köögikaalu

A köögikaalu, or kitchen scale, is a common kitchen tool used to measure the weight of ingredients. This is often more accurate than using volume measurements, especially for baking, where precise ratios of ingredients are crucial for successful results.

Kitchen scales come in various types, including mechanical and digital. Mechanical scales typically use a spring or a lever system to indicate weight, often with a dial. Digital scales use electronic sensors and display the weight on an LCD screen, usually offering greater precision and additional features like a tare function. The tare function allows the user to reset the scale to zero with a container already on it, so only the weight of the added ingredients is measured.

The use of a köögikaalu is particularly beneficial when following recipes that specify ingredient weights in grams or ounces. This is common in many European and professional baking recipes. It helps ensure consistency and reproducibility of dishes. Beyond baking, kitchen scales can be useful for portion control for dietary reasons or for accurately measuring ingredients for specific culinary techniques. They are generally easy to clean, with many models featuring removable platforms or surfaces that can be wiped down.