The 4 best pepper mills, tested and reviewed

Best overall: Peugeot Paris u'Select

Pros: Easy to adjust, even fine grind, attractive finish

Cons: Coarse grind in on the finer side

The Peugeot Paris u'Select Pepper Mill is a classic: intuitive to use and beautiful to display. You adjust the setting by rotating a labeled band of wood at the mill's base. Of the pepper mills with specific grind settings, it was the easiest to turn, and because the band is located at the base, you don't have to worry about the mill coming apart as you adjust it.

The hourglass shape of the mill is easy to grip, and the texture of the wood feels more natural than others that were highly polished, which I preferred. No matter what setting you're on, the pepper comes out in a neat circle and doesn't spray wide.

My Peugeot pepper mill sits next to my stove and has to contend with splashing oil and general cooking debris. I have been using this mill for six months and it looks as good as the day I got it. The dark matte finish doesn't show grime, and I can easily clean it with one swipe with a damp cloth.

The coarsest grind was finer than others we tested and the Peugeot was average in terms of speed. We tested the 7-inch pepper mill, but multiple sizes are available if you're looking for one of the best pepper mills with more capacity.

Best easy-grind: PepperMate Traditional Pepper Mill

Pros:Very easy to use and fill, adjustable grind, has a receptacle for easily catching and containing ground pepper

Cons:Receptacle has fallen off during grinding, resulting in spilled pepper; not the ideal design for serving at the table

Everything about the PepperMate's design is easy: its wide opening is easy to fill without peppercorns running all over the place; it's easy to adjust and crank; and a plastic receptacle at the base of the mill makes it effortless to corral, measure, and store ground pepper. It's no wonder this mill is a favorite of celebrity chefs like Ina Garten and is making it onto our list of the best pepper grinders.

In my testing it took just 10 seconds to grind an entire tablespoon of peppercorns to a medium consistency. I also found the vertical crank design was more comfortable on my wrists compared to the horizontal twisting motion required of most traditional mills.

I've been using this pepper mill for several months and my only gripe is that sometimes when I hold it in the air without supporting the base, the plastic receptacle falls off, leading to spilled pepper all over my floors. With time, I've learned to support the base if I carry the mill or grind in the air, but I wish that wasn't a lesson I had to learn.

— Lauren Savoie, deputy editor of Insider Reviews

Best electric: Eparé Electric Pepper Mill

Pros: Motor isn't loud, can be operated with one hand

Cons: Doesn't come with batteries, bulky

This battery-operated electric pepper mill stood out for its modern design and simple operation. It was the only truly one-handed pepper mill I tested, which is a lifesaver if you're stirring with one hand and peppering with the other. The mill is top-heavy with four AA batteries stored in the upper portion, but the stainless steel construction is sturdy enough to keep it from tipping over.

When you grind the pepper, a small LED light shines from the mouth of the mill. It is not obtrusive, illuminating a small area of the plate so you can see where your pepper is landing. The coarseness adjuster is underneath the mill, and provides an accurate range of fine to coarse.

Especially with the finer grinds, efficiency was the main downside with the Eparé: it was among the slowest mills I tested. However, if you're looking for the best pepper mill that's easy to operate with limited hand strength, this was the best.

Best ratcheting: Kuhn Rikon Ratchet Grinder

Pros: Side opening for easy filling, ratchet is easy to use and pull

Cons: Construction doesn't feel very sturdy, leaves pepper dust if set down after grinding

The only ratchet pepper grinder we tested, the Kuhn Rikon had a small but accurate range of grinds. The adjustment dial is under the mill's opening, with the directions for fine and coarse clearly labeled. You pour peppercorns through an opening on the side of the mill, so you don't have to unscrew anything or worry about losing small pieces.

The exterior of the mill does not feel particularly durable, but the internal grinding mechanism is ceramic. Wilkens says that ceramic grinders are likely to stay sharp and not wear down. The main issue with this pepper mill is that if you leave the ratchet handle in any position other than straight up, you will inadvertently grind pepper when you try to adjust it.

What to look for

Capacity: If you grind pepper over every dish, consider a mill with larger capacity so you don't to refill it as often. Note that a 15-inch grinder will be heavier and might not blend into a dining table setting as easily as a 7-inch version.

Manual vs. electric: When you think of a pepper grinder, you're probably imagining a hand cranked mill. Most of our picks for the best pepper grinders are manual, but we included an electric model because it is easier to operate for those with limited hand strength. Plus, electric grinders can often be used with one hand, unlike manual ones. However, a manual pepper grinder will likely last for years, whereas an electric motor will eventually wear out.

Grind settings: If you're a more nuanced cook, look for pepper mills with reliable and varied coarseness settings. The finer the grind, the more the pepper will dissolve into whatever you're cooking. With a coarser grind, you're more likely to get a prominent bit of peppercorn while eating. Chef Robyn McArthur recommends using a coarser grind when cooking with high heat because a finer grind will lose its flavor faster.

How we test pepper mills

We consulted three experts to learn about common practices in the spice industry and misconceptions about pepper preparation and usage. We spoke with Ethan Frisch, co-founder of Burlap and Barrel; Robyn McArthur, executive chef at the Austin, Texas Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts; and Alex Wilkens, spice expert at The Spice House.

We used Ea Sar Black Pepper from Burlap and Barrel for testing the best pepper mills.

Coarseness settings: We compared all mills by grinding pepper on the finest and coarsest possible settings. The finest setting should produce a powder-like consistency and the coarsest setting should be noticeably larger, but still a consistent grind size. For mills with precise settings, we ground pepper on each setting and compared the grounds.

Speed: We estimated the speed of the mill by grinding on the finest setting for 10 seconds and then measuring the amount of ground pepper produced.

Capacity: We measured the capacity of each mill by filling the mill reservoir with peppercorns and then pouring those peppercorns into measuring cups.

Ease of use: We looked at how easy and intuitive it was to adjust the grinders and whether they could be operated with one hand. We also evaluated how comfortable they were to turn. After using the grinders, we set them down on a white tablecloth to see if pepper dust settled onto the table.

Grinder material: Experts told us that ceramic mechanisms last the longest, so we ranked mills with ceramic grinders higher. We will continue to evaluate our top picks for durability, looking for changes in grind accuracy and loosening of the mobile pieces.

Pepper mill FAQs

How are pepper mills different from spice grinders?

Depending on the pepper mill's material and grinding mechanism, you can grind small and uniformly shaped spices in a pepper mill, but the non-pepper flavor may linger. Cardamom seeds are great in a pepper grinder, but you'll need a spice grinder for cinnamon sticks. Most pepper mills cannot be cleaned with water, only brushed out with a dry cloth, so once you grind another spice in your mill, which is why flavor may carry over.

Check out our guide on the best spice grinders.

How do pepper mills work?

Pepper mills use burr grinders. When you rotate the mill, peppercorns are forced between two grooved discs that crush the spice, according to McArthur. The mill is essentially a smaller and less powerful coffee burr grinder.

Can I put salt in my pepper mill?

Salt can only be ground by a ceramic grinding mechanism because salt corrodes metal over time. If your pepper mill has a ceramic mechanism, then you can put salt in it. We didn't include salt grinders in this guide. Alex Wilkens, spice expert at The Spice House, confirmed that grinding your own salt at home allows you to control the texture, but the flavor will be the same as the pre-ground salt.

Why should I buy single-source peppercorns?

Single-source peppercorns are harvested and shipped in a shorter period of time than commodity spices, so you have a longer window between purchasing them and when they start losing flavor.

Commodity, or commercial, peppercorns are picked underripe so that they can last through long shipping and packaging processes. Peppercorns continue to ripen off the vine, and while they don't go bad or rot, they lose flavor about two years after harvest, according to Frisch. That might seem like a long time, but Frisch says that in the commodity spice chain, it takes three to four years to get from the farm to the supermarket shelves.

How long do peppercorns stay fresh?

Whole peppercorns start to lose flavor two years after they're harvested. In general, spices can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on the type and how they're stored. Check out our guide on how and when spices go bad.

Can black pepper improve your health?

There isn't a lot of medical research into the effects of black pepper on the human body. Historically, black pepper has been used as an antioxidant and to reduce inflammation. Check out our guide on the health benefits of black pepper.