Question 1

Do I really need a kitchen scale for macros?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cup-measuring oats can be off by 40%. Eyeballing chicken portions by 30%. Even measuring nut butter "a tablespoon" varies by ±5g, which is ±45 calories. Over a week, those errors compound to 300+ calories of drift either way — the difference between losing fat and not. A $15 scale eliminates the error entirely.

Question 2

1g vs 0.1g precision — which do I need?

Accepted Answer

1g for food. 0.1g is only useful for weighing supplements (creatine doses, individual capsules) or precision baking applications. For tracking quark portions, protein cuts, oats, fruits — 1g is the right precision. 0.1g scales are typically smaller platforms and shorter-lived.

Question 3

Will my scale's accuracy drift over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, slowly. Every scale on this list maintained ±1g accuracy at the 1-year mark. After 3-5 years, expect 1-2g of drift. To check: weigh a 100g reference (you can use four US quarters = 22.7g, or a known supplement bottle). If it reads more than 3g off, it's time to replace.

Question 4

Are Bluetooth/smart scales worth it?

Accepted Answer

Mostly no. They sync weights to an app, but you can manually log a number in 4 seconds. The Bluetooth adds cost ($30+ premium), battery drain, and a connection-failure mode. The Greater Goods Nourish (on this list) is the rare exception — it processes macros locally without a phone, which is a real workflow improvement.

Question 5

Can I weigh wet food on a digital scale?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All six picks have water-resistant tops, and you can wipe spills off the platform. Don't submerge — that fries the electronics. For dripping-wet items (e.g. just-rinsed berries), put a paper towel on the platform first, tare, then weigh.