What Does "Tare" Mean on a Food Scale?

What is the difference between taring and zeroing a scale? Both set the scale to zero, enabling you to take a new measurement, but they aren't exactly the same. Calibrating a scale is completely different from both zeroing and taring, as well. If you've recently purchased a kitchen scale to keep better track of your ingredients, these terms may all seem interchangeable, but the differences are both simple and important.¹

• Zeroing tells your scale that nothing is on the weighing plate.
• Taring tells your scale to ignore what is currently on the weighing plate.
• Calibrating compares a known weight with the scales measurement to check for accuracy.

Each of the three has a distinct purpose that can help ensure your scale yields accurate results when you need them. We'll go over taring vs calibrating vs zeroing below to expand on when you'll want to use each function.

What is Zeroing?

Zeroing a scale (by pressing the "zero" button) tells the scale that there is nothing on the balance and to reset the measurement to zero. This function is usually performed before each use of the scale and takes into account any dust, debris, or change in the weighing plate. Over time, the balance of a scale will change very slightly and you'll need to recalibrate periodically, but in between calibrations, zeroing a scale gives you a neutral starting point from which to weigh your ingredients.

Operators should zero the scale before using it every day or if the reading of an empty scale strays from zero.

What is Taring?

Taring a scale (pressing the "tare" button) serves a different function from zeroing the scale. Taring is used to exclude a measurement from the total weight given by the scale. Most commonly, this function is used to negate the weight of a container on the scale. If you put a measuring cup on the scale, hit tare, and then fill the measuring cup with an ingredient, the scale will only display the weight of the ingredient in the cup.

While zeroing can be used in place of taring, many scales have functions that work around taring but won't function with zeroing. Taring can be useful if you need multiple measurements in one vessel, as you can tare again after adding the first ingredient. Some scales can keep up with multiple tarings and display the weight of multiple ingredients. If you're measuring out multiple instances of the same ingredient, taring the weight of the measuring cup can help streamline the process. If your scale has both a tare and a zero button, it probably has features that can take advantage of tracking a tare.

What is Calibrating?

Calibrating a scale is different from zeroing or taring because calibrating is more of a maintenance procedure than part of using the scale. Both digital and mechanical scales will become less accurate over time, and regular calibration can reset them to their original accuracy. Often, calibration involves placing a very precise weight on the scale and using a calibrate button to tell the scale how much weight is on the plate. Digital scales can then recalibrate themselves to this known quantity, restoring their accuracy. The exact method for calibrating the scale will differ depending on the manufacturer and style of scale you have, so we won't cover that here. Consult the product manual that came with your scale for more information on how to ensure your scale is calibrated correctly.

Summary: What Does "Tare" Mean?

• Taring a scale is telling the scale to start a new measurement from whatever the current weigh point is.
• Zeroing a scale tells the scale that nothing is on it and to reset to zero.
• Calibrating a scale refreshes the scale's accuracy by measuring against a known weight.

Sources

1. How to Use a Kitchen Scale. Smitten Kitchen. Accessed February 2024.