Portable Herb Grinder Types Benefits And Uses

By Susan Lee


There are so many interesting utensils and cooking tools that can be found in any kitchen aisle of the department store. Different cooking tasks have given birth to wonderful kitchen tool innovations. These inventions make cooking a more pleasant activity and in some cases can even make the food taste better.

One of the more popular kitchen tool is the grinder. These can range from the more primitive mortar and pestle to even altering the essential use of a coffee grinder. A new handy tool is the portable herb grinder. For one, it can be brought anywhere since it is very compact.

The main purpose for these simple machines are to save time from grinding the spices and the herbs by pounding on them with the mortar and pestle. And they do a really good job at pulverizing the spices for them to taste better. Bigger lumps of the substance tend to have a concentrated flavor that may ruin the over all taste of the dish.

These tools come in different types and composition. Considering which one to get solely depends on preference and, or budget. Wood, aluminum, plastic and metal types are available. Metal ones cost less than their wood counterparts due to the material.

The most sturdy types are ones made out of metal alloys like aluminum and zinc. These do have the tendency for the metal to get mixed in the grounded herbs which may be harmful. But in perspective it is not like there is an excessive amount of that metal that get into the pulverized spices that can be harmful.

Wood is a very delicate material used for this instrument. It can easily break if used with black pepper seeds. It is meant for softer herbs. Plastic is the least recommended since the spikes that ground the spices can chip off and get mixed with the food, which is very harmful even in such little amounts.

Grinders also vary in structure. There are two, three and four chamber types. The two chamber device does not have a catcher for the grounded ingredients, which makes this option a bit messy. They can be considered as a substitute to table top pepper dispensers. The three chamber type have the catcher which makes clean up so much easier. Four chambered one come are the expensive ones since they come along with a scraper to remove any excess debris

There are different methods to cleaning these tools. One way is through sterilization. Metal types are simply placed in a pot of boiling water. Another way is using a soft bristle toothbrush to do the job with some water. This will take some effort but this method has the cleanest result.

This kitchen tool is essential especially if one is the type that grows their own herbs. There is a huge difference in flavor when seasonings are bought off the counter and when they are grown in a backyard, dried and then ground to be used immediately in the dish. This is guaranteed to give any dish a more luscious flavor.




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