How to Read Ounces on a Digital Scale

When you are using a digital scale the scale measures the mass of the object that is placed on its weighing platform. The amount of that mass is shown to you on a digital screen that is easy to read. The digital screen will display lighted numbers like the ones you see on your digital alarm clocks.

When you want precise measurements so that you can control your portions, or control the ingredients you are combining then a digital scale is a perfect tool to use. These scales give you accurate readings and they are very simple to use. Older scales that did not have digital displays were often very hard to read and confusing.

There are a few things you should know about ounces prior to weighing any item.

The ounce is represented as oz

Ounce to Pound

  • Four ounces is the same as one quarter of a pound
  • Eight ounces is the same as one half of a pound
  • Twelve ounces is the same as three quarters of a pound
  • Sixteen ounces is the same as one pound

Liquid measures in ounces

  • Two ounces is the same as one quarter of a cup of liquid
  • Four ounces is the same as one half of a cup of liquid
  • Six ounces is the same as three quarters of a cup of liquid
  • Eight ounces is the same as one cup of liquid
  • There are 0.166667 ounces in a teaspoon
  • There are 0.5 ounces in a tablespoon
  • There are sixteen ounces in a pint
  • There are thirty two ounces in a quart
  • There are one hundred and twenty eight ounces in a gallon

Dry Measures to Liquid Ounces

  • 3 teaspoons are equivalent to 1 tablespoon and ½ ounce
  • 5 1/3 tablespoons are equivalent to 1/3 a cup and 2.6 fluid ounces
  • 8 tablespoons are equivalent to ½ a cup and 4 fluid ounces
  • 12 tablespoons are equivalent to ¾ cup and 6 fluid ounces
  • 32 tablespoons are equivalent to 2 cups and 16 fluid ounces

Ounces to Grams

  • There is one ounce in 28.3495 grams

To begin to get the number of ounces that your item weighs you should follow these steps:

  1. Push the power button to turn your scale on.
  2. Wait until the scale displays 0.0 indicating that it is ready to weigh your item.
  3. Put the item you are weighing on the scale and make sure that it remains perfectly still. If the item moves then it will affect the weighing process and you might get an inaccurate weight measurement.

Sometimes the item that you wish to weigh will not stay stabilized on the weighing platform and you need to put the item in a container before weighing it. The majority of digital scales produced today have a Tare setting. With a Tare setting, you can place the container on the scale and then press a button. The scale will measure the weight of the container, and then when you add the ingredient to the container the scale will calculate the weight of the container and the contents, then the scale will deduct the weight of the container and will display for you only the weight of the contents.

There are many different uses for scales in our homes and businesses. If you are buying scales to use in your kitchen, or for weighing gold and silver then you absolutely need to be able to weigh your items in small increments of a half gram or one ounce.

The majority of all scales come to you already calibrated to make accurate measurements, but from time to time the calibration on a scale must be redone. Scale manufacturers often include the necessary weights to reset the calibration on your scales.

To determine if your scales are weighing properly you must weigh something that you already know the weight of. You must know the precise weight of the item you are weighing down to the very last ounce.

Turn the digital scale on and don’t do anything until the scale displays 0.00 on the digital display screen. Once you see the 0.00 you are ready to place your item on the weighing platform and wait on the scale to make the measurement. Do not allow the item to move and do not move the scale during this process.

When you get the reading for the weight then you can compare it to the weight you know the item should have. If there is a variation in the weight the item should weigh and the one the scale displays you should repeat the weighing process at least twice more before you determine if your scale needs to be recalibrated. 

When you are measuring small amounts there is a higher probability of inaccurate readings than when you are weighing heavier objects.

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