Before I give up altogether - - - salt and pepper grinders

HurdyGurdy

Are there any decent ones out there?

I have tried just about every type and make going and the grinding mechanism just packs up after a couple of months.

I have tried the traditional wooden ones, acrylic ones, Cole and Mason ones with ceramic grinding mechanisms and the latest ones are electric ones. They worked fine, but the salt one just clogs up as the salt seems to be getting damp (I put a few grains of dry rice in my normal salt shakers which stops this happening, but don't know what to do with the grinder to stop it).

I am prepared to have one last shot at this, as I do like freshly milled pepper, so if anyone can make any suggestions or recommendations, I will be very grateful

ButterflyKisses

Are you grinding salt/pepper directly into your cooking? It might be steam from the hot food making the salt/pepper damp and clogging the mechanism. If so you could try grinding into your hand or onto a small plate first and sprinkling it in. Or are they kept in a cupboard near the hob? I've had the same cheapy ones from tesco (£5 for the pair) for years and not had a problem so they definitely don't need to be expensive to work.

lostinrates

I use a pestle and mortar for pepper now. Freshly ground, the mechanics that break done are just my body and it looks nice. Just takes moments for a few peppercorns. ( edit...I wipe it and don't wash it each time, someone more hygienic or purist about taste contamination might find this abhorrent )

meer53

It must be where you keep them. I've had the same salt and pepper mill now for about 8 years, use them daily, never have any clogging. Previous ones just wore out but they lasted just as long.

*zippy*

I've given up on then too, I just get the disposable ready filled ones as they are about a pound in aldi, home bargains etc

19lottie82

Maybe not what you are looking for but I use the disposable ones from aldi 79p

Richard53

We have an ancient wooden pepper mill with a brass grinding mechanism that has worked fine for years, with a bit of jiggling about occasionally. However, every salt grinder we have had has given up within a few weeks. It's not clogging or damp (we've done the rice grains thing too), it just seems to stop grinding.

On recommendation from a friend, last year we bought one from a local shop, which has worked faultlessly ever since. It was expensive (I think about £20) but it is very well made and well worth the money. Stainless steel body, clear perspex top, plastic mechanism. It is marked T&G Woodware, Bristol, England.

Highly recommended.

jackyann

start saving, or put them on your Xmas list, but these have lasted us 30 years and show no signs of wearing out. They also announce on them that they are made on the "3rd planet from the sun" which I (possibly sadly) find amazingly cool!

http://www.wmboundsltd.com/

This is the main (USA) site but you can buy them here

Caz3121

we have Peugeot ones I bought years ago in the Selfridges sale. They are great and expect them to last for many years to come

securityguy

There are good reasons to grind pepper freshly, as it tastes better. Pepper doesn't get damp and clog up, and if you're grinding pepper corns it doesn't need to be ground terribly fine, so it's easy to grind as well as being worthwhile.

There's no particular reason to grind salt, it gets damp, and often people want it ground finer than they would pepper. So it's both pointless and tricky to grind reliably.

So the simple solution is a pepper grinder and a salt shaker full of pre-milled salt of your choice.

I tend to stock up on "cinq baies" peppercorn and other stuff mix in French supermarkets, which comes in a disposable grinder.

gingin_2

Caz3121 wrote: »

we have Peugeot ones I bought years ago in the Selfridges sale. They are great and expect them to last for many years to come

Ditto. My husband likes to buy me practical kitchen gifts for christmas and this was one. They seem to be very sturdy and work very well.