The information provided in the booklet is extensive, so kudos on that. I don’t think that I am here to comment on that.
Okay, so far so good. But you know me. I took the review even further.
I took the scale and used it for my inventory. (Closing of March.) If you are a chef, you know it is important for your weights to be accurate. How did the scale weigh in? (Excuse the pun; it was on purpose…)
It works for inventory, so that means this scale is good!
The scale was fantastic. Of course, it did not do so well with a huge block of Gouda. I am not sure a dieter would be worried about 5 kilograms of Gouda in one shot though.
I don’t have a picture, but I sent the scale off with my staff in the kitchen. Listen up – those of you who work in a kitchen know that equipment has a mysterious power to break itself, with no fault of any cook that was using it.
That test was to be the greatest in the little scale’s review.
I am happy to report it returned in mint condition. Perhaps it is because the thought of breaking the Chef’s personal scale might not sit well with a cook. I am inclined to believe it was dropped, abused and tossed around. These things happen in the kitchen. (Not that a cook would admit it, mind you!)
Finally, even my pastry chef weighed out ingredients for her creations on it. I am happy to report I did not get any cake pans in the head, which means the scale did its job.
I mentioned above the scale felt flimsy. I am chef enough to admit it. I was wrong. This is one tough scale, and it is lightweight because it is designed in a no-nonsense fashion.
Taring is easy. Compared to my “professional” scale it is a snap. I did not have to fight the button to shut it off, or to tare.
The batteries are easy to replace. In a lot of scales, you have to have special batteries which require sacrifices to dark gods to find the right ones. Worse, they usually exact a cost that is little in return for what you get. I digress.
The ease of which you can choose units is akin with more expensive scales I have at work. I don’t really use that feature. If I catch a cook using ounces, he/she will hear about it, and choose to use grams from that point on. (I mean, we are past the dark ages people!)
I can think of no complaints with the scale.
For the price, you just can’t go wrong. You can spend upwards of 250$ for a scale that will do the same thing.
Now, I have to disclose that the scale was sent to me for review. I have not been paid to give the scale a good review. Any of you who know me can be rest assured that I will tell you exactly how it is when it comes to a product. If you want to get serious with the WDC, then this product belongs on your shelf.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the scale I use (sometime!) when I am trying to emulate you! GREG
@GREG – Ah, I am blushing here. I will be honest with you though, I have a post coming up where I don’t use the scale, I use volume instead!