Whether you aim to grind your favorite whole spices or craft a personalized marinade, spice grinders prove to be a delightful and convenient tool that can elevate your culinary creations. Serving as a relative to the reliable food processor, this versatile tool allows you to select any spice – be it whole spice leaves or robust coffee beans – and witness its seamless transformation into a finely ground spice blend.
The possibilities with this invaluable tool are boundless. To assist you in making an informed choice, we thoroughly researched and tested both electric and manual models, conducting side-by-side assessments at home. Our evaluation criteria encompassed aspects such as design, size, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. A diverse array of spices, ranging from delicate dried mint to fennel and peppercorns, were ground to gauge the grinders' capabilities and identify those that truly stand out as the best in their category.
KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder
Capacity: 2880 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and plastic
Motor: 200 watts
Dishwasher Safe: Yes, for removable parts (top rack only
Diverging from other grinders notorious for their obnoxious noise levels, the Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder stands out with its emphasis on quiet operation. Ideal for early morning cooks or those requiring a noise-free environment during a child's nap, this Krups model incorporates patent-pending Vortex Spin Technology. This technology aids in pulling ingredients into its blades, ensuring a grinding process that is not only efficient but also remarkably quiet. The grinder features a one-touch button that can be held down for continuous grinding or tapped for pulsing.
Our tester observed that, unlike similar models, the Krups grinder provided an impressively even grind for lightweight dry herbs such as mint and rosemary, effectively keeping them close to the blade. While grinding peppercorns took a bit longer compared to other models, the resulting grind was excellent. The lid's design made it somewhat challenging to clear away any powder or residue between uses. However, the grinding bowl, grinding lid, and storage lid are all dishwasher safe (top rack only) for thorough cleaning.
The removable stainless steel grinding bowl comes with a storage lid, allowing you to store spices by simply popping the lid on and placing it in your pantry. It's worth noting that, unlike the KitchenAid, the Krups comes with only one grinding bowl, preventing simultaneous grinding and storage.
Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder
Capacity: 70 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and plastic
Motor: 200 watts
Dishwasher Safe: Removable parts only
Numerous outstanding spice grinders are available, but the Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder secures the top spot for several compelling reasons. Notably, it features two separate milling bowls – one designated for grinding dry ingredients and the other for chopping wet ingredients. The bowls also boast convenient measurement markings on the inside, streamlining the process of adding precise amounts without the need for separate measuring spoons. To prevent ground ingredients from scattering as the blades spin, the grinder includes a transparent plastic cover that sits atop the stainless steel bowl.
The two-blade grinding bowl is adept at handling dried ingredients, ranging from herbs like rosemary and thyme to spices like peppercorns and cardamom. Our tester observed that it consistently produced a fine grind for most spices, effortlessly creating enough freshly ground pepper for cacio e pepe within approximately 10 seconds. While lightweight herbs such as mint struggled to stay near the blade, resulting in slightly uneven outcomes, these herbs typically don't require an extremely uniform grind.
Compact yet powerful, the Secura boasts a 200-watt motor capable of effortlessly handling an array of spices, as well as larger items like nuts and coffee beans. Its built-in overheat protection further extends its lifespan, ensuring it remains a reliable kitchen companion for an extended period.
Mangol Coffee and Spice Grinder
Capacity: 113 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and plastic
Motor: 150 watts
Dishwasher Safe: No
For an economical solution to freshly grind spices, the MANGOL Coffee and Spice Grinder offer a budget-friendly alternative without compromising performance. MANGOL model provides affordability, making it a cost-effective choice.
With a 150-watt motor, it is slightly less powerful than some counterparts in this category, yet it can easily deliver a medium-fine to coarse grind. The grinder is available in black or minty blue, allowing you to choose the option that complements your kitchen's aesthetic and potentially leave it on display on the countertop.
During testing, our reviewer used the grinder on various herbs and spices, noting its commendable performance. While it may not achieve the same level of consistency or fineness as higher-end models, it proves to be effective and stands out as an excellent option given its affordable price point.
Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder
Capacity: 70 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and plastic
Motor: 200 watts
Dishwasher Safe: No
The Shardor Coffee and Spice Grinder exemplify masterful design to serve as the ultimate multitasking tool. Equipped with two stainless steel bowls, the first features a two-blade grinder bowl adept at handling dry items such as spices and coffee beans. Meanwhile, the second is a four-blade chopper bowl designed for wet-grinding tasks like garlic and herbs, such as basil, eliminating the need for manual mincing during cooking.
This grinder's design caters to individuals with manual dexterity concerns. Instead of employing a conventional on/off button, the motor is activated by pushing down on the entire lid. During testing, our reviewer noted that the model excelled with spices (as opposed to dried herbs) and required a minimum of a tablespoon for each ingredient to achieve an optimal grind. The removable bowl simplifies the extraction of every last granule of ground spice with just a few taps. Additionally, it comes with a coffee spoon featuring a brush on its handle, facilitating the removal of any residual dust or powder. While the manufacturer recommends hand washing the lid and bowls, they advise against placing them in the dishwasher.
Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder
Capacity: 90 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and plastic
Motor: 200 watts
Dishwasher Safe: Yes for removable parts (top rack only)
For those in need of a spice grinder capable of handling larger quantities of spices, especially for batch cooking or meal prepping, the Cuisinart Spice and Nut Grinder emerges as one of the most sizeable and powerful options available. With a substantial 90-gram (just over 3 ounces) bowl and a robust 200-watt motor, this grinder is engineered to tackle more extensive grinding tasks with ease. Its potent motor effortlessly handles larger and harder items, including nuts, seeds, and even nutmeg.
While lacking elaborate features, with a single stainless steel bowl and a straightforward push-top on/off control, the grinder's simplicity contributes to its overall appeal. Our tester observed that, akin to similar models with a two-blade design, lightweight herbs tended to scatter away from the blade area, resulting in a somewhat uneven grind. However, when dealing with heavier spices like cloves and peppercorns, the machine performed exceptionally well. It is crucial to adhere to the recommended grinding times outlined in the manual for optimal results.
KitchenAid Blade Coffee and Spice Grinder
Capacity: 113 grams
Materials: Stainless steel and polycarbonate
Motor: 160 watts
Dishwasher Safe: Yes for removable parts (top rack only
Unsurprisingly, KitchenAid, renowned for its leadership in kitchen gadgets, secures the title of the best multipurpose spice grinder with its dual coffee and spice grinder. Setting itself apart from other grinders, which often necessitate thorough cleaning between different spices or when transitioning from coffee to spice grinding, the KitchenAid boasts three separate stainless steel grinding bowls.
These distinct bowls enable you to swiftly grind various spices without the flavor transfer that typically occurs when using a single bowl for the entire process. Additionally, two storage lids are provided, allowing you to seal two of the bowls if you grind more than needed and store the excess in your pantry for later use.
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