The Best Salt Grinders (Review) in 2020
Everyone loves a touch of salt with their food. Whether it’s included during the cooking of their favorite meal or added to the dish later, salt can bring out subtleties and intensify flavor. Such a simple addition has been popular throughout the ages, although standard ground salt and pepper can often lose its purity when ground beforehand. Instead, choosing a quality salt grinder can make the difference between a culinary hit or cookery flop.
A good sea salt grinder can therefore make or break a good meal. Of course, with so many options out there and so much of what makes the best salt grinder actually being hidden behind the casing, it can be difficult to choose a good salt mill. Below, we bring you the best the current marketplace has to offer and why we think you should invest in the best salt mill options around.
Very easy to refill from the top
Has a lifetime guarantee included with purchase
Smooth action for grinding
Three settings for optimal coarseness
Suitable for one-handed use
Made with stainless steel to avoid absorption of odors
Viewing window allows you to see when a refill is required
Excellent customer service
Airtight design keeps spices, salt and pepper fresh
Wide mouth opening for easier refills
Made with high quality materials
Adjustable grind settings give you greater control
The Best Salt Grinder
1.
Cole & Mason Wood Salt Grinder
Looking much like a classy hourglass, the Gourmet Precision is the best salt mill on the market, today. Cole & Mason have done well to create a stylish yet effective salt grinder that looks great in almost any kitchen and on any dinner table.
It features adjustable settings that allows you to create the right coarseness for your preferences, whether that be a rough salt for a crispy pork rind or fine texture for boiling vegetables. It also resists moisture build-up to ensure you won’t be left trying to desperately remove the last remnants of salt between each use.
Modern design
Adjustable settings
Resists moisture build-up
Available in multiple finishes
Easy to refill
2.
Willow & Everett Salt and Pepper Grinder Set
Made with glass and stainless steel, this is the best salt grinder and pepper mill set available, today. Coming complete with stand to give your mills a proper home and stop the scattering of loose salt and pepper, these mills use ceramic grinders to give an even grind.
They use three settings to adjust for coarseness and flavor, while remaining easy to refill when required. Being made of such high quality materials, you’ll also be pleased to know that this salt and pepper grinder set is also less likely to rust, or absorb odors and tastes – allowing to swap between classic salt and pepper, and the more adventurous spices.
Pair of grinders
Stand included
Ceramic grinder
3 settings for coarseness
Easy to refill
3.
OXO Good Grips Salt Grinder
OXO do a great job of providing high quality kitchen accessories that are made to suit almost any home and this salt mill is no different. The OXO salt grinder uses non-corrosive ceramic to ensure an even grind and clean cut of rock salt, while the acrylic body allows you to easily see when you’re due a refill.
With a no-mess cap included, you won’t find sprinkles of salt around your kitchen after using this option. Best of all, a manufacturer’s guarantee is included for this adjustable salt grinder, so you can be sure that you’ll receive the same high quality grind for years to come.
Non-corrosive, ceramic grinders
Acrylic body and copper accents
No-mess cap included
Multiple grinder settings
Manufacturer’s guarantee included
4.
Grind Gourmet Salt and Pepper Grinder Set
With a sleek, modern look and fantastic design features, this salt and pepper grinder set from Grind Gourmet will give you a real feeling of class when in use. Ideal for those who like a minimalist look or simply enjoy clean lines and clever gadgetry, this is a great choice for a wide range of people.
The stainless-steel core ensures a hygienic finish, while the push button operation gives the user the ability to work these salt and pepper grinders with just one hand. The mess-free stand keeps everything neat and tidy after being used and the customer service is said to be well above par with this company, too.
Stainless steel core
Push-button operation
Mess-free stand included
Easy to refill
Excellent customer service
5.
Ebaco Original Stainless Steel Salt Grinder
Cheap, yet cheerful this salt grinder from Ebaco has proven to be very popular with buyers who have been impressed with the level of quality this simple salt mill has proven to provide. Made with high quality materials that stem the absorption of odors and flavors, while also playing host to some great features, this salt grinder offers fantastic value for money.
The adjustable settings allow for different levels of coarseness, while the airtight lids ensure there’s no build-up of moisture over time. It also has a wider mouth for easier refilling, while also allowing the salt mill to be easily cleaned when required.
Airtight lids
High quality materials
Adjustable settings
Large capacity
Easy to clean
6.
Eparé Battery Operated Ceramic Salt Grinder
If you’re looking for a good quality electric salt mill, then look no further. This offering from Eparé is a great choice for one-handed and simple use, making it ideal for even kids to use without causing a mess. Particularly as the adjustable grind settings give you greater control over the fineness and spread of your salt or pepper.
Using a built-in LED, you can see just how much of your chosen spice you’re putting into or on your dish, while the powerful motor makes short work of even large rock salt. Despite being an electric salt grinder, you can still easily refill this option when required.
Extra-large core
Built-in LED
One-handed operation
Acrylic center
Easy to refill
7.
Bazaar Anatolia Salt Mill
A fantastically unique item that will certainly create a talking point during dinner, this Turkish Grinder for salt or pepper provides fantastic value for money. Made with a hand-carved design and a manual grind adjustability, this salt mill is more than just a great-looking choice.
Perfect for grinding down any dry spices, this mill comes with an additional storage bowl, which you can use to store your ground spices for later. It’s also ideal for measuring out your salt, pepper and spices before adding them to your cooking. All-in-all, this is a great option for those seeking something a little different for their dinner table.
Suitable for use with salts and spices
Anatolian made
Manual grind adjustability
Moisture-resistant
Hand-carved design
8.
Simple Kitchen Products Stainless Steel Salt Grinder
Another fantastic salt and pepper grinder set that comes with a range of great features. This spice grinding set uses a hardened ceramic rotor to keep the grind clean and spices fresh during use. It’s also made up of stainless steel, with a glass casing, which is ideal for repelling odors and flavors when switching between spices.
The customer service with this option is excellent, with many reviewers noting quick responses and positive outcomes to queries and complaints. It also has the added benefit of coming with a free eBook, which tells you everything you need to know about spices.
Set of two
Glass and stainless-steel materials
Hardened ceramic rotor
Excellent customer service
Free eBook included
9.
Peugeot Salt Mill
It’s more than likely that you’ll have seen the Peugeot salt mill in traditional and high-end restaurants alike. Known for their quality craftsmanship and easy usage, Peugeot have done a great job with updating this iconic wooden salt grinder to keep up with the many features newer ranges have brought to the market.
With 6 pre-defined levels of coarseness, you’ll have greater control over the two-stage grinding process than ever before. Whether you need powdery pepper or very coarse salt for your culinary masterpiece, this classic salt mill has it all.
Two stage grinding process
Made with beechwood
Traditional design
Adjustable with 6 pre-defined levels of coarseness
10.
Home Kitchen Star Electric Salt Grinder
A very unique concept that is perfect for those who like a little bit of modern gadgetry with their meal. This salt and pepper grinder uses a sleek and simple design but actually plays host to some interesting features beyond their high-quality materials.
In particular, this grinder uses a tilted activation, allowing you to start and stop your grinding by simply angling your hand. The grinder itself is placed on top, which ensures no dust from your spices works its way into your kitchen after being used, and the automatic LED allows you to see when you’re grinder is working.
Modern design
Adjustable grind settings
Tilt activation
Made with acrylic and stainless-steel
Best Salt Grinder Buying Guide & FAQ
Things to Consider Before Buying a Salt Grinder
- Materials
Like any kitchen item that will be in direct contact with edibles, your salt grinder should always be made with high quality materials. While some people will always prefer the look and feel of a wooden salt grinder, most modern options are made with inert materials. Namely, glass and stainless steel.
These are ideal for ensuring that no flavors or odors are absorbed by the material, which means you can chop and change between the spices you want to use without fear of food contamination. However, if you simply want to store just the one spice in your mill, then this may not be a concern for you.
Be aware of cheaper materials, however, such as cheaper metals which are more likely to rust and cause a health and safety hazard. No matter what material you have, always try to keep your grinder in a dark, cool place and ensure that, after washing, they are thoroughly dried before putting away.
- Type
The two most obvious types of salt grinders are electric and manual options, which we discuss in more detail below. However, you’ll also find that the manual grinders can usually be sub-categorized by their materials, the benefits of which we discuss above.
- Size
If you have a big family, use a lot of spice in your cooking or simply enjoy cooking for larger groups, it’s fair to say that you’ll probably be looking for a much larger salt mill. Of course, these are ideal in the circumstances aforementioned, but you should always be aware of the space you also have in your kitchen.
Some salt grinders are very tall (in particular, the more traditional variants), and therefore can’t be put away into cupboards when not in use. That said, smaller options will naturally need to be refilled more frequently, but their quick use also means a lack of build-up or risk of the spices becoming jammed down with moisture.
- Features
Like many things around the home, it’s often the features that can make or break a purchase. When it comes to salt grinders, the biggest features to look for are cleanliness, convenience and effectiveness. For example, a salt mill that is moisture resistant certainly adds to the cleanliness, as the spices will be kept in a more hygienic setting and you won’t be scrubbing away when it comes to washing your mill.
Convenience also takes the cleanliness into account, since this means your salt and pepper mill will be easier to clean and refill. It also accounts for nice extras such as adjustable grind settings, which make cooking much quicker and easier in some cases, or can take the type of grinder you buy into account (electric or manual).
Finally, effectiveness can be altered through features such as a built-in LED, which can give you greater clarity when it comes to seeing your measurements. It can also mean that ceramic burrs give a more effective grind than plastic, which is more likely to break when up against tougher spices. Himalayan salt grinders, for example, are suited to tougher, larger particles. This allows them to work for longer with Himalayan salt.
Types of Salt Grinders
- Electric Salt Grinder
Electric salt grinders are perfect if you prefer to use a quick and easy method for getting your spices ground. They are ideal for those who struggle with their grip too, such as vulnerable adults and children (with some supervision where required). These will usually come with adjustable settings and are very easy to use, once you get a hang of the motion required – depending on which option you buy.
Electric mills are, naturally, a little more difficult to clean and will require fresh batteries from time to time. They can also be a little too difficult for some, especially when it comes to taking apart ready to clean – particularly those options which use non-traditional methods of grinding (top-down grinders such as our 10th option, for example).
- Manual Salt Grinder
Manual salt grinders are perfect for creating greater control over your spice levels. They are also more likely to come with a different set of features, such as a wider range of settings coarseness. A manual grinder also comes in a wider range of materials, including wooden salt grinders, which many prefer.
While they take a little more effort to grind and therefore a longer time, they are ideal for both dinner table and culinary use and therefore a little more versatile in the number of options they present.
How to Clean a Salt Grinder?
Every salt mill will be slightly different, although they are all made up of the same basic components. The main thing when it comes to cleaning a salt grinder is to take the salt or pepper mill apart, as much as you can, in order to get to all the finer points in the mechanism.
Using hot, soapy water is the best way to help dissolve any remaining spices or salt between the gears – however, if you have an electric grinder, you’ll need to disengage this area from the wiring first (if possible). A bottle brush is also very beneficial, as these can get into all the tighter spaces and scrubbing with this will help to remove those stubborn spots.
You should always leave your salt or pepper grinder to dry thoroughly before putting away, or replacing the spices. This will allow the mechanism to avoid the risk of rusting, or for spices and salts to become stuck and jam the components during use.
Best Salt Grinders FAQ:
Q: Is there any benefit to grinding salt?
A: Traditional table salt has a very small surface area, which means that you’ll often need to use a lot of salt for a small level of taste. Comparatively, ground salt has a very large surface area, which means you’ll get a greater level of flavor and a more complex texture when using a grinder.
The best salt grinder also uses multiple, adjustable coarseness levels. This allows you to create a fine powder for when you need to salt boiling vegetables, as this will be easier to dissolve and give a quicker, tastier result. Or, you may choose to keep your spices rough, which gives added texture – ideal for things such as pork rinds.
Q: What kind of salt do you buy for a grinder?
A: For most grinders with high quality materials, you can buy rock salt or Himalayan salt without issue, for your grinder. Be mindful that those salt mills made of cheaper materials will not be able to handle larger particles, so always buy a good quality salt grinder first.
Q: How do I keep moisture out of my salt grinder?
A: While there are many different “life hacks” out there to help you keep moisture out of your salt grinder, it’s important to remember that these items will be in direct contact with your food – and are likely to end up being ground up alongside your salt.
Thus, we can only wholeheartedly recommend keeping your salt in an airtight container (by ensuring the lid is on securely), as well as using a mess-free cap. That being said, adding rice to your salt grinder is a good way of keeping moisture at bay, as the rice will absorb any water. It is also suitable for use in cooking and shouldn’t take away from any flavor, so can be used without concern.
Our Top Pick
Easily the best salt grinder available, the Cole and Mason salt mill is fantastic if you’re looking for a simple, classic design with modern day benefits. Featuring moisture resistance and easy to use adjustable grind settings, you’ll be sure to get the most out of your meal when using this salt grinder.
It’s also very easy to clean and refill when required, while simultaneously being protected by a lifetime guarantee for extra peace of mind. This is the best salt mill for freshness and flavor – and you can be sure you’ll get quality when you purchase this salt grinder, with 86% of customers giving this four stars or above in their ratings.
