Season Your Foods With the Best Salt and Pepper Grinders

How To Choose Salt and Pepper Grinders 

Type 

The type of salt and pepper mills is the first thing you should consider. You can choose between manual, electric, one-handed, two-handed, and two-in-one grinders. 

Manual grinders

These are the type of spice salt and pepper grinder that you commonly find around restaurants and stores. You twist these mills to grind the spices which are dispensed from the bottom. 

Electric grinders 

These types are a far more convenient, albeit expensive, kind of salt and pepper dispenser. They are great because they do all the grinding at the press of a button — you don’t need to do any twisting or turning. 

One-handed grinders

One-handed grinders come as a convenient and more flexible counterpart to a traditional two-handed spice grinder. They offer more mobility and help you save some valuable time. 

Two-handed grinders

Two-handed spice mills are the regular spice grinders that you already know about. These mills have proved their worth over the long period of time they have been around. 

Two-in-one grinders

These spice mills are gadgets that combine the two different types of mechanisms. They’ll have one on either side or will dispense salt when you twist in one direction and pepper when you twist in the opposite direction. 

Grinder material 

Salt and pepper grinders are available in a vast range of materials, from simple to fancy and light to heavy. Some are crafted using natural materials, others are made with synthetic materials. Common examples of the materials used are:

Wood

Wood is a sturdy and durable material for spice mills because it does not break when dropped or banged around the kitchen. That said, wooden salt and pepper grinders are a bit difficult to maintain when compared to other materials. 

Acrylic or plastic

Both these materials are synthetic, yet are very durable and easy to clean. They are lightweight and come in a wide range of colors — some even boast stainless steel accents for a stylish, more modern look. 

Metal

Metallic spice mills are the sturdiest when it comes to durability, but their weight makes them trickier to use. Copper, aluminum, and steel grinders definitely add some shine to your kitchen, but they are also susceptible to rust. 

Burr material

You also have to think about the material of the burr used for grinding the spices. Nylon, steel, and ceramic are the most commonly used materials for the grinding mechanism. 

Nylon

These grinding mechanisms are generally used for salt because of the material’s corrosion resistance. Unfortunately, it does lack in terms of durability when compared to other materials. 

Steel

Steel burrs are ideal for grinding peppercorns. They are durable, efficient, and they grind the driest of spices with the slightest twist. That said, they may corrode when used for grinding salt. 

Ceramic

You may call ceramic the best of all three materials because it is sharp, durable, and corrosion-resistant. Spice mills with ceramic grinding mechanisms can be used for both salt and pepper. 

Size and shape 

Some users love the tall, wooden style of classic spice grinders. Others prefer them small and more modern. You should look at both options and choose the one that best meets your personal preferences. 

Capacity

The capacity of salt and pepper grinders may not be a big concern for most home chefs. But if you are purchasing the set for a restaurant or catering setup, you’ll have to prioritize something with a bigger capacity. 

These mills start from ⅛ cup and go up all the way to 1½ cup in terms of capacity. Think about how much you use these spices and choose accordingly. After all, you don’t want to end up with a large unit with spices losing flavor as they sit inside it for a long time. 

Coarseness setting 

This is an important consideration when you want to control how fine or coarse the seasonings should be. Most salt and pepper grinders allow you to switch between coarse and fine settings, while some also have a medium setting. Then, there are a few models that let you choose between different levels of coarseness so you can season everything from steaks to stews and French fries. You should consider the type of dishes you create before settling on a particular option. 

Care and Maintenance: Salt and Pepper Grinders 

The care and maintenance of these grinders involve a good amount of attention, especially when you are cleaning their grinding mechanism. 

You should never dunk your salt and pepper mills in water or place them in a dishwasher. Instead, you should carefully clean each component with a clean, wet towel and dry them with another cloth. Additionally, never use harsh detergents, alcohol, or any abrasives while cleaning these grinders, and avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures.