Manual vs. electric: To use a manual pepper mill, you'll fill a chamber and then turn a portion of the mill to grind the pepper. For electric grinders, you’ll fill a hopper and then push a button to grind. An electric grinder can be a good choice for those with dexterity or hand-strength issues, as the repetitive motion of grinding can get tiring with manual models. We rated each mill on how easy it is to use with oily hands and dry hands. It tend to be the pricier grinders that are easy to use if you have oily hands. Time to grind a teaspoon With its grinding mechanism on top, this OXO Good Grips Salt Grinder won’t spill salt all over the dining room table, and our customers love it. Sometimes seasoning requires accuracy. You might want to pepper your steak, but not the chips to the side of it.

John Lewis plc, registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 724309) for the purpose of introducing the credit provided by Creation Consumer Finance Ltd, registered office: Wellington Buildings, 2-4 Wellington Street, Belfast BT1 6HT.With plenty in our kitchenware range, you can create a dining room to show off with pride. Start with our table cloths—from plain and understated to bold and beautiful, we offer cloths for various occasions. We also have wipe-clean options—perfect when little ones make a mess. Make sure you have plenty of placematson hand to minimise spillages to the table. They also keep hot plates off the table, helping protect sensitive tabletops.

Electric grinders may require up to four AA batteries each, which means you’ll need eight batteries per set. Some salt and pepper grinder sets don’t include the actual spices. You’ll need to buy your salt or pepper separately. Ease of refill: Some mills and grinders have a narrow opening that makes it harder to smoothly funnel peppercorns into the chamber. Look for models with a large and easy-to-open access point.Finished in stylish steel and acrylic, the salt mill looks the part, as well as performs it. A simple twist of the collar adjusts the coarseness depending on whether you’re seasoning a dish or wanting a crunchy, salty garnish. We tested two electric grinders and were surprised at how many batteries were needed (eight for each set) and how difficult the batteries were to fit. We assessed whether there was a differentiation between the size of the fine, medium and coarse grinds for each as well as how the sizes compared across models. Thanks to its compact and intuitive design, this grinder performed well in our Lab tests. Though the fine setting was not the finest in our testing, we liked that there is a differentiation between the fine and coarse grinds. The five settings to choose the grind size are clearly marked and easy to select. It holds 62 grams (about 1/2 cup) of peppercorns, which is an efficient use of space for a grinder of this size.

If you need or prefer to push a button rather than use a twisting motion, this electric grinder is for you. It's d esigned with two chambers so you can keep salt and pepper ready for use. The unit is rechargeable: Simply store it in the charging base — which includes a removable crumb tray that catches loose grounds for easy cleanup — and an indicator light will let you know the grinder is ready. The grind size is adjustable from fine to coarse, but the dial does not include preset grind sizes. When creating meals for your family and friends, it’s a good idea to go easy on the salt and pepper and simply allow each individual to add as much or as little of the spices as they prefer to their meal. Keeping a salt and pepper grinder set on your dining room table will provide easy access to these coveted spices.Some modern designs proved easier to use if you have oily hands from cooking and there was also a big difference with how easy the coarseness setting is to adjust. Easily adjustable with a rotating tab for coarse to fine grinding, they have non-corrosive ceramic grinders that won't absorb flavours or odours. The grinder is positioned at the top of the mill so it won't leave a mess on the table. The mill rests flat when upside down for easy refilling. Choose your mills

It has six fixed grinding settings that are easy to select and clearly labeled on the base of the mill. The grinding action was smooth. But it was somewhat difficult to refill, since it's designed with a center post to drive the grinder, and you must add the peppercorns around it. Creation Consumer Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 311518). It’s good practice to use a dry brush or cloth to fully clean out your grinders before refilling them.While the thought of freshly ground salt or pepper at the press of a button might sound appealing, the reality can be different. Our tests found that if you like even grains on both coarse and fine settings and grinders that aren't a fiddle to fill, it's generally worth paying more. Best salt and pepper grinders from our test