Key takeaways:
- The one-handed operation of electric mills appeals to multitaskers.
- Grinders elevate the at-home meal.
- They‘re affordable, stylish—and they’ll be a constant reminder of you.
We haven’t see this gift miss yet.
If you happen to know that your recipient is still wandering in the wilderness, content with the bland dust from prefilled salt and pepper shakers, you have the potential to introduce some spice to their life.
The gift: The electric salt and pepper grinder also known as a mill checks several boxes:
- It’s a gift that could be for anyone—who doesn’t use salt and pepper?
- It’s versatile—give it for any number of occasions.
- It enables “one-handed operation.”That’s a major benefit for multitasking cooks and for those who struggle with hand strength.
- Your gift would help your intended “level up”—fresh ground spices have a more potent aroma and flavor. What they’ve experienced at nicer restaurants with servers likely using manual grinders they can now do at home. Ooh la la.
- It’s affordable. While you could spend hundreds of dollars for a top of the line Peugeot—and that may be the thing to do, depending who you’re selecting for—you can also find perfectly delightful options between $40 and $100.
- They look stylish—and many come with bells and whistles that appeal to those who love gadgets. An electric grinder’s design and capabilities should overcome any hesitation on your part about giving such a practical gift.
- This is a gift they’ll remember you for giving. That has to count for something.
You’re not likely to go too far wrong in your selection, but let us help you weigh your options.
Most electric grinders feature:
- A push-button on top or a tilting mechanism to support the one-handed operation.
- Settings for adjusting the coarseness of the grind.
- LED lights to guide the amount of seasoning.
- A rainbow of colors to choose from.
Your premium options make it interesting with capabilities that could include:
- Operation that’s activated by gravity—no button, you just tilt.
- A charge provided not by disposable batteries but by USB or Type-C rechargeable batteries.
- Materials and mechanisms tailored to specific spices. For example, some pepper mills use hardened carbon steel. Some salt mills use corrosion-resistant ceramic or nylon. Check out the Cole & Mason Derwent set.
For those who insist on precision, consider the patented systems of Cole & Mason and Peugeot. Some higher end mills are made with superior materials (aluminum or sustainably sourced beech wood).
- Extended or even lifetime guarantees.
- Interchangeable pods that enable switching between a variety of spices. That’s from FinaMill, who your recipient might recognize from their fine work on TikTok.
Individual products vary according to their capacity, their overall weight, color, etc.
We bought this set for a few reasons:
- It’s smaller and lighter weight. You’ll see lots of product touting their larger capacity, which is fine for many households but not ours. We don’t use a lot of salt and pepper and don’t want the extra weight to hold it. It’s plenty big at 46 gram capacity and 1.7 pounds.
- The Type C charger. Some mills require eight batteries. Yeah, I’m not doing that. Unexpected: two cables, for charging each.
- The colors available. If I wasn’t such a conformist, I might have picked the white and black pair.
To top off this introduction to a culinary adventure, you might also include the as well.