The Many Uses For An Electric Herb Grinder

By Frank Morgan


There are so many different kitchen gadgets on the market that it can be difficult to choose which ones to buy. The question to ask yourself is whether the gadget in question will really make your life easier and give you your money's worth. One device that truly meets these criteria and will definitely be a great investment is an electric herb grinder.

If you've ever tried to crush herbs or spices by hand, using a mortar and pestle, you'll know how time consuming it can be. An alternative that works with electricity is almost like a small blender that can chop up anything in seconds. It's easy to use and easy to clean, since you only need to wipe it with a cloth or paper towel once you're done. More importantly, though, it's incredibly versatile.

Obviously one use for the appliance is to chop herbs into a finer texture. If you use fresh herbs, it's best to pulse the machine or it will turn the herbs into a paste. Dried herbs are more suited to being ground and you'll use less too. You can even grind herbs such as sage and then use them to roll herbal cigarettes that are a healthier alternative to tobacco.

Buying spices that are already ground may be convenient but can also be wasteful, since spices quickly lose flavor once they're ground. If you buy whole spices instead, you only need to grind a little bit at a time, enough to meet the requirements of your recipe. Your stock of spices will last longer and you won't have to spend hours crushing them by hand.

It's not only for herbs and spices that can you will use the appliance. Use it to crush flax seeds for easier digestion or to grind small amounts of legumes, nuts or whole grains into flour. Turn cookies, breakfast cereals or stale bread into crumbs in a matter of seconds and use these to make a pie crust or a crispy coating.

A vastly superior cup of coffee is one made with freshly ground beans and your trusty grinder will help you with this. Use it also to turn ordinary sugar into powdered sugar so that you'll have the perfect confectionery to accompany your coffee. Furthermore, if you can only find a coarse version of your favorite salt, you can grind it at home until you get the texture you want.

A good electric grinder is an essential tool if you'd like to try your hand at making homemade, natural hygiene and beauty products. Add some cloves or dried mint to baking soda and grind it into a fine, tasty tooth powder that will keep your breath fresh and your teeth in good condition. Coffee grounds are great for gently exfoliating dry skin and powdered medicinal herbs such as calendula or lavender flowers are excellent in face masks, ointments or deodorants.

Even if you're not that interested in cooking or making cosmetics, the little appliance can come in handy. Put some dried flower petals in for only a few seconds and you have an evenly textured potpourri. For something even more colorful and festive, use the grinder to turn bits of paper into paper confetti. The possibilities are endless.




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