The best pepper mills and salt grinders

Peugeot has been making pepper and salt mills since 1840, so the French company knows what it's doing. When I first started my hunt for pepper mills, I was trying very hard not to buy from Peugeot because of the high price tag. However, having tried many others before I finally caved and bought these exact mills, I can confidently say that they are the very best you can buy.

The Paris u'Select mills have six different settings, so you can grind your pepper as coarsely or as finely as you wish. To change your grind settings, simply twist the bottom half of the mill to your preferred setting. Both the pepper and salt mills are made from beechwood and you can choose between a few finishes and a range of sizes. I have the dark chocolate colored ones, and they develop a nice polished patina from the oils in your hands over time.

A two-stage burr-style system made from case-hardened steel grinds the peppercorns. Helix-shaped grooves inside the mill crack the peppercorns before grinding to ensure that all the oils and flavors survive the process. The finer settings are really nice for most use cases, I've found.

The salt grinder works a bit differently: Two ribbed plates break and crush sea salt to whatever size you choose. The salt grinding mechanism is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel for added durability. I've found that the middle setting is best for sea salt so that you don't have to grind for ages to get enough fine sea salt to season your dish.

These mills will last you a lifetime. I've had mine for several years now, and they're still going strong. Peugeot has a lifetime guarantee on the grinding mechanism and a two-year warranty on the mill itself.

Pros: Gorgeous wood construction, strong steel grinding mechanism, durable, adjustable settings, lifetime guarantee for grinding mechanism

Cons: Expensive

Fletchers' Mill makes beautiful wooden pepper mills, salt mills, and rolling pins right in New Vineyard, Maine. It's a family run business that uses sustainable wood to craft beautiful products that are guaranteed to last a lifetime. The company's pepper and salt mills are terrific.

Fletchers' Border Grill Salt and Pepper Mills are made from cherry, mahogany, or walnut wood, and you can buy them in fun colors, too. They look classy and simple on any kitchen counter or dining room table.

The mills use a special lock and grind system that allows you to adjust the grind to the exact level of coarseness or fineness that you want. The metal nut on the top is used to adjust the grind. The grind level is a bit less precise than our top pick from Peugeot, but it's perfectly adequate.

Its pepper mills use a stainless steel two-step mechanism that crushes the peppercorns before it grinds them so as to enhance the flavor and keep the natural oils in the pepper. Meanwhile, the salt mills use an adjustable nylon crushing system to pulverize sea salt.

Fletchers' Mill makes the second-best mills around, so if you prefer something that's made in America to the Peugeots that come from France, these are your mills.

Pros: Strong wooden construction, attractive design, adjustable grind settings

Cons: Expensive, grind not as precise as Peugeot

If you're not into the solid wood design of our top two picks, the sleek modern look of the Cole & Mason's Derwent Salt and Pepper Grinder Set may be a welcome change. These grinders have a clear acrylic body that showcases the peppercorns and salt chunks inside. Accents in either copper, stainless steel, or dark wood sit at both the top and bottom of these mills.

You can choose from six precise grinds, ranging from coarse to fine. Unlike the grinding systems used by our other picks, Cole & Mason's set doesn't crush the peppercorns, but rather "strips them down by their individual layers as it grinds." As such, you may not get the same complexity of flavor as you would with the Peugeot mills. Most people are unlikely to spot much of a difference, and the company claims its method is better.

The pepper grinder uses carbon steel gears to grind the peppercorns, while the salt mill uses ceramic gears. Both mills have a lifetime guarantee on the mechanism, which is great. The physical mill may be less long-lasting than wood, but we expect it will hold up just fine.

Pros: Pretty modern design, adjustable grind settings, comes in a set, strong grinding mechanisms

Cons: Expensive, not as durable as wood, questionable longevity

OXO is known for its affordable and practical kitchen products, and the Lua Salt and Pepper Mill Set is another winner. These simple, stylish grinders have clear acrylic bodies topped with steel and black accents.

The two mills offer five different settings, so you can have your pepper and salt as coarse or fine as you please. Unlike every other grinder in our guide, these ones grind from the top instead of the bottom. In other words, you tip them upside down to grind salt or pepper onto your food. The advantage of that design is that you don't leave salt and pepper dust on your table every time you set the mills down.

Inside, both mills have ceramic grinders to prevent corrosion. Ceramic is very strong and long-lasting, and although it's common in salt grinders, it's less so with pepper mills, so you may get better performance out of the salt grinder than the pepper mill. Both should work, and if not, OXO has a satisfaction guarantee that allows you to get a refund for any product you dislike.

The best part about the OXO set is how cheap it is at nearly half the cost of buying the Peugeot set.

Pros: Affordable, ceramic grinders, grind from the top, satisfaction guarantee

Cons: Not as durable or as effective as higher-end models

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