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8 best salt and pepper grinders: Manual or electric mills to spice up your kitchen

Season every dish with these stylish salt and pepper grinders, reviewed by our experts

Jessica Carter
Tuesday 17 September 2024 12:04 BST
Season your dinner to perfection with these grinders
Season your dinner to perfection with these grinders (The Independent)
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When it comes to food, salt and pepper are two of the most crucial ingredients; they can take a dish from zero to hero. As with spices, freshly ground seasoning always far outshines the powdery pre-milled versions. It takes flavour to the next level – and a coarse grind can also up the ante in terms of texture, too. That’s why salt and pepper mills are important bits of kit that are well worth investing in, yet they often get overlooked.

If you’re looking for a new set of grinders to give your home cooking a tasty kick, there are some things to consider. The main choice is between electric and manual mills.

While an electric set may seem like a snazzy addition, some will prefer an old fashioned twist of pepper. You’ll also need to think about the coarseness of the grind (though most are adjustable), whether you want two separate mills or an all-in-one, and whether you want to use them for spices as well as salt and pepper.

That’s not to mention aesthetics – are your mills going to stay in the kitchen or do you want them to bring a bit of style to your dining table, too?

How we tested the best salt and pepper grinders

When testing the best salt and pepper grinders, we kept all of the above points in mind. We also considered the consistency of grind, distribution and price. The ones we’ve selected have been chosen for their practicality, ease of use and looks.

The best salt and pepper grinders for 2024 are:

  • Best salt and pepper grinder overall – Peugeot Saveurs Paris u select salt and pepper mill set 18cm: £79.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget salt and pepper grinder – ProCook electric soft touch salt or pepper mill set: £14, Procook.co.uk
  • Best for ease of use – Oxo accent mess-free pepper grinder: £23.21, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best electric grinder – Cuisinart seasoning mill: £55.98, Amazon.co.uk

Peugeot Saveurs Paris u select salt and pepper mill set 18cm

Peugeot Saveurs Paris u select salt and pepper mill set
  • Best: Salt and pepper grinder overall
  • Design: Classic bistro-style
  • Quality: Sturdy, built to last, smooth grind
  • Extras: Patented U Select function to choose coarseness of grind
  • Why we love it
    • An enduring staple
    • Built to last
    • Adjustable
  • Take note
    • Pricey

Peugeot Saveurs is one of the oldest and most respected brands of salt and pepper mills out there – they’ve been making them since the 1840s. If you’re at a really decent restaurant, take a look at the underside of the grinders on your table and it’s pretty likely you’ll see that lion logo.

These modern versions of classic bistro-style mills will show you why the brand is such a big deal in the world of seasoning. Smooth and tactile, they balance sturdiness with refinement and are built to last, with specially designed grinding mechanisms for both salt and pepper (which come with a lifetime warranty).

The U Select function is patented and lets you adjust the coarseness of the grind to suit what you’re cooking, too. They might be pricey, but they really feel incredible and dare we say, you may never have to buy another salt and pepper mill again.

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ProCook electric soft touch salt or pepper mill set

ProCook electric soft touch salt or pepper mill set
  • Best: Budget salt and pepper mills
  • Design: Contemporary vintage
  • Quality: Hefty and built to last
  • Extras: Long-life ceramic grinding mechanism
  • Why we love it
    • Built to last
    • One-handed usage
    • Adjustable
  • Take note
    • You’ll need four batteries for each one

Combining a vintage-style sage colour with contemporary design, this pair of battery-powered salt and pepper mills would be right at home in a chic kitchen. They feel hefty, like they were built to last – and it seems they are, as they come with a long-life ceramic grinding mechanism and 10-year guarantee.

Super easy to use one-handed, their soft-touch finish gives a good grip and the button to operate is located at the top, easily reached by your index finger as you grasp the mill. The coarseness of the output is adjustable too. They do take four AA batteries each (so remember to stock up) but at less than £20 for the set, these mills are really fairly priced.

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Menu bottle grinder set

Menu bottle grinder set
  • Best: Stylish design
  • Design: Minimalist, unique, chic
  • Quality: You lose no function for form here
  • Extras: Easy to fill, have a large capacity
  • Why we love it
    • Nice design
    • Grinds spices and seeds too
    • Adjustable
  • Take note
    • Not cheap

These stylish mills, with a minimalist Scandi-inspired design, are perhaps the chicest on our list. Their matte finish and soft nude hues mean they’ll enhance any table spread, taking the aesthetics up a notch or three. That said, it’s not all about looks here: as much thought has gone into their function as their form.

The mills are great for grinding spices and seeds as well as seasonings, and you can easily adjust the size of the grind. Because you invert them to use – the ground ingredients fall from the top of the “bottle” – you won’t get left with any debris where they’ve been standing, either. They’re also easy to fill, have a large capacity and distribute ground ingredients evenly and consistently.

  1.  £59 from Beut.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Oxo accent mess-free pepper grinder

Oxo accent mess-free pepper grinder
  • Best: For ease of use
  • Design: Practical, easy to handle
  • Quality: Sturdy and robust
  • Extras: Easy to refill
  • Why we love it
    • Adjustable
    • Easy to see when they need to be refilled

These mills feel sturdy and robust, and the soft rubber grip makes them super easy to handle. Changing the size of the grind is really simple – there’s a dial at the top which clicks satisfyingly through the range of options. The chamber where the peppercorns are stored is a decent size – hooray for fewer refills – and, as it’s clear, you have a heads up on when you’re running low so you won’t get caught out mid-grind.

Topping up the grinder is easy: just open the twist cap on the underside and you have a wide opening to pour into. A great shout for those of us who aren’t that nimble-fingered – and there’s a version for salt too if you fancy the set.

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Dreamfarm ortwo

Dreamfarm ortwo pepper grinder
  • Best: For cooking
  • Design: Unique and versatile
  • Quality: Strong, durable, lasting
  • Extras: Can be used one handed
  • Why we love it
    • Grinds spices and seeds too
    • Replacement parts available
    • One-hand usage
    • Will look good on the table

This is a nifty and versatile bit of kitchen kit – one of those things where you’ll wonder how you ever did without, especially if you cook with whole spices regularly. Cleverly designed for pepper as well as all whole spices and seeds, this grinder has a ceramic milling mechanism that won’t ever rust and a screw-on glass spice jar that’s been tempered to make it strong and durable. Although if you do manage to break it, you can easily get hold of a replacement as opposed to having to buy a whole new mill.

If you’re using it for seasoning your meal, go one-handed, squeezing the wooden arms together. To amp up the output – say, if you’re grinding whole spices for cooking – you can use two hands, pulling the arms far apart before squeezing them back together. This mill’s function makes it great for the kitchen, while its cool design earns it a place at the table, too.

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Joseph Joseph milltop salt and pepper mills

Joseph Joseph milltop salt and pepper mills
  • Best: Mess-free grinders
  • Design: Neutral, contemporary, matt finish
  • Quality: Sturdy
  • Extras: Mill from the top
  • Why we love it
    • Grippy matte finish
    • Adjustable
    • Large capacity
    • Mess-free

This salt and pepper mill set is a great example of what you get when practicality meets good looks. There surely isn’t a kitchen or dining table that these minimalist, neutral-coloured grinders wouldn’t fit in with.

Their matte finish gives them a whisper of Scandi style and a contemporary look – not to mention helps create a good grip for grinding. The size of the grind is easily changeable by twisting the silver cap on top, while refilling is a doddle too, thanks to the screw cap at the base. That said, the large capacity means you won’t find yourself needing to top it up often. Another mess-saving design, these grinders mill from the top, and the seasoning is disbursed nice and evenly.

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Cole & Mason clevedon duo salt and pepper mill

Cole & Mason clevedon duo salt and pepper mill
  • Best: For space-saving
  • Design: Modern, compact, sleek
  • Quality: Lifetime guarantee
  • Extras: Two in one
  • Why we love it
    • Double-ended design

If you’re all about minimising clutter from your work surfaces and avoiding a crowded dining table, a two-in-one grinder may be the way to go. Cole and Mason is another heavyweight in the world of salt and pepper mills, and we love this modern-looking, double-ended grinder it’s come up with.

Designed to dispense different seasonings, it has a brushed chrome middle and matte black, easy-grip ends. It’s around the same size as some of the other single grinders on this list, so much less bulky than you might expect, but still with a decent capacity. The ceramic grinding mechanism – which dispenses efficiently and consistently – comes with a lifetime guarantee, so this relatively small investment will really pay off.

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Cuisinart seasoning mill

Cuisinart seasoning mill
  • Best: Electric grinder
  • Design: Futuristic
  • Quality: Professional
  • Extras: Rechargeable
  • Why we love it
    • Good looks
    • 20 minutes of use when fully charged
    • Easy to see when it needs to be refilled
    • Includes a measuring cap

This futuristic-looking electric mill won’t ever see you stealing batteries from the TV remote – it’s rechargeable and comes with a smart-looking dock that can plug into your countertop electricity socket (luckily, it’s good-looking enough to keep on show). Each full charge will give about 20 minutes of operating time.

Another great all-in-one option, this mill has two chambers that easily twist off the main body for refilling and are clear so you can see which seasoning is in each side. To operate, hold down the button in the centre – this clever mill will grind whichever side is pointing down at your meal or pot. It will happily mill spices and dried herbs as well as seasoning and comes with a measuring cap which you can grind directly into – really handy for when you’re following recipes.

  1.  £59 from AO.com
Prices may vary
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Are electric pepper grinders worth it?

While manual pepper grinders are typically designed with a crank, electric pepper grinders are powered by a battery instead, making them a more convenient way to grind salt and peppercorns. They’re generally switched on with the touch of a button, which means you only need to use one hand to use them – which is particularly convenient when cooking and especially helpful for those who may struggle with hand mobility.

How long do whole peppercorns keep?

Store your peppercorns in a sealed container to retain their flavour for as long as possible. Whether you do this will effect how long they keep their freshness for, and do keep in mind that ground pepper is typically going to lose most of its taste before whole peppercorns do. Generally speaking, you can expect whole peppercorns to keep for up to four years.

The verdict: Salt and pepper grinders

For us – as for lots of pro chefs – there really is no beating the Peugeot Saveurs mills. Yes, they’re the most extra on our list when it comes to price, but we think they’re worth it – so hardy, satisfying to use and classically stylish they are. They’ll see you right in the kitchen and look chic on the dining table, too.

If you’re into your kitchen gadgets and are after an electric grinder, the Cuisinart mill is the way to go. We love its versatility – doubling up as a spice and herb grinder too is a real win – plus, it’s easy to use and comes with a cool charging dock that we’re more than happy to leave out on display in our kitchen.

Now that you’re seasoning is sorted, check out our round-up of the best steak knives for the perfect slice every time

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