Commercial kitchen scales are ideal for measuring any ingredient and products in a commercial kitchen for consistent meals and equal portions. You can weigh meat in a deli, cheese in a supermarket, dough in a pizzeria, or measure herbs or any ingredient for cooking dishes in a commercial restaurant and control portions using a commercial scale while reducing food waste simultaneously.
Types of Commercial Kitchen Scales
A food scale is a money saver and waste inhibitor that is an efficient tool for every type of operation. There are various types of commercial kitchen scales, both mechanical and digital, to fit different kitchens. They provide much efficiency for every operation, from a deli, grocery, and bakery to a restaurant or coffee shop.
1. Digital Portion Control Scales
Digital portion control scales prevent food waste and provide consistent and high-quality dishes. By managing portion sizes, you can save much money in the long run by simply reducing the wasted goods. These commercial kitchen scales are one of the scales that will give the most accurate weight, which is essential for some dishes requiring a precise amount of ingredients, and bakers mostly prefer them.
Commercial digital scales are designed with easy-to-read digital displays and are ideal for heavy usage of high-volume operations, and are easy to clean. Most are waterproof, and some models can be connected to printers.
2. Mechanical Control Scales
Mechanical control scales are also called spring scales because of weighing with springs. Mechanical scales measure the product placed on the top platform using springs, which compress in the correct proportions when applied force. Spring scales do not always weigh accurately and are more prone to miscalculate since compression rates likely fluctuate over time and fail to turn to their previous length.
Another downside of the mechanical kitchen scales is that they are not so useful for measuring small weights since the springs will move slightly, which might be difficult to read compared to a larger object’s movement. As a plus, mechanical scales are easy to clean and more portable since they do not require batteries or any other type of electricity to operate.
3. Balance Scales
Balance scales are the earliest types of scales. These commercial kitchen scales are still in use in most commercial kitchens. A balance scale is so simple to use; it weighs products by comparing them with a set of masses with a known weight. You can easily find a set of available weights in a market. They are obsolete since they do not measure weight precisely. They only tell the measured product is more or less weigher than the known weights. It weighs by placing known weights on the other side of the scale until the balance is equal, not giving the accurate weight of the product.
4. Hanging Scales
One of the oldest options for commercial kitchen scales is the hanging scale. These scales are designed with a hook on the bottom to weigh the attached product. These scales are mostly used for weighing veggies and fruits, so they are popular in markets and groceries.
There are various hanging scales, but they all work simply by weighing through a hook. Some hanging scales do not feature a hook but a steel dish where you place the product you want to weigh. There are analog and digital hanging scales that are both efficient but work better for small quantities. Fishers mostly use ones with a bottom hook to weigh fish, and different operations prefer them thanks to their portability and ease of use.
5. Large-Capacity Scales
Large capacity scale is either a mechanical or digital commercial kitchen scale that took its name from its removable large and small bowls. You can easily change the bowl with a larger or smaller one depending on the amount of product you want to weigh. Large capacity scales are ideal for large operations that weigh high amounts continuously.
6. Receiving Scales
Receiving scales are the heavy-duty kitchen scales that ensure you get the right amounts of product you ordered. Weighing anything you buy by the pound ensures you don’t lose money by receiving less than you paid. It is essential for restaurants when receiving delivery of meat, poultry, produce or fish. Receiving scales are durable and withstand commercial kitchens’ heavy usage.
7. Price Computing Scales
In order to be legal and suitable for trading, a commercial kitchen scale needs to meet the NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) requirements. Based on its applicable criteria, the NTEP will examine the scale’s performance, operational characteristics, and accuracy to determine if it is legal for trade. After several tests, such as weighing the scale hundreds of times, the scale is given a certificate of conformance.
Price computing scales, also known as legal trade scales, are ideal for operations that determine a sale price based on weight, such as markets or delis. You can check here for further information about NTEP certification and other kitchen scale regulations.
8. PLU (Price Look-UP)
A PLU (price look-up) enables one to set a price for each product and lets customers weigh their fruits or vegetables by pressing the pre-programmed number for each product on the scale. This efficient feature saves you considerable time by removing the need to type the price and product name every time. You just press the number associated with the product, and its price per pound will appear on the screen. Legal for trade scales come with various PLU capacities from 10 up to 4000.
Benefits Commercial Kitchen Scales
A commercial kitchen scale has a huge usage area in commercial kitchens, bakeries, markets, and groceries. These useful gadgets have certain benefits for the kitchen, the chefs, and the customers apart from the legal regulations.
1. Measure Portion Sizes Accurately
A commercial kitchen scale provides nearly perfect and consistent food every time made using the same amount of ingredients. In addition to consistency, they are the best way to control portion sizes in terms of the correct and healthy servings.
2. Calculating Serving Sizes And Counting Calories
You can count the calories of the food, including packed food, with the help of a commercial kitchen scale for the requested customers or for putting it on your menu.
3. Facilitate the Work in the Kitchen
They facilitate the chef’s and staff’s work, especially when making intricate recipes requiring exact measurements, such as flour, salt, or spices. They provide more precise results than measuring cups, and in addition to the cooking process, kitchen scales can be used in serving even portions.
4. Easy Usage
Although the different features the different types have, they are all so simple to use. The staff can easily operate them by simply pressing a button, placing the products on the scale, and pressing the tare button to weigh products consecutively.
5. Portable and Easy to Clean
Thanks to their small size and portability, you can place these industrial food scales anywhere. They will fit into the cabinets and drawers, where you can put them in the nearest one to be at your hand when needed.
These industrial kitchen scales are easy to clean and maintain as well. You can wipe the digital ones’ glass surfaces and wash the removable bowls of the large capacity scales, and most of the mechanical scales are waterproof, so you can put them in the dishwasher without worrying.
How To Choose the Best Commercial Kitchen Scale
Commercial food weighing scales have a huge usage area from markets to warehouses. They come in various types and shapes, so you should choose the most suitable one for your business.
- Scale Capacity: You should choose a commercial kitchen scale considering the volume of your operation, how often, and for what you will use. A large-capacity scale works best for weighing bulk amounts of product, while a low-capacity scale is ideal for small portions and measuring spices.
- Digital or Mechanical: Digital kitchen scales require batteries to work, but they provide more precise measurements. Their downfall is they cannot be placed in the dishwasher.
- Mechanical Kitchen Scales Inner Springs: Most of them are dishwasher safe, but their springs are prone to break down in time, and they do not provide precise measurements as digital ones do.
- Readability: It’s an essential aspect that will affect the usage of the scale. A clear display ensures accuracy. Digital kitchen scales tend to be more reliable than mechanical ones at this point since they measure to the milligram.
- Your Expectations/Needs: Your expectations from the product or equipment determine which one you need. Where you want to use the scale will tell which will work the best since there are different types with various specifications and capacities.
Conclusion
Commercial kitchen scales provide convenience in many business types and various processes. There are different types with different features that ensure accuracy and practicality from cooking to receiving delivery. After deciding what you will use it for and which capacity you need, you will find the best commercial kitchen scale that will assist you effectively.
