I'm a culinary pro, and Ina Garten is right — this pepper mill is fab

Pepper mills are not something I think about on a daily basis, but I write about cooking and kitchen gear, so it was only a matter of time before I was asked to test the best pepper mills. When I sorted through the internet's incredible assortment of grinders, I discovered that Ina Garten and master chocolatier Jacques Torres have the same favorite: the PepperMate Traditional Pepper Grinder. So I added it to my list of mills to — and was duly impressed with its performance. Here's my PepperMate Traditional Pepper Grinder review.

This squat, plastic pepper grinder isn't cute or trendy or particularly high-end (outside of its excellent ceramic grinding blade), but it works lightning fast. I can see why it's on Garten's preferred equipment list — a collection of tried-and-tested products from the likes of All-Clad, Le Creuset and Kuhn Rikon.

Unlike more traditional vertical pepper mills, the PepperMate mill has a horizontal grinding mechanism that you crank with a more natural hand motion, potentially reducing strain, which is particularly helpful for anyone with arthritis or hand strength issues.

What Ina, Jacques and I love

This grinder's two-stage mechanism first cracks the peppercorns and then grinds them to whatever consistency you've selected when twisting the key grind knob from left (coarse grind) to right (fine grind). With just a few cranks, it grinds a tremendous amount of pepper compared to other mills. The mill features a clear plastic removable tray on its bottom to catch anything you grind, so there's no mess and no waste.

You can also use this mill to grind many other spices (salt and dried herbs like cumin, coriander seeds, mustard seeds and anise) up to the size of a coffee bean. Jacques Torres uses his to grind cacao nibs! Plus, the ceramic mechanism won't absorb odors or flavors.

In 2018, Ina shared this video on Instagram explaining how to make the best homemade croutons. She says to heat the oil before you throw in your croutons and season them with lots of salt and pepper —which she grinds with the PepperMate mill.

What I didn't like

My admittedly shallow gripe with this pepper grinder is that it's not particularly attractive. Its non-traditional side crank, squat shape and general plastic-forward look mean that I don't want it on my dining table, the way I might the Cole & Mason Derwent mill or the Peugeot Paris mill.

The final verdict

If you're in need of a new pepper grinder that performs quickly and precisely for daily use in the kitchen, the PepperMate is an excellent choice. And if you value the endorsement of pros like Garten and Torres, the choice is even easier.