How To Change A Kitchen Scale To Grams | Fast Step Guide

Switching a food scale to metric units takes seconds, and it saves time with recipes that call for precise weights. This guide gives clear steps for the most common layouts, brand quirks, and quick fixes when the display refuses to show grams. You’ll also learn what “tare” means, why grams remove guesswork, and how to keep readings steady.

Switch A Kitchen Scale To Grams: Quick Methods

Most models use a toggle labeled UNIT, MODE, or lb/kg. Tap it once to cycle through ounces, pounds-ounces, kilograms, and grams. Some units hide the switch on the base to prevent accidental taps during prep. Follow these steps that work on nearly every design:

1. Place the scale on a flat, hard surface and turn it on.
2. Look for a button labeled UNIT, MODE, lb/kg, or g/oz. If you see a slider on the base, check there.
3. Press the control until “g” appears. Many displays cycle in a loop, so keep tapping until grams return.
4. Tap TARE (or ZERO) to reset to 0 g before weighing ingredients in a bowl.

Brand-By-Brand Buttons And Locations

Button labels vary by brand. The table below lists common names and where to find them. If your model isn’t listed, the same logic still applies: look for a unit key near the display or a slider on the base.

Brand / Model	Unit Control Name	Typical Location
OXO Good Grips 11 lb	lb/kg or Unit	Top panel near display
OXO 6 lb Precision	Unit	Top panel next to timer
Escali Primo / 3840 series	MODE or g/oz	Right key on top
Taylor 3804 / 3851	UNIT or base switch	Top key or underside slider
Generic budget models	UNIT	Top or underside

Why Grams Make Cooking Easier

Grams remove guesswork. With 1 g steps, you can portion coffee, baking ingredients, and starter feeds with tight control. Cups vary by packing and brand, while grams give the same amount every time. Grams also speed up prep: drop items into a bowl and watch the display climb without counting scoops.

One note on wording: people often say “weigh,” though the science term is mass. In plain kitchen use, grams are the unit most recipes use for exact amounts. If you want the formal background on units, see the SI unit page for mass.

Where Manufacturers Hide The Unit Control

Design choices differ. Many scales place the unit key on the face for quick taps. Others keep a slider on the bottom to avoid changes mid-mix. If grams never appear, flip the device over, scan for a small switch marked oz/g or lb/kg, then toggle and return the scale to the counter.

Some models show a combined pounds-ounces readout (lb:oz). Keep pressing until the screen shows a single “g.” If you overshoot, just loop through again.

Exact Steps For Popular Models

Here are short, brand-specific sequences gathered from official manuals so you can move fast:

OXO Good Grips Food Scale

Turn the unit on. Press the lb/kg or Unit button to cycle through ounce, pound-ounce, kilogram, and gram. When you see “g,” stop and press TARE before the next ingredient. This comes straight from the printed booklet that ships with the 11 lb model and the 6 lb precision model.

Escali Digital Scales

Power on. Tap MODE or the g/oz key to pick grams. Many Escali units place this button to the right of the display. If your model has a volume feature, ignore it for weight-based recipes.

Taylor Kitchen Scales

Power on. Press UNIT on the face to rotate to grams. Certain units, such as slim models, use a small switch on the underside; slide it to “g.”

Care, Tare, And Stable Readings

A solid setup prevents drifting numbers. Keep these habits:

• Use a firm, level counter. Soft mats or open wire racks bend slightly and change readings.
• Tare the container before every ingredient. Zeroing removes the bowl’s weight and keeps totals tight.
• Center items on the platform. Off-center loads can read light on small sensors.
• Shield the display from steam. Hot vapor condenses and can fog the window or dampen the keypad.
• Insert fresh batteries when you see “LO” or dim segments.

Metric Vs Imperial In Everyday Recipes

Many cookbooks and coffee guides quote doses in grams for precision. You may still see imperial units on packaging. Your scale can show either, and switching on the fly helps when a recipe lists both. If you handle dough often, stick to grams during mixing, then switch to ounces for a quick size check during portioning.

Quick Calibration And Reset Tips

Consumer units rarely include full calibration routines, but you can keep readings tight with these steps:

1. Check 100 g using two sealed 50 g packets of salt or sugar; they’re close enough for a sanity check.
2. If the reading drifts, remove the batteries for a minute, reinstall, and retest.
3. Clean the platform gently and make sure nothing rubs against the feet.
4. If your manual lists a CAL mode, follow the steps with a known weight.

Troubleshooting When “G” Won’t Appear

Use the table below to isolate the issue fast.

Symptom	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
No grams option in the cycle	Hidden base switch set to imperial	Flip the scale and set the slider to g or kg/g
Units keep changing mid-mix	Accidental button taps on top panel	Move to a model with a base switch or lock control
Display shows lb:oz only	Still in imperial mode	Press UNIT until a single “g” shows
Numbers flicker or jump	Soft surface or vibration	Move to a stone or wood counter
Reads low on small items	Off-center placement	Center the item and retare
Buttons unresponsive	Moisture or low battery	Dry the keypad; replace batteries

When To Check The Manual

Some features live behind long-press shortcuts or base switches that aren’t obvious. If the device refuses to stay on grams, skim the official booklet for your model. For instance, OXO’s booklet states you can press lb/kg to switch between metric and imperial, and the brand’s precision model uses a Unit button by the timer. Escali guides mention a MODE or g/oz key. Taylor manuals point to a UNIT key, and a few models use a slider on the bottom; the brand hosts PDFs on its instruction manuals page.

If you’d like to see the source language, peek at the OXO booklet and the Escali instructions online. The OXO PDF describes the lb/kg button and unit switching, while Escali’s guide calls out MODE and g/oz selections. These references match what you’ll see on the physical keys.

Links To Official References

For formal measurement context, NIST explains SI units and the role of the kilogram and gram in daily measurement. You can read the definitions of SI units and the SI units: mass page. For brand specifics, OXO’s booklet describes the lb/kg button, and Escali’s manuals list MODE and g/oz as the gram selector.

Fast Recipes That Benefit From Gram Mode

Pour-Over Coffee

Use 15 g of ground coffee for each 250 g of water for a light cup. Tare the empty brewer and mug, add the coffee, tare again, then pour to target water weight.

Yeast Dough

Weigh flour, water, yeast, and salt in a bowl for repeatable results. Grams keep hydration steady from batch to batch. Tare between each addition and write your totals.

Buying Tips If Your Current Scale Lacks A Clear Gram Setting

Look for a front-facing unit key, a bright display you can read under a bowl, and quick tare. Ask these questions before you buy:

• Does it switch to grams with a single tap?
• Can I read the screen with a large pot on top?
• Does it offer 1 g steps and a 5 kg (11 lb) capacity?
• Are the buttons sealed against splashes?

Many budget models hit these marks. Keep changes simple.

Method Notes

The steps in this guide come from direct use with common consumer scales and cross-checks in brand manuals. OXO lists a lb/kg or Unit key in its booklets. Escali calls the gram selector MODE or g/oz depending on model. Taylor often names it UNIT, and some units use a bottom switch. These small differences explain why your scale might hide the control in a different spot, yet the core process stays the same.

Common Unit Labels And What They Mean

Most screens show short tags. “g” stands for grams, “kg” for kilograms, “oz” for ounces, and “lb:oz” for pounds with ounce fractions. Some models add “ml” for water-based liquids; that mode estimates volume from weight using a density of water, so it works for water and stock but not thick syrups or oils. For recipes that expect precise ratios, stick with grams.

Battery And Cleaning Tips

Scales run on coin cells or AA batteries. Weak power leads to sluggish or drifting numbers, so replace cells early. When you wipe the platform, keep liquid away from gaps around the display and keys. A damp microfiber cloth works well. Dry the feet so the unit sits flat. For glass tops, avoid abrasives. For plastic, use a mild dish soap solution and skip solvents. If you see fog under the window after steam, unplug the cells, let the device dry in open air, then reinstall and recheck grams mode.