the best inexpensive model, which is slower and more
difficult to use but still perfectly serviceable, check out the
CDN Pro Accurate Quick-Read Thermometer ($16.95).
- Digital Kitchen Scale
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you need a
kitchen scale, jump to here, “Weight Versus Volume,” and
read that section. Got it? See why you want a digital scale?
Once I got one, I’ve used it almost every single day. A good
digital scale will make inaccuracies and inconsistencies a
thing of the past. And if you’re the obsessive type, a scale
can also help you figure out how much moisture your
chicken lost during roasting, or exactly how far you’ve
reduced that stock. Hooray!
Things to look for in a good scale: at least 1-gram (⅛-
ounce) accuracy; a capacity of at least 7 pounds; a tare
(zero) function; measurements in both metric and imperial
units; a large, easy-to-read display; and a fold-flat design for
storage.
The OXO Good Grips Food Scale with Pull-out Display
($45.95) has got all of that, plus a neat pull-out display that
allows you to read measurements with ease, even when
weighing large, bulky items that would otherwise obscure
the screen. The only problem? Annoying fractions in the
display instead of decimal places. Who the heck wants to
measure ⅜ ounce? The Aquatronic Kitchen Scale by Salter
($49.95) lacks the pull-out-display feature, but it uses easy-
to-read decimals, which makes both math and looking cool
in front of Europeans much easier.
If you don’t mind fractions or intend to go all metric, then