Season Your Foods Like a Pro with These Chef-Recommended Spice Grinders

Best Overall

FinaMill Pepper Mill & Spice Grinder

$45 at Amazon $40 at Wayfair $45 at Food52

After using FinaMill’s grinder in our test kitchen, it became an instant favorite thanks to its user-friendly design and unique features. The battery-operated device is so convenient due to its portable, lightweight size and one-touch operation that you can maneuver with one hand. Unlike electric models that work similarly to coffee grinders, this one eliminates the extra step of removing the grounds and allows you to season foods directly from the vessel. 

The grinder comes with two pods suitable for all types of spices, from large peppercorns to dried parsley. During our tests, we were able to pour an entire jar of peppercorns into a pod, meaning you won’t have to refill it often. Though we noticed coarser grounds here and there, the majority featured uniform pieces. There is a hidden knob on the bottom of the pod to adjust coarseness to your liking.

• Material: Plastic and ceramic
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best Electric

Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder

View on Amazon $40 at Williams-Sonoma View on Cuisinart.com

A medium-sized grinder like the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder — not too big and not too small — forces you to grind your spices fresh. If you use a big grinder, you might prepare too large of a batch that will sit on the shelf for longer and ultimately lose its aromatic freshness.

The alternative is a grinder like this, where you can crush and smash in small doses, controlling the freshness to the maximum extent, explains chef Tarik Fallous of Lebanese restaurant Au Za'atar in New York.

F&W Best New Chef alum Nina Compton, of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans, opts for the Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder, too. "It's very easy to use, and the best part is that it can also be used to grind nuts. Another perk is that this grinder is easy to maintain."

They're not the only chefs who prefer the Cuisinart gadget either: Celebrity Chef Donatella Arpaia uses the same one. The space-efficient grinder features extra-sharp, stainless-steel blades that can handle ingredients like whole cloves to cinnamon sticks. It's easy to clean too, with a removable grinding bowl, and includes a removable airtight lid for seamless storage.

• Material: Stainless steel blade
• Dishwasher-safe: Grinding bowl is dishwasher safe

Best Manual

Cole & Mason Granite Mortar & Pestle

$55 at Amazon $100 at Williams-Sonoma $55 at Sur La Table

After years of trying various spice grinders and being disappointed, executive chef Ryan Pera of Coltivare in Houston, Texas, uses a mortar and pestle. "It's reliable and multi-use," he says. "I use it to make guacamole, pastes, even aiolis, as well as grinding spices."

Maneet Chauhan, James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and co-founder of Morph Hospitality Group, would rather use a mortar and pestle, too. "This way, your spices aren't ground to powder, but instead, they are left a bit more coarse, similar to cracked pepper versus powdered pepper, which gives you a better texture," she says.

In her kitchen, she uses the 7-inch Cole & Mason Granite mortar and pestle from William Sonoma, which is "the ideal size whether you're working with a small or large amount of spices," she says. "Another trick I often do is I toast my spices before grinding them, which gives you the best flavors," she adds. "When the spices are still warm, they break and mix together more cohesively."

This particular mortar and pestle is heavyweight black granite, which provides steady control when grinding. It works for both wet and dry ingredients, with an unpolished, rough-textured interior that will help take spice-making to the next level.

• Material: Polished granite
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Best Multipurpose

KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder

$30 at Amazon $40 at Wayfair $30 at Walmart

Top Chef star Jeremy Ford avoids a traditional spice grinder at his Miami restaurant Stubborn Seed. The chef, who stars in the truTV show Fast Foodies, says that the best grinder he's ever used isn't meant for spices.

"My favorite spice grinder isn't a spice grinder at all — it's a coffee grinder," he says. "I use the KitchenAid one at Stubborn Seed because it's so durable. It can withstand the roughness and wear and tear of daily use in a real restaurant kitchen."

The KitchenAid tool includes a one-touch control, making grinding so easy that you'll wonder why you ever bought pre-ground spices. Push down on the cover to begin grinding and release to stop, and use the clear lid to view the size and consistency of spices and grinds.

If you're wondering whether you're one of the only ones using a coffee grinder for spices, the short answer is no. This gadget is equipped with spice-grinding accessory bowls and specialized blade designs that you can swap in to grind spices such as coriander and cumin.

• Material: Stainless steel blade
• Dishwasher-safe: Grinding bowl is dishwasher-safe

Best Quiet

KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder

$35 at Amazon $33 at Walmart $35 at Wayfair

Grinding doesn't have to be noisy and messy. F&W Test Kitchen editor Kelsey Youngman recommends the KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder since it's one of the most silent grinders on the market and doesn't take up much space on her counter. Because it's two pieces, there are no small parts to lose.

"It's compact, efficient, works quickly, and isn't too hard to clean," she says. "It works equally well for tough cinnamon sticks and star anise pods as it does with fine cumin or fennel seeds. Then, I blitz white rice in it to get lingering scents and bits of spice out."

• Material: Stainless steel blade
• Dishwasher-safe: Grinding bowl is dishwasher safe

Best Molcajete

Vasconia Granite Molcajete Mortar and Pestle

$34 at Amazon $34 at Walmart $33 at Wayfair

Molcajetes are versatile and can be used for minimal quantities of spices and wet or dry use. They add a nice depth of flavor due to how the essential oils are released through the twisting and turning of the grinder against the stone — and it doesn't add any mechanical heat like an electric grinder.

That's why James Beard Award-nominated chef Timon Balloo, who creates seasonings without a spice grinder at all, prefers this molcajete. He takes a hands-on approach with a four-cup granite mortar and pestle, which can grind anything, including grains, herbs, and spices.

"No matter how heavy, messy, and time-consuming it can be, I love the classic mortar and pestle," he says. "Sure, when I'm in a rush, it's easier to put spices in an electric grinder, but it's not as therapeutic and rewarding as using a manual version."

Balloo raves about the budget-friendly Vasconia Granite Molcajete version. "It's wide enough to use large circular motions or pound," Balloo says. "I like to make sure the surface is rough and sealed."

• Material: Granite
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Best for Salt and Pepper

Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set

$35 at Amazon

This set was named our best overall pick for pepper grinders due to its outstanding performance during our tests, earning perfect scores across all five categories. Our favorite parts about this set are that it features two settings for fine or coarse grounds and produces consistent results at the press of a button. 

We also love the grinder’s sleek design with an unexpectedly large capacity. You can fill each vessel with 30 grams of salt and pepper, and store them on the included tray on your stovetop or kitchen counter. Plus, it’s super easy to refill the grinders when they’re running low thanks to the thorough instructions and helpful arrows to show which way to twist them open. We didn’t have any major issues with these grinders, but we noticed a lot of fingerprint marks on the stainless steel finish after each use.

• Material: Stainless steel and acrylic
• Dishwasher-safe: No