Buying Guide
Now that you have a clear idea about all the best options of spice grinders, it’s time to understand the basics. There are a few key things you need to focus on before you go and buy a spice grinder you like.
If you want to pick the best spice grinder, there are some essential factors that you need to consider.
Motor:
This is the most important thing in any spice grinder. Choosing a grinder with high motor power will ensure finer grinds with ease and less time.
For an electric grinder, look for the ones that range from 200-watt to 500-watt and up to 750-watt of power.
Keep in mind you need a grinder that is strong enough to make a fine powder out of hard spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Look for something like BI-DTOOL 3000g Stainless Steel Commercial Spice Grinder.
If you like to pre-grind your spices, buying something with a higher power capacity will ensure that.
Materials:
In terms of the materials of your spice grinder, stainless steel will always stay on top of the list. Although they are more expensive, they provide higher durability than anything else.
The blade of the grinder should be made out of a solid, sturdy material. This is important as most spices are quite hard to break. Like for ceramic or stainless steel blades for that.
The body is often made out of heat resistant plastic or steel. The plastic body options tend to not hold their shape in a few years. Stainless steel is something that lasts for years.
Look for steel that does not rust or gets discolored. RRH 500G Electric Spice Nut and Coffee Grinder is a good choice in that regard.
Types:
There are two types of spice grinders: electric and hand. For ease of use, electric grinders are the best option. All you have to do is press the button and it grinds the spices for you.
Electric grinders are designed to save your time and energy by doing the hard work for you. Hand grinders, on the other hand, require you to turn or twist a knob or the body to grind the spices. It’s kind of like a larger version of a pepper grinder.
Hand grinders are hard to use especially if you are not a very physically active person. But they come with the added advantage of using anywhere you want.
Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinding Set is a durable option. You can carry it with you while traveling, camping, or tailgating with your friends.
Ease of Use:
Even though using a spice grinder is relatively easy, there are some options that take a while to get accustomed to.
Look for grinders that have a simple layout and are functional to use. These include the RRH 500G Electric Spice Nut and Coffee Grinder and CGOLDENWALL Stainless Steel Electric Herb Grinder.
If the grinder is hard to assemble, chances are you will end up not using it on a daily basis. So simple design with functional structure is the priority.
Capacity:
Standard spice grinders usually come in 2.5-4 ounces of capacity. There are bigger options available but they are not very common.
BI-DTOOL 3000g Stainless Steel Commercial Spice Grinder is a popular higher capacity choice. But if you want something very small, the SHARDOR CG715S Electric Coffee Bean Grinder & Spice Grinder is a good pick.
Most grinders come with two jars or bowls. Some even come with 4 different options but that’s very uncommon for household grinders.
If you buy a higher capacity spice grinder, keep in mind it will be larger and heavier in size. This can be a problem if you have storage issues.
Storage:
Depending on your kitchen, you can either go for the largest size or for a compact, travel-friendly option. For a smaller kitchen, it is better to buy handheld options.
Pictures can be deceiving so it is important to check the dimensions of each product. We have found Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Electric Spice Grinder to be the most storage-friendly choice.
How to Clean & Maintain Your Spice Grinder
Spice grinders are not very cheap. They are a long-term investment for your kitchen. Thus taking the best care of them is a must.
The best way to clean your grinder is:
- Put half a cup of rice in your grinder bowl.
- Grind the rice for a minute or until it becomes powder.
- This will remove all the oils and grimes from deep within the blades.
- Dump the rice into the bin.
- Wipe out the excess rice flour.
- Repeat this weekly to keep your spice grinder clean.
To maintain your spice grinder:
- Always check the cables and hoses before starting the grinder. Replace any damaged cables.
- Keep your spice grinder clean. After each use, disconnect from the power and store it in the cabinets.
- Every week, give your spice grinder a thorough cleaning. Use a soft brush to remove any stuck-on grime and dirt. Don’t use high-pressure water as it can damage the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about spice grinders? You just might find answers here!
01. Is it Better to Grind Your Own Spices?
Grinding your own spices is mandatory for any delicious dishes. Ask any good cook and they will tell you what a difference it makes.
Pre-grounded herbs and spices lack flavor and taste bland. You can’t tell the difference if you have always been using only store-bought seasoning mix for your recipes.
When you grind something, the fragrance starts to go mellow with each passing minute. Spices are most potent directly after grinding. So using your own mix of homemade spice is much better than anything you can find at the store.
Good spices add depth and dimension to your food. So it’s always better to grind your own spices.
02. Is a Coffee Grinder the Same as a Spice Grinder?
A coffee grinder is not the same as a spice grinder.
Coffee grinders are also known as burr grinders. They use two ceramic or stainless steel burrs to force the coffee beans. There is a slight gap between the burrs to determine the ground size according to your choice.
You can probably guess what the issue here is. Due to that gap, you can never get a fine grind of hard spices like cinnamon or star anise.
Using such hard spices on a coffee grinder can potentially damage the burrs. So you will end up with a broken machine.
So, it might work for a one-time solution but you should never use a coffee grinder for spices on a regular basis unless the grinder is designed for both coffee and spices.
03. Can You Toast Ground Spices?
Toasting the spices is an ancient cooking method to intensify the flavor. You can toast your spices on a dry frying pan.
It is, however, better to toast before grinding. Whole spices are harder to burn and they only add light charr to the outside shell. I
If you toast ground spices, they might turn bitter and darker within seconds. So it’s hard to control the temperature.
Put the spices in a heavy frying pan, it is ideal to use a cast-iron one and then heat up the flame to medium. Keep stirring until you get an even golden color and gorgeous roasted fragrance.
Let them cool down completely before you put them in your spice grinder. You can store toasted spices longer than untoasted ones.
04. What Can You Grind on a Spice Grinder?
Spie grinders are really storing and versatile kitchen gadgets that can do more than you think.
Spice grinders can be used for a wide range of items such as different types of seeds. Most seeds have high nutritional content so adding them to your diet is really beneficial.
Seeds like flaxseed, chia seeds, hep seeds, pumpkin seeds, are filled with fiber and omega 3 fats. You can grind dried ginger or garlic for easy homemade garlic powder.
If you are running out of powdered sugar, make them easily on your spice grinder by using regular granulated sugar.
If you don’t have breadcrumbs at home, grind some cornflakes into thin powder to use as a coating for your cutlets and fried foods.
On that note, you can basically grind any seeds or herbs as long as they are bone dry and thin.
05. Can a Blender Grind Spices?
Standard blenders we all have at home are designed to be used with water. They do not work well with dry items.
Spice grinders exist for a reason. There is nothing that can grind your spices better than a good-quality grinder.
Normal blenders miss a lot of areas and you end up with half-broken, uneven spices. Most blenders don’t even start if you are grinding hard spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, star anise, etc.
If you use your blenders regularly for these kinds of items, the motor of the blender might wear off pretty soon.
To Sum Up
Spice grinders are one of those kitchen appliances that transform the way we cook. Once you try one of our listed spice grinders, you will realize there is no going back.
In medieval times, they used to use mortars and pestles for all their spices and seasoning. Lucky for us, technology has made it so easy to instantly make it at home.
Hopefully, with our top 10 best spice grinders review, you have found something that helps your cooking experience.
Just keep in mind, there is no ultimate all-in-one spice grinder as we all have different needs. But there are plenty of options to help you create scrumptious and delicious meals every day.
