When choosing a mill there are so many variables that you will need to pick one based on your particular tastes and requirements. Your choice will obviously be affected by appearance. However, appearance is not the only consideration and if you want one that not only makes a statement but is well made and offers high performance too, you will probably need to look at handcrafted pepper mills.
The earliest mills were made of wood and used traditional meat grinders. Today they are made from steel, acrylic, ceramic and even marble but wood is still extensively used. Craftsmen working with wood usually select rare, exotic wood varieties prized for their grain colours, patterns, and general beauty. Multiple layers of lacquer are often applied to provide a lustrous finish.
Craftsmen often give free reign to their creativity in handcrafting these items, sometimes producing truly unusual pieces. There are sleek wood designs in different finishes for a modern kitchen. High-gloss lacquered finishes on painted wood are a bold look for a country table. Old fashioned designs are also produced, more suited to a vintage setting.
Much time and skill is required in construction of these items. All parts need to work perfectly together, creating fresh fine, medium or coarse grains consistently. You do not want to have to grind forever to produce an adequate amount of pepper or to strain your wrists in the process.
Most serious cooks insist that freshly ground pepper has a distinctive taste. They say that it can make a great difference to the taste of a dish. One begins to understand why these items are considered essential in any kitchen and why chefs go out of their way to buy highly functioning ones that grind easily.
It is important that a mill is easy to fill. The opening must be large enough so you do not end up with peppercorns all over the kitchen. Some have to be opened by sliding a cover to reveal an aperture. In other cases it has to be popped open. Many require you to unscrew the top to fill the chamber.
When considering size, remember that the larger the item, the heavier it will be to handle. A very large item may be more suited for use in a restaurant than a home kitchen. However, you will want one with good capacity as you do not want to be constantly refilling it.
The quality of the grinding mechanism is an important consideration when purchasing such an item. A serious cook needs to be able to use both fine and coarse grinds depending on what a recipe requires. It should be able to be adjusted, either by turning a knob at the top or adjusting a dial or screw on the bottom.
You can expect to pay more for handcrafted pepper mills due to the quality of materials used and amount of time taken to produce them. However, they are worth the cost due to their appearance, durability and functionality. A number of craftsmen are even prepared to offer guarantees on their products.
The earliest mills were made of wood and used traditional meat grinders. Today they are made from steel, acrylic, ceramic and even marble but wood is still extensively used. Craftsmen working with wood usually select rare, exotic wood varieties prized for their grain colours, patterns, and general beauty. Multiple layers of lacquer are often applied to provide a lustrous finish.
Craftsmen often give free reign to their creativity in handcrafting these items, sometimes producing truly unusual pieces. There are sleek wood designs in different finishes for a modern kitchen. High-gloss lacquered finishes on painted wood are a bold look for a country table. Old fashioned designs are also produced, more suited to a vintage setting.
Much time and skill is required in construction of these items. All parts need to work perfectly together, creating fresh fine, medium or coarse grains consistently. You do not want to have to grind forever to produce an adequate amount of pepper or to strain your wrists in the process.
Most serious cooks insist that freshly ground pepper has a distinctive taste. They say that it can make a great difference to the taste of a dish. One begins to understand why these items are considered essential in any kitchen and why chefs go out of their way to buy highly functioning ones that grind easily.
It is important that a mill is easy to fill. The opening must be large enough so you do not end up with peppercorns all over the kitchen. Some have to be opened by sliding a cover to reveal an aperture. In other cases it has to be popped open. Many require you to unscrew the top to fill the chamber.
When considering size, remember that the larger the item, the heavier it will be to handle. A very large item may be more suited for use in a restaurant than a home kitchen. However, you will want one with good capacity as you do not want to be constantly refilling it.
The quality of the grinding mechanism is an important consideration when purchasing such an item. A serious cook needs to be able to use both fine and coarse grinds depending on what a recipe requires. It should be able to be adjusted, either by turning a knob at the top or adjusting a dial or screw on the bottom.
You can expect to pay more for handcrafted pepper mills due to the quality of materials used and amount of time taken to produce them. However, they are worth the cost due to their appearance, durability and functionality. A number of craftsmen are even prepared to offer guarantees on their products.
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