The traditional approach of relying on volumetric cup measures, especially for compressible ingredients like flour, introduces a high level of inaccuracy. Depending on the method of scooping or sifting, the weight of a cup of flour can vary significantly, ranging from four to six ounces – a 50 percent difference. Contrastingly, employing a scale ensures consistent and accurate measurements, providing better and more reliable results. On platforms like Serious Eats, a standardized cup conversion of five ounces of all-purpose flour per cup is advocated.
Apart from enhanced accuracy, using a scale offers the advantage of efficiency, reducing the need for extensive cleanup. Instead of employing various cups for each ingredient, a bowl placed on the scale allows for direct measurement into the work bowl. For example, when preparing pizza dough, precise quantities like 1 kilogram of flour, 700 grams of water, 25 grams of salt, and 10 grams of yeast can be added, resulting in a dough that consistently behaves as expected. All of this is achieved with the convenience of cleaning just a single bowl.
