Spice Grinders

Leaving guns and bullets lying around the house is a huge no-no. This is especially true if there are children who may get curious and play with them. However, you can make it appear like you have them sitting on your kitchen counter or worktop with an Astra Easy Grind Revolver Bullet Cylinder Spice Herb Grinder.

The Astra spice herb grinder is designed to look like a real revolver cylinder, complete with six bullets inside and six grooves outside. The cylinder is finished with chrome while the bullet heads and rims are in gold, making it look quite shiny. With a diameter of 1? inches and height of 1¾, it looks like the real thing. Once you get it in your hands, though, you’ll realize it is not because it weighs a mere 126 grams, about the weight of six caliber .44 magnum bullets without the cylinder.

Made of sturdy metal and 26 sharp pyramid teeth, the grinder shreds spice herbs into small pieces. It consists of three parts. The bottom section, where the faux bullet rims are, has 12 of the teeth, while the middle has 14. When these two are attached together with herbs inside them and twisted, the teeth, passing closely with each other, tear and grind the herbs giving them a fluffy texture. The ground herbs are then transferred to the third section for storage, waiting to be mixed with your food.

The Astra Easy Grind Revolver Bullet Cylinder Spice Herb Grinder comes with a gift box, making it a perfect gift for your friends who are card-carrying members of the NRA.

Manual spice grinders continue to be very popular with many cooks and diners in spite of the so many battery-powered versions available in the market today. Perhaps there is a sense of nostalgia in using the same kind of simple machine their parents used, or maybe they just want to limit their carbon footprint. Among the more popular manual grinders is the Kuhn Rikon Classic Salt, Pepper, and Spice Ceramic Grinder.

With the grinder’s cylindrical shape that broadens at the top, it looks very much like a juice glass. Indeed, with a diameter of 2.5 inches and height of 5.8, it even has a similar size. Unlike a juice glass, however, it is covered with a screw-on lid. Right in the middle of the lid a shaft rises, turns at a right angle, and another upward right angle. This forms the crank that rotates the grinding mechanism inside the cylinder.

The upper half of the grinder holds the spices for processing. Because the grinder is sealed, you can fill it with your spice without worrying about spilling or contamination. The lower half contains the grinding mechanism. This consists of ceramic grinders that are tough and sharp, and will stay sharp for the life of the grinder. This is because ceramic materials are impervious to rust and corrosion even in the face of such a highly corrosive substance as salt. The grinder also resists clumping of the salt, and keeps it dry.

The consistency of the grounds can be adjusted from very fine to coarse by rotating the large dial at the bottom of the grinder. This design eliminates the common problem of manual grinders where the setting of the grind size changes as the crank is rotated.

The casing of the Kuhn Rikon Classic Salt, Pepper, and Spice Ceramic Grinder comes in six variations. Three have solid colors –red, black, and white. The other three are mostly clear with red, black, and white highlights.

Fishing is a great sport and pastime. It gives you time to think as you calmly wait for a bite. That calm, though, is quickly transformed to excitement once you begin to feel the tugging of a fish. You will have to be careful reeling in your catch, especially if it is big. Once you haul it in, get it cleaned up, and ready for cooking, you will need a set of Galleyware Ocean Reel Salt and Pepper Mills to make the fish taste even better.

Obviously designed for boaters and fishers, the Reel Salt and Pepper Mills, look like baitcast fishing reels. In fact, even their finish resembles that of some baitcasters that even experienced boat and fishing aficionados may need to take a second look to be sure.

The mill comprises a transparent jar that is encased in a round anodized aluminum top and bottom. These are joined by stainless steel tubes. An aluminum bracket is also fastened to the top and bottom. At the top of the mill is the grinder crankshaft that simulates the look of a fishing reel’s handle. A tubular handle is at the end of the shaft for a comfortable hold while grinding. All parts of the mill are marine-grade, designed to resist the corrosive effects of sea air.

Inside the mill is a state-of-the-art grinding mechanism crafted from ceramic. This means it is impervious to rust, just like the mill’s external parts. Ceramic grinders remain sharp throughout the life of the mill.

You need not have your own boat with a kitchen to enjoy a set of Galleyware Ocean Reel Salt and Pepper Mills. You may not even be into fishing. The salt and pepper mills, because of their design, shiny anodized aluminum and stainless steel parts, and clear jar, are attractive additions to any kitchen or dining table, including those on terra firma.

It is sometimes said that the best things come in pairs, like hugs and kisses, kittens and puppies, and cake and ice cream. We might also add salt and pepper. Indeed, there are restaurants all over the world named Salt and Pepper, from Canada to the Philippines, and from the United States to Dubai. The pairing of these two spices dates back to 17th century French cuisine. Pepper was a favorite because the French chefs believe it to be the only spice that did not alter the real taste of food. And if we are adding salt and pepper to the best things, we can also include the Williams-Sonoma Chrome Twist Salt and Pepper Grinders.

The grinders are of a cylindrical construction made of acrylic with both ends capped in chrome plugs. The acrylic looks very much like glass giving you a clear view of its contents thus you won’t need to open it to check if it needs refilling. Although it looks like glass, it is actually clearer, stronger, and more resistant to impact and breakage.

The top and bottom plugs are made of steel for strength and durability. They are chromed to a mirror-like shine that, combined with the clear acrylic, give them an elegant look. With this, the Williams-Sonoma Chrome Twist Salt and Pepper Grinders are as much at home in your kitchen as they are on your dining table.

Within the top lid is a stainless steel grinding mechanism that is activated with a chromed crank. It can be adjusted to grind the salt or pepper according to your desired consistency. With the Williams-Sonoma grinders, you are assured that the spice grounds are of uniform size and texture, providing you with flavor and aroma that can only come from freshly ground rock salt and peppercorns.

The Twist Grinders stand four-and-a-half inches high.

The blending of acrylic and stainless steel, and the simple no frills design of the Peugeot Daman U’Select Salt and Pepper Mills Set lend it a contemporary character. This makes the set better suited for the dining table rather than the kitchen where only the cook can appreciate its elegance.

The mills are cylindrical and are wider at their bases for greater stability. They taper at the center and widen slightly at the top thus improving your grip on it. Salt, or pepper, is contained in an impact-resistant acrylic tube that rests on a stainless steel base. As acrylic is as clear as glass, its contents are quite visible letting you know when a refill is due. It is topped by a magnetized stopper which greatly facilitates refilling.

Inside the stainless steel bases of the mills are the grinding mechanisms. Peugeot uses different grinding mechanisms for different spices. They are, however, all designed to maximize the extraction of the flavor and aroma from them. In the case of the pepper mill, its grinder is made of case-hardened steel making it extremely resistant to wear and corrosion. Helix-shaped claws arranged in two rows first crack the peppercorns before grinding them to your desired texture.

The patented U’Select grind installed at the bottom of the mills provides six pre-set positions for the consistency of the grounds, ranging from coarse for flavoring the food in the pan to fine for seasoning the food on your plate. You can choose a setting in between the pre-sets though. All you need to do is rotate the ring on the bottom of the mill.

The Peugeot Daman U’Select Salt and Pepper Mill Set comes in two sizes –6.2 and 8.2 inches high. Both, however, have the same 2.6 inches diameter.

Imagine a rabbit’s head sitting on your kitchen worktop but instead of a pair of eyes staring at you and an elongated snout, the long ears are attached to a crystal ball containing white salt and black peppercorns. That is a Chef’n Dual PepperBall.

The Dual PepperBall has a vertical partition in the middle with one for salt and the other for pepper eliminating the need for two separate spice grinders. All you need to do is twist the rabbit ears to choose which spice you want to pour. The Dual PepperBall uses a ceramic rasp for grinding the salt while a zinc rasp is used for peppercorns. This is because salt tends to corrode metals. The use of ceramics, therefore, prolongs the serviceable life of the grinder. Also, salt is softer and easier to grind than peppercorns making ceramics suitable for the job.

Squeeze the rabbit ear-like handles and your chosen spice comes pouring out from the bottom of the grinder. This can be done with a single hand freeing the other to stir the spice into the food. Owing to their ergonomic design which precisely fits the curves of your palms, the registered Savvygrip handles are comfortable to work with. The Grindtune feature allows you to choose the consistency and texture of your grounds from five settings ranging from coarse to fine.

As the salt and pepper are clearly visible, you will know exactly when to refill your grinder. This is easily done by removing its twist-off base. For even more convenience, and to avoid spilling the refills on the countertop, use Chef’n's Spicestros salt and pepper refills. These are specifically designed to fit with the aperture of Dual PepperBalls.

The rabbit ear handles and base of the Chef’n Dual PepperBall salt and peppercorn grinder come in black, a combination of black and white, and a combination of green and white. It stands 7 inches with the ball having a diameter of a shade less than 4 inches.

Salt and pepper are the most common condiments you find on American dining tables. This, however, is not an American original. It was borrowed from French cuisine and it dates back to the 17th Century. Since freshly ground salt and pepper are usually better than the pre-ground kind, grinders are often found in better-equipped kitchens and even dining rooms. Some have two grinders, one for salt, and another for pepper. Others prefer a single grinder with separate compartments for the two condiments, like the KitchenArt Dual-Ended Salt and Pepper Grinders.

The grinder consists of a cylinder made of clear acrylic plastic that is divided into two compartments. This partition slants from on one side of the cylinder to the opposite side. The salt and pepper are clearly visible so you won’t have to worry about running out of fresh salt or peppercorns.

On both ends are the plastic housings for the grinding mechanisms. They are of the same size as the clear plastic where they are connected, but they widen as they extend to the tip where the holes are. A knob mounted at the tip allows you to adjust the size of the grounds. You can have both of these housings in silver, or one in white for the salt and the other in black for the pepper.

The grinding mechanisms are made of ceramic stones that are self-sharpening and totally rust-free. Maintenance, therefore, is at a minimum. Further, ceramic grinders do not generate heat that could spoil the taste of your spices.

By simply flipping over the KitchenArt Dual-Ended Salt and Pepper Grinders, you can switch from salt to pepper and back. Rotate the grinding mechanism housing and your fresh spice will immediately pour. At its widest point, it has a diameter of 2.8 inches, while its height is 8 inches.

Looking like an ancient oil lamp at a quick first glance, it evokes images of Aladdin in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. However, it is not lamp, and it is definitely not ancient. In fact, it is a modern kitchen appliance, a Trudeau One-Hand Peppermill Model 0713000, that every cook is sure to appreciate.

What looks like a lamp nozzle out of which flame burns is actually an ergonomic lever that activates a grinding mechanism. It is attached to the upper section of the acrylic body of the peppermill which houses the grinders. The lower part, made of clear transparent plastic, holds peppercorns.

The upper section is contoured to fit the palm keeping pressure off the thumb web as the fingers reach for the grinding lever to squeeze it. With this kind of hold, the other hand is free to stir the food as ground pepper, or other spices, rain on it. The grinding mechanism consists of ceramic grinders that are slightly harder than carbon steel.

An edge over steel grinders is that ceramics are impervious to rust. It is for this reason that the Trudeau One-Hand Peppermill can be used to pour freshly ground pepper over a steaming pot of meat or seafood stew. It is also for the same reason that the mill can be used to grind salt crystals. In addition to peppercorn and salt crystals, the mill can also handle other spices and herbs such as coriander and fennel seeds, anise, or basil.

Another advantage of ceramic grinders is that they do not generate heat that could adversely affect the spices and herbs. There is also no need to sharpen them as they are self-sharpening.

The mill is available in four finishes –stainless steel, red, yellow, and brown. It is 8.8 inches tall with a diameter of 2.2 inches at its widest.

It is claimed that every day, in 18-second intervals, someone in the world buys an Olde Thompson pepper mill. If the products of Olde Thompson are any indication if this claim is true, perhaps there may be some grain of truth in it. This is because their pepper mills and salt shakers, as well as disposable spice grinders, are indeed excellent products providing you with the freshly ground peppers and spices at the consistencies you desire.

The company has more than 150 different designs of peppermills and salt shakers that are made of plastic, metal, wood, or any combination thereof. Among them is the Olde Thompson Bombay Combo Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker.

The Bombay Combo is made of clear acrylic and chromed plastic. It is a 7-inch tall cylinder that tapers in its middle section. The top and bottom portions have 2.5-inch diameters, the latter intended to provide a solid and stable base to the device.

This is also where the carbon steel grinding mechanism is housed. It is fully adjustable allowing you to choose the consistency and texture of your pepper grounds. A knob at the top adjusts and activates it, while the grounds fall from the bottom.

Immediately above the chromed plastic bottom is an acrylic section where the whole peppercorns are kept. Since it is clear, you can see if you need to replenish the spices.

Above the acrylic peppercorn container is the salt shaker. Like the peppercorn section, it is also made partly of chromed plastic and acrylic sections. The former is at its lower end, abutting the acrylic peppercorn container, and joins the latter in an angle giving the shaker an attractive style. Salt comes from this top acrylic.

Ina Garten consistently uses the PepperMate Pepper and Spice Mill in her show, the Barefoot Contessa. Rachael Ray, in an earlier issue of her magazine Everyday with Rachel Ray, featured the mill ranking it as one of the top five. Paula Deen, the restaurateur, author, and TV personality, loves it. If these celebrity cooks use and are familiar with the PepperMate Pepper and Spice Mill, there must be something good about it.

Made of impact resistant plastic the pepper and spice mill is a sturdy kitchen tool that lasts. It is shaped like an ellipse whose long sides are flattened. It has a knob mounted on the side which operates the grinders. These are made of ceramic stones that do not generate heat when operated, thus they will not adversely affect the taste and aroma of your grounds.

The size of the grounds is fully adjustable from super fine to coarse. Once you have set the mill to the desired texture, you can be sure of consistent and even grounds as the adjustment does not change until reset to a different setting.

The top lid is a snap-off kind which opens to a 2.5″ x 1.5″ hole that reduces the possibility of spilling peppercorns or other spices while filling the mill. At the base is a clear cup that catches the grounds. This is useful if you need to measure the amount of spices you want. Otherwise, you can simply detach the cup and pour the grounds directly into your food.

In addition to pepper, the PepperMate Pepper and Spice Mill can also grind other spices such as salt and nutmeg and any other spice up to the size of a coffee bean.

The mill is available in three colors –black, white, and aqua. It is 3¼” long, 1½” wide and 5½” tall.