Spice Grinders

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.

Plenty of people just love to cook. They have fun mixing different food ingredients and creating novel dishes with extraordinary flavors and presentations. Part of the fun comes from knowing that they have the right tools and appliances to concoct their specialties. When looking for the right tool for adding flavor to their dishes with salt, pepper, or other spices, the Carl Mertens Maestro Salt and Pepper Mills are definitely a good candidate.

The Carl Mertens Salt and Pepper Mills are a pair of very elegant hand-powered grinders that are not only great for the kitchen but for the dining table as well. These are made of tubular high-quality stainless steel with a satin finish. As the gleaming steel can sometimes be slippery to the touch, especially after handling oily food, the mills’ upper section is wrapped in leather providing a comfortable and secure hold. The leather wraps come in two colors –black and brown– so you can tell the salt from the pepper mill.

To help these tubes keep their balance, holders made of blocks of wood with holes drilled in their centers for the mills to stand on are provided. These are colored black and brown to match the leather covers.

The mills utilize ceramic grinders. These rust- and corrosion-free grinders do not generate heat that could adversely affect the taste of your spices. In addition to salt and pepper, the Carl Mertens mills can also grind other dried spices such as basil, garlic, dill, or chili.

Judging from the number of television programs and shows on cooking featuring hot and spicy food from all over the globe, chillis must be becoming popular. These fiery spices do leave a delicious tingling in the mouth, if you can handle the heat. And if you are a convert to the sizzling stuff, you will certainly appreciate Peugeot Vendome Chilli Mill Model 1845P.

The Vendome Chilli Mill is made of a clear acrylic tube topped with wood in either natural or chocolate color. With the transparent acrylic you can see if you are running out of the spice. The wood top houses the grinding mechanism that is constructed out of stainless steel. A ball nut perched on the grinder’s housing allows the adjustment of the consistency of the chilli. Before grinding, however, the mill first chops the spice to guarantee an even ground.

For an easy refill, the entire top can be removed. To keep the chilli fresh and to prevent the corrosion of the grinding mechanism, a special coating is applied inside the mill. Cleaning is easy as all you need is a damp cloth. In fact, it is not advisable to immerse it in water.

The Peugeot Vendome Chilli Mill Model 18450P stands 5½ inches with a diameter of 2 inches. At this size, it can hold a good amount of those blazing spices with sky high Scoville Heat Units or S.H.U.s.

Cooking tools that can perform dual functions are always a welcome addition to any kitchen, especially smaller kitchens. These minimize the number of tools lying around the counter or table. One fine specimen of these multi-function tools is the Tyler Florence Stainless Steel Dual Manual Spice Mill.

The Tyler Florence mill is a 7½-inch long cylinder with a diameter of 1¾ inches. Both ends of the cylinder are wrapped in brushed stainless steel casings. Within each of these two casings is a grinding mechanism making the mill a dual-ended grinder. Adjacent to each of the grinders are two clear plastic tubes containing the spices for grinding. The middle of the cylinder is another stainless steel band that joins the bottoms of the two grinders into a single piece of equipment. Caps are provided for both ends to cover the grinder. These keep the spices fresh, and prevent spillage as well as the entry of moisture.

The grinding mechanism consists of two ceramic grinders that can easily process a variety of spices such as peppercorns, sea salt, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, and different kinds of herbs. All you need to do is twist the mill and you can enjoy freshly ground spices. The grinders can also be adjusted to produce fine or coarse grounds simply by rotating a knob at the spout of the mill. Because the grinders are made of ceramic stones, they will neither rust nor corrode and will not generate heat, unlike steel grinders. Heat could damage some of the nutrients in the food.

Cole and Mason are known for their quality salt and pepper mills. The Oslo model is one more addition to their fine line of spice grinders that adorn so many kitchen and dining tables.

The Oslo Salt and Pepper Mills are made of brushed stainless steel and acrylic with a modern design. The stainless steel portion at the top of the mill houses the grinding mechanism.

For the salt mill, the mechanism consists of anti-static, corrosion-resistant, and clog-free nylon grinding teeth. As nylon is hard-wearing, the teeth remain sharp even after prolonged and continuous use. And as it is not porous, it neither absorbs nor retains odors.

The pepper mill, on the other hand, is made of stainless steel. It is also non-corrosive and can maintain its sharpness. The mill breaks the pepper corn to retain its pepperin oils instead of squeezing them out. This preserves the flavor and aroma of the ground pepper as the oils are not oxidized and dispersed into the air.

Both grinding mechanisms can be adjusted to produce fine or coarse grounds.

The Cole and Mason Oslo Salt and Pepper Mills stand at a height of 185 mm.

The Peugeot Fidji spice mill is an elegant combination of wood and metal that makes an attractive addition to any kitchen or dining table. This cylindrical mill tapers at the middle providing a good grip and an eye-catching form. You have four colors to choose from –black wood, natural wood, cherry wood, or red lacquer. In addition, you can also opt for a 15- or 20-cm tall mill.

A stainless steel dome tops the hardwood base of the mill. Within it is the grinding mechanism which consists of two differently-sized grooves. The larger grooves, called the Channeling grooves, line up the peppercorns for cracking. The smaller Grinding grooves pulverize the cracked pepper. This method guarantees that flavor is preserved.

Peugeot uses hardened steel for its pepper mills. This is because its sharp burrs last longer than those made of stainless steel. Although it can rust, pepper mills do not ordinarily come into contact with water which causes such corrosion. Salt, on the other hand, is corrosive. Thus, salt mills are made of stainless steel.

As an extra protection against corrosion, the grinding mechanism is treated with Physical Vapor Deposition or PVD. This is a form of atomic level surface treatment that is similar to electroplating. Unlike electroplating, however, it does not react chemically to food and is thus safe to use for spice grinders.

A knob at the top adjusts the consistency of your grounds. Rotating it counterclockwise loosens the nut giving you coarse grounds. Going the opposite direction gives finer grounds.

Refilling only requires the removal of the dome top, while cleaning should be done by hand. Be sure to thoroughly dry the mills especially the pepper mill.