Scales & Measuring Equipment

Scales and measuring equipment covers any tool used to weigh ingredients, portion product or measure liquids with accuracy. In a trade kitchen that means everything from a compact bench scale for portioning proteins to a large washdown platform scale for bulk goods, and water dosing units that deliver precise volumes for dough or beverage recipes. Accuracy keeps your food costs predictable and your recipes repeatable across every service.

The range covers several distinct formats. Benchtop scales handle everyday portioning at the prep station. Washdown scales are built to tolerate water and cleaning chemicals, making them suited to wet areas and butchery. Platform scales take on heavier loads for bulk weighing. Retail scales display weight clearly for customer-facing service. Water dosers and electronic mixer dosing units round out the range for kitchens that need precise liquid measurement.

A&D specialises in precision weighing and their washdown models are built for demanding wet environments, with sealed housings that hold up to regular hose-downs. Vogue platform scales are a solid choice for general kitchen use where a straightforward, readable display matters most. Brice retail scales suit front-of-counter service. Think about where the scale will live, how often it gets wet and whether staff need to read it quickly from a distance.

Platform size comes down to what you are placing on the scale and how much room you have at the station. A medium platform suits most individual ingredient portions and smaller cuts. A large platform handles full trays, bulk bins or larger product. A&D offers both medium and large platform options across their washdown range, so you can match the footprint to your bench space without sacrificing capacity.

A genuine washdown scale has a sealed casing rated to resist moisture and cleaning agents. A&D washdown models are built specifically for environments where water and food residue are a daily reality. That said, no scale benefits from being submerged or blasted with a high-pressure hose at close range. Wipe-down and low-pressure rinse is the right approach, and checking the seal condition periodically keeps the protection intact over time.

An electronic water doser delivers a measured volume of water at a set temperature to a mixer or dough machine, replacing the guesswork of manual measuring. Bakeries and pizza operations rely on them to keep hydration consistent across every batch. The STM Domix range in this category adds thermostatic regulation, so water temperature is controlled as well as volume. If your dough results vary batch to batch, a doser is worth examining.

Not every scale is approved for trade use in a retail transaction. Retail scales, such as the Brice XS Series, are designed for customer-facing service and display weight in a format that is clear to both staff and the customer. If you are selling product by weight directly to a consumer, check that the unit you choose is suited to that purpose. General kitchen bench scales are intended for internal portioning, not point-of-sale use.

Calibration drift is the main issue to manage. Most digital scales allow periodic recalibration using a known reference weight, and doing this every few months keeps readings honest. Keep the platform clean and free of built-up residue, as debris under the platform can affect the reading. Avoid placing the scale near heat sources or in direct airflow, and zero the unit at the start of each session. A&D and Vogue both provide calibration guidance in their documentation.

Accurate portioning supports allergen control by ensuring measured quantities match recipe specifications, reducing the risk of accidental over-addition of an ingredient. Washdown models make it easier to clean between allergen-containing and allergen-free preparations. Scales alone do not constitute a HACCP plan, but they are a practical tool within one. Your food safety adviser can confirm how weighing records fit into your specific plan.

The range spans compact digital scales at the accessible end of the price band through to heavy-duty washdown and platform models at a higher price point. Water dosing units with thermostatic control sit at the upper end given their added functionality. Prices vary by brand, platform size and specification. Chefs Depot members save off RRP across the range, so logging in before you add to cart is worth doing.