This feature is particularly great for people who don’t have a light attached to their stove range hood, or lackluster lighting in their kitchen in general. This light allows you to better see how much salt and pepper you are putting in your dishes, which helps prevent overseasoning. Both grinders are electric, come with two grind settings (fine and coarse), and even have a light attached to the mechanism. This two-in-one combo set is perfect for people who want freshly ground pepper and salt but don’t want to have to go through the trouble of buying a separate salt grinder. Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want a battery-powered pepper grinder.

Who it’s for: People who want to buy an easy-to-use and affordable salt and pepper mill set. Read on to learn more about our top picks and how to pick the best pepper grinder for your cooking needs. In addition to Irani, we spoke to two other spice experts for advice on what makes a great pepper grinder: John Beaver, co-owner of Oaktown Spice Shop, and Lior Lev Sercarz, owner of La Boîte and author of Mastering Spice. To determine which pepper grinders are the best on the market, we tested 22 different pepper grinders in our Lab and evaluated them on design, size, performance, ease of use, and value. Having a pepper grinder on hand gives you all these benefits, but we found during our research that not all mills are created equal.

“Pre-ground pepper loses its potency and flavor and you end up using more than you would if it were fresh, which then results in muddying your dish”.

“Peppercorns, like most spices, are the most aromatic and pungent when freshly ground,” says Meherwan Irani, James Beard-nominated chef and founder of Spicewalla. Like many foods, pepper is best when it’s freshly ground.

Download black pepper grinder