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Learn why accuracy matters. Perform a taring check. Collect pocket change. Test a scale that rounds to the nearest gram. Check a scale that measures tenths of grams. Perform a test on a precise scale.
Kitchen scales weigh substances on a much smaller basis than bathroom scales. Their accuracy, however, is still important to weight loss. Measuring food is an integral part of many diet plans and will help you track your calorie intake better. Since the substances weighed on a kitchen scale are so light, it can be tricky to test its accuracy. Kitchen scales are also extremely helpful for recipes and cooking. To make sure your digital kitchen scale begins at zero, you need to perform a taring test. This will show you whether or not your scale starts its measurements at zero. Turn on the scale. It should start at zero. If it doesn't, press down on the scale gently. Release it and see if it returns to zero. If it doesn't, press the "Tare" button on the scale. This will take the current state of the machine and make it base zero. To test that the taring process works, take an object such as an apple and place it on the scale. Once the scale finds its weight, take note of the weight and then hit the tare button to make it zero. Once it balances, lift the object off the scale. The number that remains, which will be negative, should match the number you measured before. Now that you know the scale is balanced, you need to check its weighing capabilities. Some of the smallest and easiest things to weigh are coins. Each coin has a specific weight and are very small, which will help you check the accuracy of small amounts of weight. Collect a few pennies, a few nickels, and a few quarters. These will help you figure out how accurate your machine is, depending on how specific it measures. Try to find newer change if possible. Older coins may have degraded over time and not be an accurate size. If your kitchen scale rounds to the nearest gram, you should use the nickel. Each nickel weighs five grams. Turn on your scale and make sure it is on zero. Place one nickel on the scale and note the weight. Place another nickel on the scale and note the new weight. Place one more nickel on the scale and note the weight. If your scale is accurate, the weight should have gone up by 5g each time. If it is not, try with another nickel than the one that gave you the off reading. That nickel may be older and degraded. If it is still off, the scale is likely inaccurate. Some scales are so accurate they can measure amounts as small as a tenth of a gram. If your scale does, use the pennies to check the accuracy because they weigh 2.5 grams each. Turn on the machine and make sure it is at zero. Place one penny on the scale and note the weight. Add two more pennies, noting the weight in between each one. The weights should be 2.5g, 5g, and 7.5g. If your reading is off, try a different penny than the one that gave you the wrong weight. If the weight it still off, your scale is likely inaccurate. There are some kitchen scales that are extra precise and measure to the hundredths of grams. For these machines, you need to use a quarter, which weighs 5.67g. Place one quarter on the scale and check the weight. Place another on it and check the weight. Two should be enough for this scale since all three places can be read for both weights. The weights should measure 5.67g and 11.34g. If they don't, your scale is likely inaccurate.