There are lots of useless kitchen gizmos out there these days. The ones advertised on television are often the worst offenders, setting up false problems you need to “solve” by purchasing their Greatest Slicer Ever or the Single Hot Plate That Will Replace Your Whole Kitchen. Of course, there is one perk to the commercials. I always feel much more capable and competent after I watch some of those folks attempt to operate a tomato!
These things can’t make a bad cook into a good one, or a poorly laid out kitchen functional. But there are some small devices you can add to your daily duties that can really elevate your cooking. Little things that can take a regular dish and punch it up.
So I guess it’s time to confess. I’m in love with my pepper grinder.
All my friends know I love the OXO brand of products because they’re easy to use when your hands are damp from washing or accidentally slicked up with olive oil, and their pepper mill is no exception. It’s easy to fill, easy to adjust, and comes with a little base to keep stray pepper off the counter.
But the brand almost doesn’t matter. Use any type you like. The key is the pepper! Fresh really is best for nearly every application. Since pepper corns are dried berries, they start to lose essential oils as soon as they’re cracked, so using it fresh gives a better hot, bright flavor than the pre-ground stuff that’s been sitting in a tin for who knows how long. Add it later in the cooking process so the scent and taste stay assertive and your taste buds will thank you.
