Scales for Dough Making

Matt619 · February 23, 2022, 11:00:21 AM

Can anyone recommend a good digital scale for dough making. I am looking for a scale that can handle the flour weight and also the smaller ingredients with enough detail precision. I am not opposed to two scales one for heavier items and one for small ingredients. What is everyone else using? I have tried 20 and 30 lb scales but they seem to not be able to handle the flour weight along with the weight of the mixing bowl. I would love to know what others recommend. I am not using full bags of flour so hence the need to weigh it.

02ebz06 · February 23, 2022, 11:10:58 AM

How much dough are you making at a time?
A 20 or 30lb scale (that has a gram scale and goes to .1) should be plenty and work fine.

My scale only goes to 13lb. It is fine for several pizzas or loaves of bread at a time.

I have a one for the small items that had one of the buttons just quit working and ordered a new one that measures up to 500g and down to .01 accuracy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L61HDQL/?tag=pmak-20

9slicePie · February 23, 2022, 11:13:36 AM

Quote from: 02ebz06 on February 23, 2022, 11:10:58 AM
How much dough are you making at a time?
A 20 or 30lb scale (that has a gram scale and goes to .1) should be plenty and work fine.

My scale only goes to 13lb. It is fine for several pizzas or loaves of bread at a time.

I have a one for the small items that had one of the buttons just quit working and ordered a new one that measures up to 500g and down to .01 accuracy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L61HDQL/?tag=pmak-20

Did you ever need/use a counterweight with that scale for calibration?

02ebz06 · February 23, 2022, 11:19:59 AM

Quote from: 9slicePie on February 23, 2022, 11:13:36 AM
Did you ever need/use a counterweight with that scale for calibration?

I have some calibration weights but don't used them often. Once and a while on the small scale, but rarely on the larger one.
For the larger one, I write the weight of the bowls on them so when I put the bowl on the scale, the reading should match what's written on the bowl.

Matt619 · February 23, 2022, 11:29:17 AM

Quote from: 02ebz06 on February 23, 2022, 11:10:58 AM
How much dough are you making at a time?
A 20 or 30lb scale (that has a gram scale and goes to .1) should be plenty and work fine.

My scale only goes to 13lb. It is fine for several pizzas or loaves of bread at a time.

I have a one for the small items that had one of the buttons just quit working and ordered a new one that measures up to 500g and down to .01 accuracy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09L61HDQL/?tag=pmak-20

Lately I have been making fairly large batches with 13 lb of flour and then the mixer bowl weights 9 lbs or so. But would like to find a scale that can handle more weight so I can make larger batches in the future if needed. I thought about a shipping floor scale but I see so many options and different price points, so thought I would see what everyone else recommends/uses.

Matt619 · February 23, 2022, 11:31:35 AM

Quote from: 9slicePie on February 23, 2022, 11:13:36 AM
Did you ever need/use a counterweight with that scale for calibration?

I have tried weighing weights as a general test, but the issue I am running into now is more when the scale is near capacity weight it goes haywire snd jumps around. This has occurred with the last 2 scales I purchased. So looking for a heavier duty more weight capacity scale.

Pizza_Not_War · February 23, 2022, 11:33:13 AM

I have a 33lb digital scale from Amazon. Not available anymore but they do have many other brands. Mine is pretty reliable.

icemanxp300 · February 28, 2022, 12:38:52 PM

I'm in the market for a new scale as well. I tossed mine in the garbage a few days ago. I have had the same problem twice now. Both scales purchased at Wal-Mart but not the same scale. After like 2 years they kept saying battery low and even if I put a new battery in them it still says low and shuts off. Granted they only cost like $15 but still I kind of expect them to last longer. All I need is 10lbs that does grams.

02ebz06 · February 28, 2022, 01:20:17 PM

Quote from: icemanxp300 on February 28, 2022, 12:38:52 PM
I'm in the market for a new scale as well. I tossed mine in the garbage a few days ago. I have had the same problem twice now. Both scales purchased at Wal-Mart but not the same scale. After like 2 years they kept saying battery low and even if I put a new battery in them it still says low and shuts off. Granted they only cost like $15 but still I kind of expect them to last longer. All I need is 10lbs that does grams.

I have one of these --> https://escali.com/alimento-digital-scale
I bought the A/C adapter so I don't have to mess with batteries. Use it primarily for flout & water and other household needs.
Had it for several years with no problems. Only complaint is it is light. Will slide when you press buttons. I changed the feet on it to fix that.
I use a small jewelers scale to measure the light stuff.

billg · February 28, 2022, 07:01:30 PM

The My Weigh kd 7000 or 8000 are great scales for dough.

icemanxp300 · March 03, 2022, 02:10:51 PM

I just purchased a black Taylor scale from Target. I seen this unit used (2) AAA batteries instead of cell batteries which I thought would be a better build. I opened it and turned it on confused as all I could see was an L. It took me a few minutes to realize what was going on majority of the display on the right side of the decimal was gone. I could see it say ml but the grams setting must be on the lower right. Not a very good first experience. This is going back, the question is do I want a refund or try for a replacement. It was $21.99 plus tax. This definitely has me questioning the build quality.

billg · March 03, 2022, 09:03:13 PM

Quote from: icemanxp300 on March 03, 2022, 02:10:51 PM
I just purchased a black Taylor scale from Target. I seen this unit used (2) AAA batteries instead of cell batteries which I thought would be a better build. I opened it and turned it on confused as all I could see was an L. It took me a few minutes to realize what was going on majority of the display on the right side of the decimal was gone. I could see it say ml but the grams setting must be on the lower right. Not a very good first experience. This is going back, the question is do I want a refund or try for a replacement. It was $21.99 plus tax. This definitely has me questioning the build quality.

Get the my my weigh 7000 or 8000. Buy once, cry once!!!!

icemanxp300 · March 04, 2022, 11:00:36 AM

Quote from: billg on March 03, 2022, 09:03:13 PM
Get the my my weigh 7000 or 8000. Buy once, cry once!!!!

I'll consider these. The 8000 has weight by percentage of flour so that would be really nice. If I understand correctly you just put in your flour weight and tell it what percentage you want for the rest of the ingredients and it tells you how much you need?

edspizza · December 09, 2022, 02:57:33 AM

Does anyone know if the metal top of the KD-8000 comes off if you weigh mixed dough and remove the ball from the scale? Sometimes with stickier dough it tends to take the top with it

kbrede · December 09, 2022, 05:54:49 AM

Quote from: edspizza on December 09, 2022, 02:57:33 AM
Does anyone know if the metal top of the KD-8000 comes off if you weigh mixed dough and remove the ball from the scale? Sometimes with stickier dough it tends to take the top with it

I think I've had mine for over a decade. The metal top came off the other day. I don't typically weigh dough balls directly on the top. The metal is glued down so if I wanted I could reglue. Other than that it's been an excellent scale.

EDIT: my perspective is from a home cook.

Travinos_Pizza · December 10, 2022, 08:26:11 PM

Honestly I have two scales. One for the big stuff and one for the smaller measurements,

I have an OXO for the normal weights.

Weigh Gram Scale Digital Pocket Scale,100g by 0.01g,Digital Grams Scale, Food Scale, Jewelry Scale Black, Kitchen Scale 100g [ Anonymized URL Blocked ] For the smaller weights.

edspizza · December 15, 2022, 04:02:07 PM

How's the battery life on the OXO scale? Also does anyone know of any pocket scales that don't shut off automatically?

HansB · December 15, 2022, 05:14:29 PM

My OXO is collecting dust because it auto shuts off too quickly. The KD-8000 is very popular for homes and small bakeries.

Pizza_Not_War · December 15, 2022, 06:06:38 PM

I've been pleasantly surprised with this scale which has a 33lb capacity and is really cheap. You can set the auto turn off as well. Assuming you can decipher directions.

TICWELL Essential Food Scale 33lb Digital Kitchen Scale Weight Grams Oz for Cooking Baking Multifunction Food Scale 1g Precise Graduation 6 Units Screen Touch

kbrede · December 15, 2022, 06:44:05 PM

Quote from: HansB on December 15, 2022, 05:14:29 PM
My OXO is collecting dust because it auto shuts off too quickly. The KD-8000 is very popular for homes and small bakeries.

I just checked and I've had my KD-8000 for 10 years. I don't use it for commercial purposes; I'm a home cook. I just put a 50g calibration weight on it and it weighed 50g. As I mentioned above, the metal platform came off when I pulled a sticky dough ball off. To avoid that, I lay some shrinkwrap down or a small plate. IMO it's a solid purchase.