A couple of years ago I got a spice grinder IKEA 365+ IGERDIG. I don’t like semi-finished products and ready-made takeaway food, so I have to cook something tasty and not take long.

Ready-made spice mixtures from the store are not so interesting; they are mostly made from cheap ingredients in incomprehensible proportions and you can’t always guess the quality. The last time I took the seasoning “Mix for Chicken” - the composition turned out to be 90% Curry, and there was a small amount of the rest of the herbs from the list on the packaging. Did not like.

Spice grinder:

I watched a lot different options in other stores they are either made of plastic or wood and the contents are not visible. Prices are several times higher, so we couldn’t find anything better than a manual spice grinder from Ikea.

It has a transparent glass jar with a screwed top containing ceramic millstones. All parts of the “grater” are disassembled and easy to wash.

Grind pepper at home:

It allows you not only to put together a mixture that suits your favorite dish the right proportions, but also gives a brighter aroma, thanks to fresh grinding, directly during cooking. I like it ready mix 5 peppercorns or 4 Kotanyi peppers - not expensive and the composition is aromatic.

Before grinding the pepper, you can select the degree of grinding by adjusting clamping mechanism in the lid.

Price: 200 rubles

Vendor code: 303.751.39

Result:

You can always collect spice mixtures to taste, you can collect them from the same store bags with whole grains and dried flowers. This saves money and the cat is no longer in the poke.

Advice:how to make spices

It is easier to buy ready-made, but tastier, spices - those that do not contain dyes or flavor enhancers.

It’s quite possible to assemble the composition of spices yourself from what you grew in your dacha. Chop the garlic, dry it on a viscose rag (preferably on a heating radiator for 2 days), and dry it there hot peppers Chili and carrots. After which, it is chopped with a knife and mixed with coriander seeds.

The manual pepper mill is a tribute to modernity, since each modern woman and even male chefs strive to use this thing on kitchen to achieve the spicy aroma and taste of every dish.

For more than 100 years, housewives and seasoned chefs have been using this. Indeed, it is indispensable in every kitchen. This causes the demand for it to grow day by day. What could be more aromatic and uplifting than a handful of allspice or crushed salt? All these elements are designed to give each prepared dish an incredible taste and aroma. In this regard, numerous products called “manual pepper mills” began to enjoy popularity.

Features of modern products

Pepper and salt mills are devices equipped with protection against the harmful effects of salt. They are created using specially developed technology. Often metal processing carried out for all elements. When choosing a product, you should pay attention to several points that play an important role in overall quality of this kitchen attribute.

Case device as main criterion selection

Typically the body is made from of stainless steel, wood and acrylic. Each material is interesting in its own way and is characterized by some features:

• If it is colored or ordinary acrylic, appearance will be bright, and your product will turn from a functional attribute into a real one kitchen interior decoration. It is easy to clean with a damp cloth and also has the ability to control the spices inside the mill.

• A win-win option is also. The mill in a steel casing is durable, strong and practical. You can also note its ease of use.

• Wood is a material that is pleasant to the touch. This classic choice for those who prefer traditional conservative materials for accessories. You can choose products enclosed in a case made of varnished or matte material.

A manual pepper grinder, which is easy to buy, can be purchased at many stores. It will become a real lifesaver when preparing various dishes.

Drive type of product design

This is another criterion that plays an important role in the selection process. Traditionally popular handmade product, equipped with a special mechanism. By turning the entire mechanism you will be able to force the teeth to grind spices, as well as control the portions of seasonings and their grinding mixtures. But thanks electrical device you don't have to spend a lot of time preparing dishes. The products are usually started with a light touch of the hand, and during operation they do not take up much space.

Functioning of the mill mechanism

There are two traditional varieties of this type of product, and you need to pay special attention to them.

• Models equipped with plastic millstones or knives are popular. They are easy to use and easy to clean.
• Most popular in Lately are mills with a stainless steel mechanism, . They are durable and 100% safe to use.

A manual salt and pepper mill is a special structure, the selection of which requires special attention.

Benefits of Using a Pepper Mill

Previously, this kitchen accessory was more in demand in restaurants, but today it is often used in household, serves an indispensable assistant for preparing flavorful dishes with unique taste. Home-ground spices are so fresh they have best scents, unlike those purchased in stores. Therefore, it will not be difficult for you to choose a whole bouquet of spices for the dishes that you put on the table. There are several positive aspects of using this accessory:

• 100% confidence in the quality of the product. When buying a product in a store, you cannot be sure of its decent quality and taste;
• There is always a fresh and natural product on your table, so the product is suitable for people who care about the quality of their nutrition;
• Cooking peppers is an enjoyable process that makes you feel like a real creator;
• Cooking peppers by hand is always cheaper than buying them finished product, because unground pepper has a better price.

A manual pepper mill can be purchased freely at an affordable price.

Varieties of products according to different criteria

There are several types of options for home use on sale today:

• Disposable mill with spices inside. The advantages are their low price, which is why such mills are in demand and popular. These products may contain peas, herbs, salt and sugar. Traditionally, a disposable mill is a small container, not exceeding 10 cm in size. To put it into operation, just twist the lid a little.

• Reusable product. Traditionally everything similar models equipped with the same design. It includes several basic elements in the form of a container for storing spices, a millstone, and a container in which cooked foods are placed. This could be a model universal type with or without handle. Manufacturing materials are offered in a wide range - ceramics, metal, wood, glass.

A manual wooden pepper mill or a product made from another material is always stylish, interesting and prestigious. You just need to ensure a competent approach to its selection and use - and the aromatic spices will certainly delight you. A competent approach to preparing dishes with such spices is the key to their good taste and aroma qualities. Your choice should be based strictly on personal preference.

Pepper and salt mill is necessary thing in the kitchen? Housewives and cooks who love and understand the intricacies of cooking will answer the question in the affirmative. Grinding aromatic seasonings with your own hands gives you confidence in the authenticity of the product and makes dishes especially tasty.

It would seem that stores are replete with an assortment of seasonings, why waste time making them? There are reasons.

1. Confidence in the naturalness of the product. Sophisticated manufacturers often mix cheaper ingredients into real spices - herbal dust or ground husks.
2. The freshness of the product means the food tastes good and also saves money. You will need less spices.
3. The process itself is enjoyable. This is a kind of ritual that gives a feeling of culinary magic.
4. Decorative effect. Among the huge selection of mills, you will find one that matches your kitchen design. It can become a nice detail and decoration.

There are several types of mills:

• disposable;
• manual (mechanical);
• electric.

Disposable - require minimal effort. The mixture is already poured into them. After grinding them, the device is thrown away. Made from plastic or glass. Hand mills have an opening top part, required quantity seasonings are poured there independently. The design is varied. They can be glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Electric ones are the most durable, have complex design and a set of additional functions.

How it works, selection criteria when purchasing

Before you start choosing a mill for a mill, it’s a good idea to understand its structure and operating principle. Both mechanical and electric pepper mills have a similar design. It consists of:

• containers in which spices are stored;
• millstones;
• container into which the ground mixture falls.

A hand mill can be equipped with a handle. As a rule, it looks aesthetically pleasing, has interesting design. The principle of operation is to “scroll” the upper half of the body to grind spices with millstones.

The electrical device is equipped with a start button and runs on a battery or rechargeable battery. Advantages: fast speed with minimal manual labor, the ability to select the degree of grinding (the parameter is set on a special scale).

When choosing a mill, it is important to find out the material from which the millstones are made. If it is plastic, the device will fail very quickly. Ideal if the millstones are metal.

Attention! It is not advisable to choose a mill with a wooden body. Wood absorbs aromas; after several “grindings,” the smell of the next spice mixture will be questionable.

How to turn a disposable mill into a reusable one

If you don’t want to buy a ready-made pepper mill, make your own. The first way is to turn a disposable mill into a reusable one. The second is to carve it from wood, providing it with a grinding mechanism.

The first option is quite simple. First you need to cut the ring securing top cover housings. Actually, this part contains the millstones. Next, you need to carefully remove the upper part of the mechanism. The container opens into which you can add the desired seasonings for grinding. It is difficult to answer exactly how long such a mill will last. It all depends on the strength of the millstones. Although you can’t count on durability, because the mechanism is usually plastic.

Attention! The holder ring can be removed without cutting if you hold the upper part of the mill under boiling water.

DIY mill

Making a mill using the second method will not be difficult for craftsmen who have the skills to work on lathe. It can be carved in the form of a pyramid, flask or matryoshka doll, just use your imagination. The same thing with size - the longer the intended mill, the more seasonings can be placed in it.

The internal parts that make up the mechanism are available in online stores. You will need:

• several rings;
• springs;
• kernel.

Advice. To speed up the manufacture of the mill, the size of the body is selected taking into account the length of the rod.

You can also make your own electric spice grinder. Of course, it will look worse in terms of design, but it will be much more reliable. What is needed for production?

1. Take manual frezer- it will serve as a working mechanism.
2. Attach a 1 liter jar to the base of the router; the lid must be screwed on.
3. Make a hole in the lid and insert the rod there. Its role will be played by a steel bolt with thread.
4. Knives are made from small steel plates. Secure them together crosswise.
5. Seal the cover with a rubber gasket.

A pepper mill is a nice and practical item among kitchen utensils. And dishes seasoned with fragrant fresh spices are especially aromatic and tasty.

Do you buy already ground spices or use a mill?

Spice grinder: video

Without spices and herbs, our food would be bland and tasteless. They make dishes more appetizing, improve our digestion and lift our mood. You can buy it in stores now crushed spices or special jars with a built-in chopper. In such containers, the contents retain their taste and aroma for a long time; you just need to rotate the device over the dish, and the spices will be evenly distributed.

Unfortunately, the manufacturers did not plan for multiple uses spice grinders. Due to the small volume, the packaging is quickly used up, and many simply throw it away. Don’t rush to get rid of such a useful thing, because it can be easily opened, refilled with any spices and used for a very long time. The British believe that saving is another type of income. It's hard to disagree with this!

Editorial "With taste" I have prepared a simple life hack for you, how to disassemble the mill and prolong her life. Very convenient, cheap and practical!

How to open a pepper mill

Buying loose spices and arranging them at your own discretion is much cheaper than spending money on a new mill every time. 80% of a product's cost is packaging, so why waste something that can be reused? Find out at.

A disposable grinder for pepper or other spices has a non-removable lid, so after using all the spices it is simply thrown away, since it cannot be refilled. At the same time, its millstones have an untapped resource; they can easily continue to grind pepper. Even though the manufacturer has made the mill disposable, there is still a way to open it and refill it. This, firstly, will allow you to save 10 times by simply buying spices in bags, and secondly, it will protect environment from additional plastic waste.

What you will need:

• a saucepan with boiling water;
• napkin;
• 2 packets of pepper.

Dismantling and refueling the mill

The trick of the disposable mill is that the manufacturer made a special fixation of the millstones so that they cannot be removed without breaking them. But it's possible. You need to partially immerse the plastic part of the mill in boiling water for 10 seconds. Located in hot water the clamps on the neck soften and expand more than the glass of the vial.

After this, the millstones can be easily removed without rotation, almost without effort. You need to dry them with a napkin or rag by removing the lid.

If the moisture remains, it will wet the spices. In addition, ground pepper will stick together and get stuck in lumps.
After absorbing the water, you can proceed to seasoning with spices. To avoid doing this often, it is better to immediately pour 2 packs of pepper into the grinder. You can make a mixture of your favorite spices and then immediately grind them together.

After refueling, the millstones are simply put back. It is enough to press on them with your hand or slam them. They will stand up without heating, since the clamps in this direction do not interfere.