Research checked October 21, 2026. Research-based, not hands-on tested. Linked product reviews contain affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure and image credits.
The short answer
Use a kitchen scale when the recipe supplies ingredient weights and repeatability is your priority. Keep a measuring cup for recipes written by volume and for easy liquid pouring. These tools answer different questions: the scale measures mass; the cup measures volume. Buying one does not make the other obsolete.
Start with the recipe, not a conversion shortcut
King Arthur recommends weighing ingredients for consistency and explains that flour volume changes with how the cup is filled. Its own recipe guidance assigns 120 grams to a cup of its all-purpose flour. That is a recipe-specific reference, not permission to treat every ingredient or every flour cup as the same weight. Follow the recipe author's weights where supplied. If only cups are supplied, follow that author's cup-filling method rather than guessing a gram conversion. King Arthur's no-scale method uses a dry measuring cup: gently spoon flour into it, then sweep excess off the top with a straight edge. Scooping directly from the bag can pack flour more tightly. This dry-cup method is different from reading a liquid measuring jug. King Arthur scale guidance and recipe guidance.
When the scale earns its space
A tare function subtracts the bowl or resets the display before the next ingredient. Escali documents that function on the Primo, alongside two-button controls and an automatic shutoff. That makes it a relevant option for someone who wants to add ingredients to a bowl without a separate cup for every addition. Check that your bowl leaves the display visible and that the recipe's smallest quantities suit the scale's resolution. Capacity alone does not tell you how well a scale measures tiny amounts. Escali Primo.
When the cup is simpler
For a volume-based liquid measurement, the OXO 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup lets the user read its cup, ounce and milliliter marks from above. OXO specifies Tritan Renew plastic and top-rack dishwasher care. It is a pouring-and-volume tool, not a substitute for weighing flour. Do not assume the cup's ounce markings mean weight ounces. OXO product details.
Before buying
Ask whether you want repeatable baking weights, a readable liquid measure, or both. For the scale, inspect units, display position, capacity and cleaning directions. For the cup, inspect capacity, graduation spacing, handle and spout. Escali's setup guide calls for a hard, flat, level surface; a soft mat is not the recommended setup. Primo setup.
Read our Escali Primo review and OXO angled measuring cup review. Our choice: prioritize the scale for weight-based baking, the cup for convenient volume measuring. No firsthand bake-off is claimed.