Cleaning Coffee Grinders
What's the best ~ and easiest ~ way to clean the grinding section of my electric coffee mill? Sometimes, I grind very aromatic; i.e., smelly spices and find that afterwards, other, less aromatic spices take on the previous tastes and smells.
Thanks,
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
12 Comments:
Grind some coarse salt in it. The salt will absorb some of the oils. Then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
dhorst at 5:29PM on 04/01/09
My husband has two coffee grinds one is a burr and one is a regular grinder. The burr is easy to clean with some ice cream salt then use a pastry brush. The regular one I clean with a piece of stale bread. Break the bread into about 4 pieces shove it in and buzz it till its bread crumbs then clean it out and brush that out.
JerzeeTomato at 5:49PM on 04/01/09
I have a grinder that I only use for spices. Just a $10.00 cheapy solves the problem.
dmcavanagh at 5:54PM on 04/01/09
Yeah - I have a separate [and brightly differently colored] grinder picked up cheap at an estate sale that I use for spices, and I avoid all flavored coffees. I like the coarse salt idea posted up above though.
Nursie at 6:14PM on 04/01/09
White rice works, too. I guess it depends on what you have on hand.
Also, if you leave the lid off so the odors can dissipate, it's a good idea.
dbcurrie at 6:36PM on 04/01/09
Oatmeal works too. Grind it up then wipe out with a cloth. I also use a separate one for coffee and one for spices, but I clean it this way between types of spices.
I will try the salt too, thanks!
sadiepix at 7:08PM on 04/01/09
Thanks everyone. Never thought of using coarse salt or stale bread ~ what easy solutions!
duncan1205 at 7:57PM on 04/01/09
I don't use hard-stale bread - I want it still with some moisture so the particles are more apt to stick to it. Works well.
lemons at 10:27PM on 04/01/09
I heard that raw rice will work, also.
frederika at 10:46PM on 04/02/09
I invested in a separate grinder just for spices; saves me a lot of time and money and frustration!
PS - I was on Amazon last night, and they are having their 4 for 3 sale in Home & Garden; your least expensive of 4 items is free. Also, if you are a Prime member (I am - totally worth it), you get Free 2-Day Shipping. A very good deal!
serious1 at 3:01AM on 04/03/09
I use the rice method. Never fails. Rice is cheap. It wipes out every bit of whatever residue is left after a spice gets ground.
I have 2 grinders, one for spices and one for coffee. Even so - if I grind dried hot peppers in it, I want to remove traces of the peppers before grinding something else even if it's savory.
therealchiffonade at 2:52PM on 04/03/09
@duncan- thanks for posting this question; I always wondered too.
@seriouseaters - thanks for the tips!
hungrychristel at 4:40PM on 04/03/09