Recipe Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Scones & Review Heston Blumental Precision Scales

Review of Heston Blumental Precision Orb Electronic Scales. I have been using these scales for over a month, kindly sent by Salter they have now replaced some old electronic scales I had, which would lose their battery power without warning at critical times during baking! 

Easy to use and clear display Orb Electronic
 scales from Salter

The Heston Blumental Precision Orb Electronic Scales are made from black plastic with a large electronic display trimmed in chrome style, complete with a 1.5 litre stainless steel measuring bowl.

The Precision Orb Electronic Scales have a number of features  - an add and weigh function which allows you to weigh multiple ingredients in the same bowl.  Aquatronic function for measuring liquids in either ml or fl oz. A lovely large and clear backlight LCD digital display. 

Shiny measuring bowl

There is a neat little feature with these scales, swapping between measurement types. Now, this often happens to me:- you turn the scales on, start pouring in your sugar look at the reading and realise it is displayed in ozs when your recipe is in grams. With my old scales I would have to empty the sugar back into the bag, and press the button on the scales for grams and start again. But no these scales are clever, leave your sugar in the measuring bowl and just press the grams button it will automatically convert the display to the grams measurement! Carry on measuring out your sugar.

I love… 

• Mesmerised by a bowl - there is just some thing about the stainless steel measuring bowl, its look, its feel. The way the sugar or flour glides out into your mixing bowl. Daft of me I know, but I was really taken with it. Oh and its lightweight too.
• No disappearing display - if the scales display is showing zero the scales will automatically turn off after 1 minute. However it will turn off after 3 minutes if the display shows the same weight reading. Giving you that leeway to get the next bag of flour out of the cupboard, to make up the rest of your ingredients. 
• Weighing liquids - this worked perfectly when making my scones. No need to get a clean measuring jug out of the cupboard, just push the on/off/reset button and then press ml/fl oz button and slowly pour in your milk - perfect!
• Big, bold display -  the displaying digits are very clear to read, easy to reset. 

 Could do better…

• Made in china - whenever I see this on an item my heart sinks, all those miles of travel. 
• Brighter - would love to see the scales in a choice of colours, that you could co-ordinate with other equipment in the range such as the adjustable rolling pin. 

Perfect for…

• A great gift for a novice or accomplished baker.
• Younger bakers, during one of my 7 year old nieces visits she made a cake, and needed no help at all in using the scales. Very straight forward even a child can use them. 

The important stuff… 

• Comes with a whopping 15 year guarantee.
• Comes with 3 x AAA batteries
• Max weight x resolutions: 5kg x 1g, 11lb x 1/8oz, 5000ml x 1ml, 175fl.oz x 1/8fl.oz
• Product dimensions: 23.1 x 23.1 x 22.7cm
• The stainless steel measuring bowl is dishwasher daft
• In a presentation box 
• RRP £39.99

Below is my recipe to make Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chip Scones, I used the the Heston Blumental Precision Orb Electronic Scales to make this recipe including measuring the milk.

Recipe Cranberry and Dark Chocolate Chip Scones 

Equipment

• bowl or electronic food mixer
• scales  
• 2 1/4 inch crinkle end pastry cutter 
• baking sheet
• pastry brush

Ingredients

makes 9

8oz self raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
2oz butter
150 ml milk1 oz dried cranberries
1 oz dark chocolate drops
extra flour for rolling out
extra milk for glazing

• Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Rub the butter into the flour with your finger tips, until it resembles breadcrumbs. Or use an electric mixer.
• Add and briefly mix in the cranberries and chocolate chips.
• Add all the milk, and mix to a soft sticky dough, using either your hands or your electric mixer.
• Turn out onto a well floured work surface. I don't roll my dough out I use my hands to gentle flatten the dough to about 1/2 inch thick.
• Cut into 9 rounds using the 2 1/4 inch crinkle cutter.
• Place on a baking sheet and glace with milk.

Bake at 220 degrees or gas mark 8 for 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

These scones were nice either warm from the oven or cold.

Other scone recipes you may like to try:-

• Orange and Chocolate Chip Scones
• Cherry Scones

Salter sent me these scales for the purpose of this review.

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Labels: baking equipment , recipe , review , scones