Sunday, 28 August 2016

The Incredible Versatility Of An Electric Herb Grinder

By Frank Morgan


These days you can find a kitchen appliance for almost anything. With so much choice, the challenge is not to spend your money on ones you will use only a few times before you let them gather dust on the shelf. One gadget that is a really good investment and that will pay for itself over and over again, however, 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.

The ground spices you buy in the store can quickly go stale and lose their flavor. Whole spices keep their flavor for a longer time and with your little grinding machine, you can grind the small quantity that the recipe requires. It will take you a few seconds and you will never again have to struggle crushing those cloves, peppercorns or cardamom seeds with a mortar and pestle.

The trusty little machine is useful for more than just herbs or spices. Incorporate healthy whole grains, legumes and nuts into your diet in ingenious ways by grinding them into flour. Flax seeds become easier to digest when they're crushed and can release their nutrients into your body. Even stale bread, cornflakes or cookies get a second life when you turn them into crumbs for making coatings or pie crusts.

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.

Even if you don't like cooking, you will find that a good grinder can get your creative juices flowing. Add some finely ground herbs or flowers such as lavender, calendula or chamomile to homemade, all-natural cosmetics and deodorants. You may also want to add some taste and breath-freshening properties to a baking soda tooth powder by mixing in some powdered mint, anise or cloves.

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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