Measuring by weight

Measuring ingredients on a kitchen scale in grams or ounces instead of using cups and spoons.

Measuring by weight: A digital kitchen scale with a mixing bowl of white flour on top
  • Techniques and preparation methods

Also called: weighing ingredients, baker's scale

Weighing ingredients is the standard method in professional baking because it is far more accurate than measuring by volume. A cup of flour can vary widely in weight depending on how it is scooped or packed, while 125 grams is always the same amount. A digital scale with a tare button lets you zero out the bowl and add each ingredient in turn, which also means fewer dishes to wash.

Weighing makes results more consistent and makes it easy to scale recipes up or down. Grams are preferred over ounces because they are small, whole numbers, and baker's percentages are always based on weight.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Using a Scale for Cottage Foods, University of Nebraska-Lincoln