In my kitchen I use an electric coffee grinder for almost all of my spice grinding needs. It pulverizes thick chunky salts for delicate pizza crusts and takes care of things like cloves this time of year. I don't usually want my flavors mingling with the next one getting ground up, though, so to keep things clean I just use a little rice. Want to see how it works?
The idea is simple and it's one we've mentioned before, but with the upcoming holiday season, we thought it would be a good time for a refresher. For today's example, the last thing I used my grinder for was some black sea salt. Its flavor is strong and quite tasty, but it doesn't play well with the holiday baking that my grinder will be used for this weekend.
To start, I simply fill the grinder with uncooked rice. It doesn't matter what kind of rice; the premise is still the same. Use what you have or what's least expensive. It takes around a half cup to get the job done, sometimes more depending on how messy things are in there.
Next, turn it on and let it whirl. The grains of rice pick up all the seasonings that are jammed up under the blades and anything loose inside the chamber itself.
As an added bonus, when you dump out your ground-up rice and residual spice mixture, it takes all that junk with it. You don't have to use a pastry brush to clean anything out; it just slides right in the trash can or compost bucket. The whole thing takes all of 30 seconds and keeps you clean in between strong flavorings and spice mixings during your holiday baking and preparation!
Related: Repurpose Inexpensive Grinders For Custom Blends
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I've never thought to try this! How clever.
We use our coffee grinder daily, but I never used it for spices since it's such a hassle to try and get coffee grounds out from all the nooks and crannies. Who knows? You may have saved me from purchasing a future appliance. :)
Very very cool! I use my coffee grinder for coffee, but sometimes grind spices in it. I always try to avoid that though because it's such a pain to clean it out first, then grind, then clean again...this is genius. Thank you!
(How do people think of this stuff?!)
A pastry brush!!! I've been using a dry paper towel forever (same grinder) and I always felt it was a waste! It's always the simple things I don't think of.
I was given a magic bullet blender as part of a give-away a few years ago and it's grinding blade is great for coffee and spices AND it can go right in the dishwasher.
Awesome, thanks, I was wondering if I could clean it with flax seeds like someone suggested for the coffee grinder. We use the electric coffee grinder to grind raw sugar, I thought I was weird but I guess not!
I use a piece of bread and do it twice, Start with the crust, whir, dump, white inside, whir, dump.
Would coarse salt work as well?
I like the white bread idea, that little bit of moisture probably does a good job!
I love this tip - I'll have to give it a try.
Does this only work for electric grinders? I tried it on my little hand-crank burr grinder, but the grains got stuck and didn't make it any cleaner, either. I guess I'll stick with my wet toothbrush for now!
jess13 - I'm sure it would, if that's what you happen to have and it's less expensive than rice, give it a go!
Bailey - I think electricity might be a must for this one, it has a little more whirring than our hands can crank out!
hmm, I wonder if you could save the rice 'flour' for use in something else? Thicken a soup? Make savoury rice pudding? Or, if you're cleaning out cinnamon or some such, for a baked treat?
Has anyone tried that?
Great tip, thanks
oooh, after your holiday spices, the cleaning rice could make a delicious horchata!
I use bread to do this. It ends up being just sticky enough to grab the dust. Then, a quick sweep with towel or pastry brush.