The Best Spice Grinders Of 2022
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The longer you keep spices in your kitchen cupboard, the less flavorful they become (via Spices Inc.). This is why keeping ground seasoning around isn't a great idea. On the other hand, there are very few things quite as tantalizing as the aroma and taste of freshly ground spices. And you can easily unleash them by pulverizing herbs on the spot with a spice grinder.
Whether it's grinding dry spices such as peppercorns, cloves, and nutmeg or wet ingredients like basil and garlic, spice grinders can help you add an explosion of flavor to any meal. Manual or electric, grinders come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From small hand-operated devices to larger gadgets that double as coffee bean grinders, spice grinders can easily elevate your culinary game to the next level. Not sure where to start your search for the perfect spice grinder? Keep on reading to find your match!
How we selected products
Designed to pulverize spices, seeds, nuts, and even ginger and garlic, spice grinders can be used to add pizzazz to most meals. However, since not all grinders are created equal, choosing the right grinder for your specific needs can be tricky. This is where we can help.
As a part of our mission to bring you a list of the best manual and electric spice grinders of 2022, we have looked at hundreds of gadgets. Many didn't make the cut. However, some have impressed us as well as some experts and community reviewers. When selecting spice grinders to add to our list, we took into account their design, including grinding capacity, size, storability, and noise level. Next, we reviewed each gadget's versatility. While some spice grinders are engineered to grind only specific herbs, others can also pulverize wet ingredients such as nuts, garlic, and seeds. Last but not least, we evaluated each grinder's ease of use.
Ready to spice up your life? Here's our list of the best spice grinders of 2022.
Best overall spice grinder
Featuring stainless steel blades and a powerful 200-watt motor, the Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder has been engineered to effortlessly pulverize both spices and nuts. Simply push the top lid down to let the appliance do its magic. Push it again to switch it off.
While the grinder's bowl accommodates 90 grams at a time, its lid features additional storage space where the spices can be kept airtight for later use. Both the bowl and lid are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. In addition, the grinder features rubber feet to keep it securely in place during use and a safety interlock to prevent the unit from starting if the lid isn't in place.
BBC Good Food has referred to the Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder as "an impressive piece of kit," elaborating, "It performed brilliantly in all tests, is easy to use and assemble, and best of all, is dishwasher-safe. We didn't find it too loud, nor was it the quietest machine, but it works quickly, so any unpleasant sound only lasts a matter of seconds." After testing the gadget, a reviewer for The Guardian was also impressed, waxing lyrical, "The blades on this electric grinder are a Zen swordsman; lethal and serene ... There's divine contrast in this airy resting of fingers on dome and the violent vortex conjured within."
As of September 2022, the Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder may be purchased through Amazon starting at $54.28.
Best budget spice grinder
At under $20, the Brentwood Coffee and Spice Grinder is a great choice for those on a budget. Suitable for grinding coffee beans and nuts as well as spices, the 150-watt appliance features sharp stainless steel blades and one-touch operation for ease of use. It also comes with a viewing window so you can see the coarseness of the content as you grind it and rubber feet to minimize the risk of slipping. The Brentwood Coffee and Spice Grinder features a 4-ounce capacity.
The Brentwood Coffee and Spice Grinder has received a favorable reception across different platforms. OveReview has awarded the appliance 9.1 out of 10 stars. Meanwhile, Amazon shoppers have given the Brentwood grinder 4.1 out of 5 stars, emphasizing that it's a great gadget for the price. One satisfied Amazon shopper has said, "This grinder did just what it was supposed to do. [The] grinder is bigger than my last one which I like especially when I am making a 12 cup pot of coffee."
Purchase the Brentwood Coffee and Spice Grinder from Amazon starting at $16.63 (price current as of September 2022).
Best spice grinder for a splurge
The Cuisinart Rechargeable Salt, Pepper, and Spice Mill combines style and functionality. Featuring two transparent grinding containers that let you grind two different spices simultaneously, the stainless steel appliance comes with a nifty charging base so you can always keep it fully charged. Plus, the mill can be adjusted to grind ingredients to be as coarse or fine as you like. This item comes with a three-year limited warranty.
So how does the Cuisinart Rechargeable Salt, Pepper, and Spice Mill measure up? According to Barbara from Basenjimom's Kitchen, the grinder has been a hit with cooking enthusiasts who have praised its versatility and rechargeability. "They can run for 15 to 20 minutes before having to be charged again. The LED indicators also make it easy to know when the equipment should be charged and ready to use," she writes.
One Amazon shopper who uses the appliance to grind pepper and rock salt over salads has said, "The dinner guests' eyes pop open wide when they see you sling this sleek, contemporary grinder to the dinner table. The only drawback is that you need to have a place/outlet that you dedicate to have the charging unit sit near. However, [the] quick push button use makes it all worth it."
The Cuisinart Rechargeable Salt, Pepper, and Spice Mill is available through Amazon as of September 2022 starting at $99.50.
Best manual spice grinder
Despite being a manual grinder, the Kuhn Rikon Adjustable Ratchet Grinder requires very little effort to use, so much so that it's suitable for those with limited mobility or grip strength. Simply fill the unit with spices and move the handle back and forth to grind. To adjust the grinder for finer or coarser grind, turn the knob at the base of the gadget. The appliance comes with a rust-resistant ceramic grinding stone for maximum durability (via Amazon).
According to AllFreeSlowCookerRecipes, it's Kuhn Rikon's ratchet design that makes it so effortless to use. This is because unlike standard manual grinders that require users to twist the top, this appliance requires only a back-and-forth motion that places less stress on the hands. As such, it's little surprise that Best Views Reviews awarded the grinder 9.6 out of 10 stars. The Kuhn Rikon Adjustable Ratchet Grinder also rated highly on Amazon, with 84% of shoppers giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
Perhaps one happy Amazon customer sums up the Kuhn Rikon Adjustable Ratchet Grinder's virtues best, saying, "I've owned two of these for over seven years. Still going strong. Used for rock salt and pepper. It's productive, you can grind out a tablespoon of pepper with ease and in less than 30 seconds. Try that with any twist-style mill!"
As of September 2022, the Kuhn Rikon Adjustable Ratchet Grinder may be purchased from Amazon starting at $21.95.
Best mortar and pestle spice grinder
Used for thousands of years to manually crush herbs, spices, seeds, and nuts, mortar and pestle sets give you the ultimate control over whatever it is you are grinding. Crafted from unpolished granite, the ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set provides natural friction, making it a great base for pulverizing cooking ingredients. The stoneware set has a large capacity of 500 milliliters, which equates to a little more than 2 cups. And since it's relatively heavy and features a stable base, it remains securely in place during use.
The ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set has received top user scores across various platforms. This includes 9.7 out of 10 on Don't Waste Your Money, 9.9 out of 10 on Best Views Reviews, and 9.6 out of 10 on The Review Index. It has also been awarded 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 84% of reviewers giving it 5 out of 5 stars. One Amazon shopper has praised the set, commenting, "Works great for pesto! Perfect size and made short work of grinding. The granite really crushes the tiny fibers. Washed up fast with no soap."
Purchase the ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set from Amazon starting at $26.82 (September 2022 list price).
Best spice grinder for fine grinding
Specifically designed for grinding hard spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, the Microplane Manual Spice Mill features ultra-sharp blades with 128 teeth to ensure a powder-fine grind — if that's what you want. In addition, the manual grinder lets you decide precisely how coarse or fine you want your grind to end up by adjusting the amount of pressure you use when twisting its top lid (via Amazon).
Available in multiple colors, the Microplane Manual Spice Mill was positively received by BBC Good Food. While the website points out that the appliance only works with a limited number of spices, it's perfect for what it's been designed to do. "Although it's not the most versatile spice grinder on the market, it's a must-have for keen bakers who use nutmeg, cinnamon and nuts regularly. The results are as fine as they get and rivaled some of our electric spice grinders," as per the website.
The Microplane Manual Spice Mill is available from Amazon with a list price in September 2022 of $20.99.
Best spice grinder for ease of use
Simple in design and easy to use, the Dreamfarm Ortwo Pepper, Salt, and Spice Mill lets you grind ingredients with either one or two hands — all it takes is squeezing and releasing the gadget's wooden handles. Featuring an easy-to-fill, 2-ounce tempered glass spice jar and rust-resistant alumina ceramic grinding mechanism, the unit is also very durable. Plus, it comes with six different grind size settings to ensure your spices end up just the way you want them.
So how does the Dreamfarm Ortwo Pepper, Salt, and Spice Mill measure up? The gadget has received 4.3 out of 5 stars across nearly 500 Amazon reviews, with some shoppers commenting that this one-handed tool is particularly useful while cooking. One Amazon shopper elaborates, "Whenever I would rub seasoning into raw meat ... I always needed to first wash my hands so that I could then use the pepper mill again since it required both hands, and I don't like touching kitchen tools that aren't really washable with contaminated hands. Voila! I got on Amazon looking specifically for a one-handed pepper mill to remedy this annoyance, and found this."
Purchase the Dreamfarm Ortwo Pepper, Salt, and Spice Mill from Amazon starting at $38.71 (price current as of September 2022).
Best spice grinder for salt and pepper
Ultra-convenient, the Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Grinder comes with two ceramic burr mills — one for salt and the other for pepper (or other spices). This means that not only can you store your spices inside the grinder, but that you can also grind them independently to the desired texture. The grinder features wide spouts to make filling a breeze and see-through acrylic containers so you can easily tell when it's time to restock. Each container can hold about a cup of seasoning. The Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Grinder comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
The Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Grinder has received 4.4 out of 5 stars across almost 1,000 Amazon reviews, indicating a favorable reception with shoppers. One Amazon reviewer has declared Eparé the winner after comparing it to two other two-in-one spice grinders, saying, "This is a true dual grinder, it had some nice packaging and also really useful illustrations for the instructions. The clear part and steel looked nice ... Filling this was super easy, the sides each unscrew and open a large filling jar. The caps also snap onto the mill sides in a pretty secure way. As far as the grind levels go I think there is a pretty good range [and the grinder is] easy enough to adjust."
As of September 2022, the Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Grinder may be purchased from Amazon starting at $24.95.
Best quiet spice grinder
Any gadget that features spinning blades is likely to be loud, and spice grinders are no exception. This is why those who don't like excessive noise might wish to invest in the Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder for Spices. Just like its name suggests, the Krups grinder has been engineered for quiet grinding. In fact, it's five times quieter than the best-selling Krups F203 grinder.
The Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder for Spices also features powerful Vortex Spin Technology that pulls ingredients into the blades. After all, there's a good reason why Jules Winnfield from The Cup Coffee House has called the Krups grinder an "electric assassin" that can grind beans for 12 cups of coffee in just 15 seconds.
The Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder has received a favorable rating of 9.1 out of 10 on Don't Waste Your Money and 8.6 out of 10 on Best Views Reviews. It has also been awarded an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars by more than 6,300 Amazon shoppers. One Amazon customer has commented on the grinder's quiet performance, saying, "Not completely silent but very quiet. Safe at 5:30 AM in our house. Bravo Krups!"
The Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder for Spices may be purchased from Amazon starting at $40.24, according to September 2022 pricing.
Best multipurpose spice grinder
Suitable for pulverizing spices, coffee beans, and nuts, the Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder is bound to meet your kitchen requirements. More specifically, the 200-watt grinder features two grinding cups. While the two-blade bowl can be used for pulverizing coffee beans, seeds, and nuts, the four-blade cup is suitable for spices, basil, and garlic. Both cups are removable for easy cleaning. To grind your ingredients, simply push down the gadget's lid — the longer you press the lid, the more powdery the texture of the content. The Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder comes with a two-year warranty (via Amazon).
The Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder has received a 9 out of 10 rating on Don't Waste Your Money and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 73% of shoppers giving the gadget 5 out of 5 stars. One Amazon customer has called the appliance a "powerful little grinder," saying that they use it for both dry and wet ingredients. Another Amazon reviewer also had a favorable rating, commenting, "I wanted something to grind up my seasoning with ease. It will grind it up to a fine powder and that's what was needed. It's still a little loud but for the job that it does, it's worth it."
Purchase the Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder from Amazon, which lists the price in September 2022 as $33.99.
Best compact spice grinder
Marrying a cast iron body with a beechwood lid, the Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinding Set measures 3.1 inches in depth by 3.5 inches in height. Ideal for grinding small quantities of dry and wet herbs, the nifty kitchen gadget is both handy and takes minimal kitchen space. To use the grinder, simply pop the spices in the outer cup and manually pulverize them by twisting the inner cup grinder. You can place any unused spices in the inner cup and seal them with the accompanying lid for storage (via Amazon).
The Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinding Set has garnered 4.6 out of 5 stars across more than 1,000 Amazon reviews. One Amazon shopper who likes the grinder's small size and simplicity has said, "[It's] ideal for making smaller batches of your favorite spice blend or any dried spices. If you only need a small amount of spices then why grind up a big batch that will sit unused in a jar and become stale? I like it for making garam masala for a single dish. Fresh every time."
The Zassenhaus Cast Iron Spice Grinding Set, available through Amazon, has a starting price in September 2022 of $32.95.