Etekcity 22lb Food Nutrition Scale, Smart Calorie Calculator, Waterproof

Why it's worth it

This is the rare smart scale you can rinse under running water without killing it. It charges over USB instead of eating batteries, holds up to 22 pounds, and its VeSync app scans barcodes and hands your numbers off to Apple Health or Fitbit.

The waterproofing is the main reason to buy this one. Most kitchen scales are sealed just well enough to survive a damp cloth. This one carries an IPX6 rating, so you can rinse it under the tap after weighing raw chicken or sticky bread dough. That matters more than it sounds. A scale you can actually clean is a scale you'll keep using, instead of the one that lives in a cabinet with flour welded to the seams.

It charges over USB, so it won't quit on you mid-recipe. There's a lithium battery inside and a charging port on the body. You top it up every couple of months and stop thinking about it. If you've ever watched a low-battery symbol blink while your hands were covered in dough, you know the appeal. No digging through the junk drawer for AAAs that turn out to be dead too.

From our review of 10 smart kitchen scales, by Catherine Hayes, Senior Editor, Home & Appliances

What we like

• +The waterproofing is the main reason to buy this one
• +It charges over USB, so it won't quit on you mid-recipe
• +The range covers both ends of real cooking
• +VeSync is the most established app in this group

What to know

• –The app is only as good as the barcode you scan
• –The sealed buttons don't feel great
• –The display shows weight and nothing else