A Simple Pepper Mill Might Be the Trick to More Flavorful Meals
A Simple Pepper Mill Might Be the Trick to More Flavorful Meals
We updated this story in July 2022 to ensure all the products are in stock. At the time of the update, the Unicorn grinder was unavailable, but not discontinued; the manufacturer hopes it will be restocked around October. It remains on the list because we stand behind our recommendation. We also added more information about how we tested these pepper grinders.
Swapping from preground black pepper to freshly ground black pepper is an easy way to improve the flavor of your dishes. Whole peppercorns contain volatile oils that are released when the peppercorn is cracked. Because those oils dissipate quickly, the flavor diminishes over time (meaning the stuff in the can isn't very flavorful). Just as you'd use a coffee grinder for the boldest coffee, you'll want a good pepper mill to capture all the spicy, complex flavors and aromas in your peppercorns.
A pepper mill, also referred to as a pepper grinder, passes peppercorns through burrs to grind them into fragments. The mill allows you to choose your grind size from fine to coarse so you can select the best texture whether you're jazzing up charred corn with parmesan butter or making a unique cocktail like the Bees Knees. The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab tested pepper mills from the top brands to find the best.
Our top picks:
Our recommendations include manual and electric picks as well as some new grinding styles. Read on for details on how we test peppermills as well as tips on what to consider when shopping for a pepper mill.
The top-tested manual pepper mills and electric salt and pepper grinders for finely and coarsely ground pepper, from brands like OXO, Peugeot and Kuhn Rikon.
