Salt Mill/Pepper Grinder... difference?
I've been gifted with a Peugeot Chateuneuf Salt Mill (u-select model). I've very little use for one as I tend to be the kosher salt kind of cook. As I have an old Lechter's (remember them?) pepper grinder (which gives you some idea of its age) I wouldn't turn up my nose at a new one of those.
So my question (yes there is one) is: can the salt mill be used for pepper? Thanks in advance!
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11 Comments:
I had one of those combination pepper/salt grinders whereby you twisted a cylinder to get either salt or pepper. As far as I can remember it used the same grinding mechanism. So based on that I wouldn't think there'd be much difference.
RichardCrystal at 10:08AM on 08/27/08
Salt grinders (almost) make me angry. They are completely pointless. The reason for pepper grinders is, of course, that freshly ground pepper is more potent. This is not that case for salt; salt is salt, however fine or coarse the particles are. Also, salt, being a rock rather than a seed or fruit, is much harder than any other spice. Thus salt grinders are worn down extremely quickly. Every time a receive one as a gift, it becomes another spice grinder, which is the only reason that salt grinders don't actually make me angry.
So my answer (yes there is one) is: yes. The mechanism for grinding salt and pepper is essentially identical. The only issue I've run into is that some salt grinders lack a fineness/coarseness adjuster.
Nicholas H at 10:19AM on 08/27/08
I buy the Costco salt ones which you use and toss. They are by and large the same mechanism as the pepper mills.
I would imagine pepper is finer.
JerzeeTomato at 10:38AM on 08/27/08
My problem with most salt grinders is the mechanism is usually made of a material that corrodes after prolonged conatact with salt, especially in a steamy kitchen. A pretty one on a table kept in a dry drawer lasts ok. I would actually like one with a good adjustment mechanism and maybe a ceramic or diamond material to last longer...then one good salt could be used for different applications by adjusting the grind.
Cary at 11:04AM on 08/27/08
No. The grinding mechanisms are made out of different materials, and the mechanisms used by peugeot for salt and pepper differ.
Salt needs to be ground by a stainless steel mechanism, so the grinder does not corrode.
Puegeot makes incredible pepper grinders with a 2-stage grinding mechanism that first cracks, and then grinds the pepper.
Kerosena at 11:42AM on 08/27/08
After Kerosena's comment, I checked a set of Peugeot salt and pepper grinders that were recently given to me, and I have to revise what I said earlier. The mechanisms are clearly different. I have used salt grinders as pepper grinders in the past, but now that I think of it they never did seem to work as well as my other, proper pepper grinders.
Nicholas H at 1:29PM on 08/27/08
Thanks, all!
Having wandered around during my lunch break and asking people at both Williams Sonoma and Crate & Barrel (telling them the whole story so they didn't think they were going to get a sale) I got mixed messages. Williams Sonoma woman told me the salt grinder could NOT be used as the mechanism was different. Crate & Barrel woman, on the other hand, said that yes, they are different, but the Peugeot salt mechanism (other than material) is virtually identical to the pepper mechanism in everyone else's lines (most everyone else's sets have identical mechanisms - with the exception of material). So I guess that even though ideally you'd use the Peugeot pepper grinder for pepper (and never, ever for salt) - there appears to be very little reason (other than designer's intent) why you couldn't use pepper in the salt grinder. If this isn't the case, please speak up (I'm lookin' at YOU Kerosena!), but if it is essentially OK, then great!
Who knew this could be so complex?
jpolk at 1:39PM on 08/27/08
I found that out too, while on a quick shopping excursion in my favorite gourmet store, there just to get a new pepper mill, and after spending $80.00 on all sorts of things, got home and realized I picked up a salt mill instead. Now I need to go back and get the matching pepper mill.
joanpieroni2 at 5:26PM on 08/27/08
We've accumulated four or five grinder sets, and never been very happy with any of them - Olde Thompson, Peugeot, or no-name. They uniformly grind very slowly and don't offer much variation in grind.
We've discovered the disposable grinders at Costco. They're about $3.80 each and contain about 4-5 ounces of each spice - Tellicherry pepper and sea salt. They have the best grinders we've found so far! I hope they don't discontinue them.
I've read VERY good reviews of the brass Greek-made grinders with a crank on the top, like the one flaunted by that old perv, the Frugal Gourmet.
I've looked them up on Amazon, and they're around $80. As long as the Costco ones last, I won't spring for one.
MikeLM at 4:16PM on 08/28/08
Just picked-up 2 Olde Thompson adjustable grind disposables. Black Pepper, 4.6 oz and Steak Seasoning , 6 oz. 2/$7. Works great.
I forgot about that old perv. I wonder if FG is available on DVD?
Would it include that lost episode, FG makes smores with a pack
of Cub Scouts with commentary by "Canteen Boy" LOL
andywho at 10:35PM on 08/28/08
I spent a few weeks in a Williams-Sonoma green apron once upon a time. I was told that the grinding process is different for salt & pepper. With pepper, you are cracking and then grinding the berries. With salt, you're creating additional shards from rocks.
The salt will corrode the metal, so look for a ceramic, plastic or stainless grinding mechanism.
If you're using wet salt, that takes a different grinder too.
NuJoi at 2:33PM on 08/30/08