Pepper Mills: Reviews

Traditionally, pepper mills have been heavy, wooden and topped with a round decorative finial. But as with many kitchen gadgets, pepper mills have been revamped for today's design-conscious consumers and now come in a range of colors, materials and styles. Regardless of style, experts say a good pepper mill is easy to use, efficient, comfortable to grip and fully adjustable, so the grounds come out powder-fine or truly coarse.

Unicorn Magnum

Best pepper mill

*Est. $30

Estimated Price

The Unicorn Magnum aces comparative testing of pepper mills and is a hit with reviewers, who say it's efficient, well designed and easy to use. With a capacity of 7 tablespoons, the Unicorn Magnum pepper grinder rarely has to be refilled, and it's easy to achieve a truly fine or coarse grind. The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic housing is easy to clean and there's a tray to catch stray pepper. While plastic is not as sturdy as wood or steel, Unicorn Magnum guarantees its mills for life.

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Unicorn Keytop

Budget pepper mill

*Est. $20

Estimated Price

Reviews say that the affordable Unicorn Keytop performs just as well and carries the same lifetime warranty as the Unicorn Magnum. In fact, some professional chefs prefer the design of the Unicorn Keytop, which is reportedly easier to turn with wet or greasy hands. Owners also say it's very durable. The Unicorn Keytop pepper mill lacks a crumb tray, however.

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MIU Electric Pepper Mill

Best electric pepper mill

*Est. $50

Estimated Price

Automatic pepper grinders can be operated with one hand, which means they're more convenient than traditional pepper mills, and they're handy when you need a large quantity of pepper. The downside is that they're more expensive and their internal components are more fragile. The MIU Electric Pepper Mill runs on six AA batteries, making it somewhat heavy, but consumers posting to review sites call it a sleek and powerful conversation piece with a clear storage chamber that makes it easy to tell when you're running low on pepper. Owners also like the included light, which illuminates food as you season it with pepper.

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See a side-by-side comparison of key features, product specs, and prices.

Peugeot Chateauneuf Adjustable Pepper Mill *Est. $80

2 picks by top review sites.

PepperMate Pepper Mill *Est. $35

2 picks by top review sites.

How to Buy a Pepper Mill

Pepper Mills: Reviews

Best pepper mill

Budget pepper mill

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