Providing superior seasoning, this duo mill features an adjustable grinding function offering fine and coarse seasoning to suit your family’s preferences Peugeot mills are made in France, and each mill is tested before it leaves the factory. As a result, you’re likely to find peppercorns or ground pepper in the mill when it arrives, and you can be sure the mechanism will work exactly as it should. With testing, we found that the grinder excelled at fine and medium grinds, producing very consistent ground pepper. The coarse grinds were not as uniform, but still acceptable. Dreamfarm Ortwo One-Handed Pepper Mill: Dreamfarm, known for clever and quirky product names, calls its pepper grinder the "Ortwo" because it can be used with one hand or two. While we love the idea, we found the innovative pepper mill incredibly top-heavy and awkward to hold. While it is easy to fill, thanks to the wide glass mouth on the container, said container does not adequately attach to the handles. As a result, the pepper-filled glass container is always a small nudge away from crashing down. Effortless grinding with simple button operation. Enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the operation taking place without strenuous manual handling on your part For your convenience, the mill is easy to use with a simple one button push system on each side for effortless salt or pepper seasoning. Requires 6 x AA type batteries (not included)

Since the chamber is the entire length of the pepper mill, it holds almost 1/2 cup of peppercorns. Also nice: This beautiful pepper mill is available in several different stains, and the company makes smaller pepper mills as well as salt mills to suit every dining table. It’s easy to add a dash of salt, pepper, herbs or spices to your food with Cuisinart’s Rechargeable Seasoning Mill. With a removable container at either end, just fill with your seasoning, adjust the ceramic grinders between coarse and fine, and press the button to add flavour to your food.

Food writer and product tester Donna Currie is an expert on all things food, from cookbooks to cooking gadgets. She's written her own cookbook, Make Ahead Bread,and loves to test out her favorite kitchen gadgets and appliances when it comes to developing her own recipes. She also has an extensive blog where she details said recipes. She interviewed Sylvain Girard, a high-school culinary instructor, on what to look for in a good pepper mill as well as tips for cleaning and maintenance. Donna personally tested two of the options on this list. Electric pepper mills can be pretty divisive. Peppercorn purists might argue that relying on a button, rather than grinding or cranking by hand, can take some of the magic out of fresh pepper. Electric mills tend to be heavier and have a slower output than if you were to do it by hand, produce inconsistent grinding sizes, and are more susceptible to breaking down or needing repair. Not to mention, you’ll not only need to replenish peppercorns, but you’ll need to stay on top of batteries. They also tend to be a bit noisier than manual mills. Some electric models have coarseness settings, so you may need to tinker with them a little before you start grinding to find your desired coarseness. Just note: The small profile coupled with the long crank arm may feel a bit cumbersome and awkward, particularly at first. However, we found that the dial being made out of rubber made for an easier and more comfortable grip. We also highlighted how durable this pepper mill was—it survived several drops from the counter and felt long-lasting. A fun gift for friends who cook, this mill comes with interchangeable pods so one grinder can handle different types of peppercorns—or other types of whole spices that require grinding. It’s battery-operated, so it’s great when you need a lot of spice, and also ideal for one-handed use (though batteries are not included). The outside of the peppermill should be wiped down regularly. Use a warm, damp cloth and a vinegar/water mix. "For cleaning, I never use water to clean the mechanical parts," says culinary instructor Sylvain Girard. "Use compressed air occasionally if you have that option. Water can ruin the grinding mechanism if not dried properly." What is the difference between a pepper mill and a pepper grinder?

The size that’s right for you depends on the space you have in your kitchen and where you plan on storing the mill. The bigger the mill, the more peppercorns it can store (which means you’re replacing peppercorns less frequently), but keep in mind that if they sit too long in a mill, they will lose their freshness. Holding and cranking a mill in your hand is a great way to decide if it's right for you. Some cooks prefer an hourglass shape, while some may prefer something more cylindrical. Grinding pepper is a lot about feel and comfort, so if the size doesn’t work for you, it’s not going to feel right.Cavaletto Duo Salt & Pepper Mill Sophisticated electronic salt and pepper mills adds a touch of class when seasoning your favourite meals This grinder has six positions to adjust the grinding coarseness, meaning you’ll have just what you need, from fine to coarse. And best of all: in tests, it was clear what setting you were using—something that wasn’t true for many of the other pepper mills. Filling it is simple—just unscrew the knob and remove the top—but we suggest going slowly to avoid spills, as the opening is on the small side. This attractive acrylic dual-grinder comes filled with salt and pepper, so it's ready for your kitchen or table as soon as it arrives. It's simple to use, and both sides work the same: Hold the bottom and middle, and twist to grind. Then flip it over, and hold the bottom and middle, and twist again to grind the other spice. There's a simple adjuster knob that lets you switch from coarse to fine grinds on each end, though we found it a bit difficult to understand which setting we were on since it’s not labeled. The grinds produced were pretty consistent and uniform throughout, especially on the fine setting. Sara Tane wrote the Buying Guide portion of this article. She has written for numerous food publications and has contributed to The Spruce Eats since October 2020. She not only holds a dual bachelor's degree in food studies and global studies from UNC, Chapel Hill but also earned a culinary degree from the Institute of Culinary Education.