Measuring Flour by Weight
Relying on volume measurements like cups is the leading cause of frustration in the kitchen. Once you switch to a digital scale, you stop fighting the flour and start controlling the chemistry of your bake.
Zero is your best friend.
Keep your scale on a flat, stable surface away from the edge of the counter. You will need to get comfortable with the 'tare' or 'zero' button.
- Digital kitchen scale
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
What goes in.
- 120 gall-purpose flour (standard weight per 1 cup)
- 125 gbread flour (standard weight per 1 cup)
- 115 gcake flour (standard weight per 1 cup)
Subtracting the container weight
Always place your empty bowl on the scale and press 'tare' before adding any ingredient. This ignores the bowl's weight so the number you see is only the flour.
The method.
Stabilize the scale
Place your scale on a level countertop. Avoid placing it on a soft towel or uneven surface, which can cause the internal sensors to give inaccurate readings.
Zero the container
Set your mixing bowl or empty vessel on the scale platform. Press the 'tare' or 'zero' button until the display reads 0.
Add the flour
Use a large spoon to scoop flour from your bin directly into the bowl on the scale. Stop just before you reach your target weight, then add the final few grams slowly.
Adjust as needed
If you overshoot your target, simply remove the excess with a spoon until the scale hits your exact requirement.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Most digital scales can toggle between grams and ounces; stick to grams as they offer finer precision for small adjustments.
Keep your scale clean of flour dust, as buildup can eventually affect the accuracy of the weigh-plate.
If you have multiple ingredients to add to one bowl, press 'tare' after every single ingredient before adding the next one.
The ones that keep coming up.
Does it matter if the flour is packed down?
When measuring by weight, it does not matter at all. The scale measures mass, so 120 grams is the same regardless of how dense or airy the flour is.
Can I use a bathroom scale for flour?
No. Bathroom scales lack the sensitivity required for small measurements and will not register additions under a certain threshold.
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