3 Reasons Why You Should Use Manual Salt and Pepper Mill for Your Dish

3 Reasons Why You Should Use Manual Salt and Pepper Mill for Your Dish - HolarBlog

It’s not a secret that manual salt and pepper mills for your dish are so much healthier than salt and pepper shakers. In fact, they are better for you than the commercialized salt and pepper shakers. Around 35,000 BC, pestles and mortars were used by ancient culinary artists to grind their herbs in the same way we use salt and pepper mills (or S&P mills) today on our food. In a sense, this is what the purpose should of been when you look at it now. S&P mills that you’ll find in restaurant kitchens are the mills that crush and grind to make using them unnoticeable. Fine-dine restaurants use them because they know very well that it brings out the magic from the original formation of salt grains or peppercorns. The salt grain can be as big as a fist! From some of the freshest herbs like these two, recipes can be what saves your dish from banel-like meals, or blan, as the famous Chef Ramsey is known to say.

 

1) AVOIDING OXIDATION; it spoils your dish

Pre-ground spice is oxidized and loses potency after grinding such as salt and pepper. Salt has been obtained from salt marshes and minerals such as rock salt for centuries. This is to keep the original flavors of the black and white herbs such as salt and pepper fresh and in its original state. Culinary artists use them to make herbs avoid oxidation as well. In fact, using anything, but the original grinds of salt and peppercorns will spoil the entire meal, at least for some, because it loses its original flavor.

Fresh pepper and salt; the benefits of the herb and spices

There are many benefits to herbs and spices. When preparing them, you’re either going to lose the potency or keep it and enhance the flavors. For those who have a career in the culinary arts, there are some differences between them all. In fact, there is no better way than to grind fresh herbs and spices other than with a salt and pepper mill.

Ground Pepper

Ground Pepper - HolarBlog

Ground pepper is made by grinding the peppercorns to various ways. Whole peppercorns or the dried berries of the Piper Nigrum plant is one of the world’s most popular spice. The universal condiment will unleash your dish with much more power and this is the main reason for its use. With a penetrating and sharp aroma, it’ somehow brings a hot taste to recipes made with it giving it a savory taste to it compared to other spices.

For more savory dishes, it’s how well you want your food to taste. There is another reason why this process is preferred rather than regular shakers. It is the mills keep the spices fresh, potent and ready to put on certain foods. To grind your spices is to keep its original potency. It can be grounded while still having its original flavor and will not lose that original potency while processing it. From grinder to food, it comes out with a water savoring result that always packs a punch when using an S&P mill for your food. The main power comes from grinding and crushing of pepper onto your food.

The ease of the mill is all on the top chamber. This is on the grinder is where you put in the spices. Normally, some can have various ranges or a dial that will give you grinding options. The top chamber or bowl of the mill is where you put the herbals or spices. It’s this mechanism that the peppercorns or large sized salt grains go through and which get ground. Crushing it and splitting the whole peppercorns into pieces is where the flavors, taste, and aroma originate from. Each pepper or peppercorn has it’s own distinct flavor. It’s where the real magic come in. Here are several types of peppers:

  • Black pepper
  • White pepper
  • Green pepper
  • Wild pepper
  • Orange pepper and red pepper
  • Pink pepper and other plants used as pepper

SALTS: Enhancing flavor with gourmet salts

Salt - HolarBlog

To enhance the flavor, use gourmet salts which are often non-iodized. Sea salt contains only the smallest amounts of iodine which have been known to be used instead of commercial salts. Common salt comprises a very stable and simple taste. It’s basically a chemical compound called sodium chloride which is better known to consumers as common salt. The salty flavor is the most obvious of sodium chloride. Like table salt, it typically contains minor amounts of additives to keep it free-flowing.

As it is so chemically stable, sodium chloride cannot lose its saltiness. You can store it for years, and still no. But, it can appear like it is, with a dull-like presence. Sodium chloride is readily water-soluble; in other words, if it gets moist or condensation surrounds it, including rain water, it dissolves. (Sugar does this in the same conditions.) Consequently, sodium chloride may lose a little of that saltiness.

Iodized and non-iodized salts

Salt has a mineral element which we use to help us grow and develop. In fact, we need iodine, a non-metallic mineral for our consumption. There are different colors of it, pink, gray, and white. The proper development of humans is found to be a big reason for the need. It’s found in most types of soils so we naturally ingest it. Since animals and humans eat vegetables and meat, it becomes a natural ingestion because of our natural environment. A full cycle of the food chain is evident. In other words, we ingest it somehow naturally or what we eat. We eat vegetables, meats, fruit, and fast-food. When the natural processes of eating these foods, we, thus, consume, ingest, and digest what iodine we have in us.

The popular white salt is commercialized more than half the time. This type is also packed with preservatives and additives. This means aluminum compounds are contained in the ingredients because of us humans breaking it down further. This is a big reason why we should have a healthy diet with non-iodized salt.

Non-Iodized salt in humans is a healthy balance for food connoisseurs since we get enough of iodine already, as said before. We are required to have it in us, but not too much because of the small amount of iodine traces we have anyway, naturally. Although, there are health issues that come with being iodine deficient.

As humans, we can get an enlarged thyroid gland and gain weight. There are other deficiencies which directed as a result of this deficiency. The thyroid gland where the iodine is stored requires this mineral. Mainly, the “synthesis of the hormones it secretes.”

It is reported worldwide that iodine deficiency affects approximately 2 billion people. It can be prevented since it’s the leading “preventable” cause that can prevent those which may develop disabilities. The deficiency is one of the leading causes of intellectual and developmental disabilities which causes problems in the thyroid gland. It’s called “endemic goitre”

Understanding the concept of fresh herbs with a mill

The concept of utilizing fresh herbals is to understand the reasons why they need to remain in the fullest natural state as possible. Keeping the seasons fresh as possible is the main concept of the mills. Mills are seen and used by chefs at more high end restaurants.

Those whole seasons, assessing fresh herbs such as from salt and pepper mills is much about caring for the food eaten. Seasoning it with fresh herbs is a way to illustrate how much we care for the food we eat. A healthy solution compared to simply grabbing any old salt and pepper shaker is switching over. For whatever reason, many patrons don’t realize how often S&P mills aren’t thought of when spices are put on the food. Therefore, you’ll see more of them at finer places than you used to decades ago. Since it’s found to be a healthier source for spices, the mills and grinders are all the spices you need for your S&P. It’s because the potential of fresh herbals like salt and pepper flakes have more of a flavor, therefore, you don’t need as much spices.

Different peppercorns for different recipes

Why they are more versatile will be discussed here. In fact, the larger amounts pre-ground spices you will need to use to make it equivalent to less freshly ground pepper is high. Lest not forget that you will protect your cooking from the banal spices. The most common varieties of ground pepper are black and white. Black pepper is the one most people will associate with at the dinner table. In fact, even when they do not fully ripen they’re picked. The flavor of it is strong along with the taste. There is a touch of sweetness to it. You can taste this sweetness before the aftertaste. On the other hand, white peppercorns are allowed to ripen on their vine. After harvesting, the outer husks are removed. It is slow soaked in water first and as a result, it is a smooth, light-tan colored pepper with a milder flavor.

Black and white Pepper - HolarBlog

 

2) Fresh pepper and salt benefits your health

There are several reasons why the benefits are great for an individual’s health. The fresh seasonings like these help the body avoid colic, constipation, and diarrhea. Fresh pepper is used by many gourmet chefs, cooks, and food lovers because they know it brings out the best organic substances from the herbs.

Here are some other things that fresh seasonings have compared to ground salt and pepper.

To help prevent intestinal gas, adding fresh ground pepper to your diet has promoted the “sweating and urination” of certain toxins. It can remove these impurities from the body. This flushes out the system by way of the individual’s pores. This includes impurities of foreign substances and bodies.

Excess water can be removed by urination, plus uric acid and urea (4% of urine is fat which will be removed as well).

It is beneficial for those who have gastric “mucosal damage and peptic ulcers.” It is a natural antioxidant which is has anti-inflammatory properties.

Black pepper helps with respiratory disorders while helping the most common anemic disorders. Also, common colds, coughs, muscular strains, heart disease and dental disease benefit as well. The use of black pepper researchers are discovering. There is no confirmation on this, but it’s ongoing.

Salt & Pepper mill type

Salt and pepper mills come in many different styles. The three main types of salt and pepper mills are the standard twist-top mills, lever operated mills, and electric salt and pepper mills. The twist top mills are the favorites. It’s based on your personal preference. Some have two reservoirs in one. The seasoning comes out according to where you point the dial. A majority of them have it at the top. The other dial is at the bottom. If they come in singles, then matching them up as a set is the popular option. Simply put salt in one and pepper in the other. But, don’t make the mistake of putting salt in a mill which is supposed to be for peppercorns. The reason is that the metals are designed pepper so it can corrode the mill.

Pepper mills are available in a variety of sizes, styles and materials, such as wood, plastic or metal. Some mills have a handle on the top to turn when grinding while others simply use the round cap on the top as the turning device to do the grinding. On either the top or the bottom there is typically a tightening device that increases or decreases the tension resulting in a range of different grinds, but most often classified as small, medium or large grind.

These are some of the top 3 materials that the mills can be designed in.

Mill Type - HolarBlog

How a peppercorn is ground through the mill is basic mechanics. They are placed in the mill when the top is turned, the ground pepper spills to the bottom. When using a pepper mill to grind pepper.

A fine grind is best for salad dressings, purées, egg dishes, potato salads, and foods that do not want the pepper flakes to be noticeable. It’s useful when a fine even distribution of the flavor is desired, but little or none will be noticeable. Soups, sauces, white meats, and fish will often have a fine ground pepper seasoning.

A medium grind is a general purpose grind to season meats, fish, shellfish, poultry, soups, stews, pasta, and miscellaneous savory foods.

Coarse ground pepper is best suited for marinades, hearty meats, salads and any dish in which the pepper flavor is to be noticed. Creating a pepper-seared steak, burgers, filet, or other types of “big chunks” of meat is recommended. The result, a smoking dark crust with big speckles of pepper.

The flavor of it for being a slight burn or charred for some with this type of pepper marinade is a favorite to many who enjoy using coarse pepper for their meats. From a commercial kitchen point of view, the size of the grind has more to do with the aesthetics of the finished flavors.

 

3) Add class and style to your kitchen and dining room

You can add class and style to your kitchen and dining room with these salt and pepper mills. In fact, they are great for those who love to cook cuisine-like meals. Using the freshest herbs and spices with them can only get better. It is a personal preference for many on account of the manner at which cooks or chefs used it. It’s the entire experience is seen in many high-end restaurants with the use of S&P mills, especially when used in front of a patron during the prepping, the cooking, and the serving phase. In fact, it enhances the texture of the food as well as in the restaurant’s atmosphere. It shows a little class and style for the restaurant itself.

Adding some style is grinding your mills in front of those who you cook for. One particular Chinese restaurant, grinding salt and pepper mills used by waiters are gracefully done in front of their guests as per request. From traditional looking ones to wooden mills and even clear acrylic mills, they are modern looking. They can go to any kitchen, in fact, some of the mills today are used in high-end restaurants worldwide. Take a look at the Belon Restaurant in China. A world famous restaurant known to have their chefs use them. The waiters use them. They utilize a huge spice mill, which is almost as long as the waiter. You can say that it is simply elegant using them because of the way they look one you see the herbal flakes on your seared steaks and fresh vegetable salads. It is a snapshot right out of a high-end food cuisine, glossy, magazine. Better yet, your dish will taste as if it came right out of a 5-star kitchen restaurant.

Restaurant waiter - HolarBlog

Finally, using these are great for kitchen chefs or culinary artists. They are recommended because of the fine quality materials they are made from as well. In addition, there are tons of salt and pepper mills that are on the market, so you want the best. In fact, if you care about your food you eat, wouldn’t you want the best possible seasoning with the most wholesome herbs to taste as well?

For more information, visit here for more Salt and Pepper Mill series.

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