Update 3/24/12: Congratulations, Sofia! You are the randomly selected winner. Thanks to everyone who entered.
Using a kitchen scale is simple: turn it on, place a bowl, zero the scale, then add your ingredient. Easy. But why you should use one is a different story.
Start with flour. If there’s one reason to get a kitchen scale, it’s flour.
At your next gathering, ask ten people to scoop a cup of flour. You’ll get entertained and you’ll quickly see the wide variation in how people measure. Some pack flour down, others dip and shake, and a few may level with a knife. The most consistent way to measure flour is by weight—using a scale.
I delayed buying a scale for a long time because it seemed like an extra step. I worried it would replace measuring cups and ruin the feel of baking. I also grew up in the U.S., where recipes call for cups—so seeing “205 grams” felt alien. What size bowl do I need? How do I translate this? I imagined feeling lost in the kitchen.