A weigh better breed of scale (Salter Electronic Kitchen Scales)

Member Name: apuskiduski

Product:	Salter Electronic Kitchen Scales
Date:	24/02/09 (130 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Attractive, light, compact, easy to use , read and clean

Disadvantages: Can't make your cakes for you

I have to admit I was forced into buying these by my daughters who were doing 'Food Technology' at school and had found that my old traditional balance scales to be totally useless, ruining the overall finish of their drop scones and raspberry buns . They had the audacity to suggest I was a saddo using scales with an actual scale. They said I had to get into the digital world of kitchen equipment and buy some of these.

Actually I'm thrilled they did. Not only are they light, easy to use, read, clean and store, they are devilishly attractive too. The stainless steel effect of this flat bed scale looks good left on your counter, but is amazingly compact for easy storage. At just 19cm square (that's 7.5 inches in old money) and 2cms (less than an inch) in height, they fit snuggly anywhere.

Embarrassing though it is, I am a bit of a scale lover and I do miss the shaky red dial quivering between markers ever so slightly, but there's something tremendously reassuring about a clear digital display.

I'm pleased to say that these scales are also tremendously easy to use. You can weigh things directly on the surface if you're prepared to clean them. Or you can switch them on, place your mixing bowl on top, reset using the zero button and then weigh your ingredient. You can keep repeating this process with each ingredient if you're confident enough to just keep on adding. Or if you're like me, I like to weigh everything separately and throw it in a different bowl.

There's also a kg/lb button depending on the type of recipe you're using and that's about it on the button front.

There's one little thing I'm not so keen on. Around the sides of the square scale there are three parallel ridges, purely for decorative effect. I don't like the thought of how many little nasty micro-organisms could be lurking between these ridges if I didn't zap them with my antibacterial whatsit every time I've used them. I feel that the edges could have been left smooth like the rest of the scale to satisfy the Health and Safety Executive type, but other than that I see no disadvantages in this stunning little addition to my kitchen.

Today I took them to school, where ten batches of pancake mixture were weighed by a group of 10 and 11 year olds. They certainly passed the antishock test as they hit the deck about five times and still continued to work brilliantly. Every pancake was delicious, apparently.

I've had this particular set of scales for about two years now and they cost me £24.99 from Argos. They are powered by 2 X 3V circular lithium batteries (still going strong) which can be removed by twisting their covers from the underside of the scale where you will also find four rubberised feet which help to protect your precious kitchen counters.

They arrive well protected in a recyclable cardboard box, enshrined in a clear plastic bag complete with detailed instructions. Not that they're difficult to use. They're a doddle.

Summary: On a scale of 1 to 10, 11