How to Grind Peppercorns Without a Grinder
Newly cracked or ground peppercorn is a much more flavorful, fresh alternative to the mass-produced canned version that may have been sitting on grocery or pantry shelves since your high schooler was in elementary school. If your pepper grinder is missing in action or you are simply in the mood to get back to basics and grind your own the old-fashioned way, it is a simple process to master with a few household items. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Peppercorns
- Heavy skillet or mallet
- Plastic sandwich bag
- Safety glasses
Instructions
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1
Find a heavy-bottomed skillet. A small weighty saute pan or iron skillet will work well. If not available, a heavy meat mallet or rolling pin may substitute. The idea is to use an implement strong enough not to break, but weighty enough to crush the hard peppercorns.
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2
Place your chosen amount of whole peppercorns in a plastic bag. Zippered sandwich bags, plastic wrap, a paper bag or even a sturdy paper towel large enough to completely contain the peppercorns will suffice. The objective is to contain the peppercorn pieces as you work on them.
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3
Place the bag or pouch of peppercorns on a solid, unbreakable surface. A kitchen counter, butcher-block cutting board or even a concrete walkway stone or patio paver will do the job.
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4
Whack the peppercorns with a few sharp blows of the skillet or mallet; They should begin to crack open and crumble with each blow. Occasionally check your progress until you eventually obtain the size you prefer.
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5
Grind down the peppercorns if you prefer a finer consistency. Place the bottom of the skillet or the mallet directly on the bag of peppercorns. While applying pressure, work the skillet or mallet in a circular pattern, grinding down until the pepper is a powdery consistency that serves your purpose.
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Tips & Warnings
Step 5 can be accomplished with a mortar and pestle, which is basically a rough-surfaced bowl and round-ended implement used for hand-pulverizing ingredients.
Take care to work on a stable, hard surface, with sturdy implements--you will be pounding these hard surfaces together. Take great care to contain the peppercorns in an enclosed pouch as pieces of the peppercorns may ricochet and fly about at a high rate of speed. Eye protection is recommended.
