Let’s face it, salt and pepper are some of the most if not main important ingredients in every kitchen.
No matter how precise or exact you are in the mixing of herbs and spices, even if you are the world’s best chef, pepper and salt always make it into your good books not because they have anything spectacular but just because they are what they are “pepper and salt” always needed, always used and unavoidable.
So I think it should be worth your while if you could give these beautiful ingredients something that could make them more handy or appreciable for use.
In fact, this write-up is to help you uncover some of the best salt and pepper mills (or grinders if you wish) that you have out there in order to save you the stress of doing it yourself.
If you are used to the traditional salt and pepper shakers, upgrading to a salt and pepper mill might not be easy for you but, having an insight on the best salt and pepper mills should give you a smooth transition.
Let us go through some important things to take note of when getting your mill.
I. What should you look out for when choosing mills ?
1. Appearance
This goes a long way in deciding how long you will be making use of your mills, irrelevant as this may seem, it is better to go for a product that looks good to you while making use of it.
You have to know the exact purpose for which you are buying it, do you intend putting it in your dining room, or you prefer a product of more durability for more tedious grinding, answering these questions are just as important as going shopping.
A heavy pepper grinder with multiple functions and less attractiveness in looks will look a bit awkward on your dining table but, those multiple functions will be better appreciated in your kitchen.
Have an image in mind of the kind of style you are on the lookout for, this will make your search faster.
2. How handy is it?
Ok, this is very important, if you find it hard to sit through anything without getting up to pace around then you should totally avoid grinders that have small refill spaces, trust me.
You don’t want to have peppercorns falling all over in an attempt to prepare your mill for grinding.
Also, if you are a chef or cook that makes use of peppers and salt regularly then it is advisable you go for a grinder with a lot more grinding speed than one with less speed.
3. Can I adjust it easily ?
Some mills can easily be adjusted from coarse grinding to fine grinding with just a turn of the knob but some others require some screwing done, so if you know your cooking will require you to juggle the use of both coarse and fine pepper and salt most times then you should look for grinders that offer easy adjustments with no time taken, if that is not on your preference list, then you can go for a grinder that meets your other requirements.
4. Why not pre-grounded pepper ?
It will surprise you to know that pepper which has been ground and kept which is, of course, our regular pre-grounded pepper we get in the market is lower in flavour than the freshly ground one.
Grinding your pepper when you need to make use of it gives you the complete flavour and aroma that comes with the pepper, this is because no oxidation has taken place which is the opposite of what you get in pre-grounded pepper.
What is worse is that already ground pepper loses flavour as the day goes by and if you are unlucky enough to get the ones that have probably been on the shelf longer than three months, then be rest assured that you are purchasing pepper with little or no flavour left!
So if you really want to savour the freshness of your diet, you should make use of fresh pepper and you have a unique compilation of some really awesome salt and pepper mills to choose from right here.
II. Five unique salt and pepper grinders you should go for
1. Oxo pepper grinder
It is portable and you can adjust it to get the exact texture you want out of the pepper or salt. Imagine that! This grinder is a very fine option.
- Has an indicator to notify when it is time to refill.
- Easy grip.
- Easily adjustable.
- Comes filled with peppercorns.
- Cannot grind large grains to fine texture.
- Made with acrylic.
2. Lifestyle dynamics stainless steel salt and pepper grinder set
The features in this grinder are something worth noting, they are combined in such a way that the grinding of one doesn’t affect that of the other even though they both fit in one portable stainless steel casing.
And for us the lovers of freebies, it comes with a free recipe e-book. So go ahead, choose your recipe while grinding, multi-tasking in the kitchen is always fun.
- Sleek design.
- Comes in two styles.
- Grinds large salt crystals.
- Good refund policy.
- Some find their logo on the cap a deal breaker.
- Cannot be used for wet salt.
3. Oxo good grips lewis pepper mill
It also has a very wide clear door which makes it easy to detect when you reach the level of fineness or coarseness you want and makes it easy to refill, it is quite comfortable to use and affordable too.
- Doesn’t fall over.
- Easy grip.
- Easily adjustable.
- Not expensive.
- Lightweight.
- Has an old school look.
- No replacement for broken parts.
- Spills out particles once in a while.
- Too manual for some people.
- Slippery on wet or oily hands.
4. Premium stainless steel salt and pepper grinder set
For those who don’t like to get their spices mixed up, this is best for you, you don’t need to share the same mill for your salt and your pepper.
The grinder set also comes with five grinding levels! So you can get the exact level of coarseness or fineness you want to achieve any time without having to regrind or monitor your mill.
If you are one of those who are precise about the quantity and quality of seasoning you get at one grinding, you should go for this product.
- Five grinding levels.
- Easy grip.
- Modern style.
- Two for the price of one.
- Lightweight.
- Cap easily wears out.
- Feel a little cheap.
III. Conclusion
Using a salt and pepper mill can look a little inconveniencing at first but once you get used to it you won’t be able to resist using it. Also, ensure you have clarified your preference before going ahead to buy a grinding machine.
As stated earlier it can be quite frustrating to buy a piece of item you later find out does not fit your purpose. There are a lot of other lovely pepper and salt mills or grinders available on amazon so please dig in.
Apart from the obvious use of a salt and pepper mill a sleek and beautifully designed salt and pepper mill adds its own beauty to a well-set dining table.