# I am so sick of having to grind my own pepper. And now my SALT?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 14, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846 "2015-08-14T16:28:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/1 "2015-08-14T16:28:49Z")
I really don’t care for fresh ground pepper. I always get a biggish piece of pepper caught in my teeth and crunch down on it later. Besides, I have lovely hot food, and now I have to futz with the dumb grinder.
Last nite, not only having to grind my own pepper, but now freshly ground sea salt? I like salt, and it took forever to grind salt for my lovely veggies and steak. and I want it to stop.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/2 "2015-08-14T16:36:04Z")
It’s a shame they don’t sell ground pepper and salt crystals any more. I expect carpal tunnel syndrome to explode in the next generation. Perhaps you can invent some kind of robotic device to grind the seasonings for you.
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### Author:  [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/3 "2015-08-14T16:47:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> It’s a shame they don’t sell ground pepper and salt crystals any more. I expect carpal tunnel syndrome to explode in the next generation. Perhaps you can invent some kind of robotic device to grind the seasonings for you.
Has OP called the police to report the deranged lunatic holding him at gunpoint forcing him to grind salt crystals?
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/4 "2015-08-14T16:56:16Z")
Are you talking about those bottles that have the grindy thing built into the cap? I never noticed it taking any longer, really, than the conventional shaker. Unless, of course, it’s all gunked up, which I could see happening in a restaurant.
And jeez, **grude** , your response could apply to the vast majority of observations people make here. Don’t be cranky; don;t put the rude in “grude” 😉
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### Author:  [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/5 "2015-08-14T17:00:18Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#):
>
> Are you talking about those bottles that have the grindy thing built into the cap? I never noticed it taking any longer, really, than the conventional shaker. Unless, of course, it’s all gunked up, which I could see happening in a restaurant.
>
> And jeez, **grude** , your response could apply to the vast majority of observations people make here. Don’t be cranky; don;t put the rude in “grude” 😉
I guess it was the sick of part, if some foodie weirdos wanna grind salt crystals hey have fun. But again why does the OP have to do it?
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### Author:  [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/6 "2015-08-14T17:05:42Z")
> [@grude](#):
>
> I guess it was the sick of part, if some foodie weirdos wanna grind salt crystals hey have fun. But again why does the OP have to do it?
Some restaurants have only the kind with the built in grinder at the tables.
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/7 "2015-08-14T17:06:29Z")
> [@grude](#):
>
> I guess it was the sick of part, if some foodie weirdos wanna grind salt crystals hey have fun. But again why does the OP have to do it?
I took it as them lamenting the fact that all the restaurants have those newfangled grinders and that they don’t want to have to futz with them. They haven’t quite reached epidemic proportions in my neck of the woods so I don’t encounter it that often.
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### Author:  [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/8 "2015-08-14T17:10:47Z")
> [@Antinor01](#):
>
> Some restaurants have only the kind with the built in grinder at the tables.
Thats annoying, complain to the manager and carry some packets if nothing changes.
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### Author:  [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/9 "2015-08-14T17:19:13Z")
How much salt do you need for your steak and veggies?
I like fresh ground pepper so much that I have both a coarse and a fine grind pepper mill in my house. I suppose I could get one that does both, but when you shop at goodwill, sometimes you just have to use what you find.
I also buy pickling salt (no additives) which is a coarser grain than regular salt, so that goes into a grinder, too. Inconvenient, I suppose, but somehow I cope.
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### Author:  [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/10 "2015-08-14T17:35:39Z")
So, let me get this straight…
Turn over and shake = good
Turn over and twist = bad
I’ve found that I can usually get a much more accurate amount of salt when grinding it.
Same with pepper, but also fresh ground pepper tastes way better than the stuff that was ground and packaged. Salt tastes exactly the same, but you can better control the size of the salt and the amount.
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### Author:  [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/11 "2015-08-14T17:44:21Z")
> [@Antinor01](#):
>
> Some restaurants have only the kind with the built in grinder at the tables.
This was the problem, and I honestly could be done with it quicker if I could just please shake it.
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### Author:  [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/12 "2015-08-14T17:50:54Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#):
>
> This was the problem, and I honestly could be done with it quicker if I could just please shake it.
I guess I’m the exact opposite… I can’t count the times I’ve turned over a shaker and gotten so much salt it makes it almost inedible. Now if there is a shaker I always shake it into my hand first so I can control the amount. Grinders on the other hand seem to be pretty predictable.
Plus, when I’m eating at a restaurant that would possibly have a grinder I’m usually not in that big of a hurry.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/13 "2015-08-14T17:55:22Z")
> [@Spud](#):
>
> Now if there is a shaker I always shake it into my hand first so I can control the amount.
And to make sure some dumbass didn’t loosen the top.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/14 "2015-08-14T18:07:46Z")
Shake, shake or twist, twist. Oddly it takes me the same amount of time.
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### Author:  [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/15 "2015-08-14T18:17:24Z")
> [@enipla](#):
>
> Shake, shake or twist, twist. Oddly it takes me the same amount of time.
I’ll admit that twisting takes longer… probably 7 seconds versus 4.
Unless of course the OP is adding a full tablespoon of salt or more to their meal.
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/16 "2015-08-14T18:18:27Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#):
>
> I really don’t care for fresh ground pepper. I always get a biggish piece of pepper caught in my teeth and crunch down on it later.
I kind of like that.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/17 "2015-08-14T18:35:37Z")
To be fair, pepper grinders have a clear purpose, as pre-ground pepper does lose some flavor after being ground for a while, just like any spice.
Salt grinders are just moronic pretense; all they do is reduce the size of the salt pieces. There is absolutely no flavor or aroma difference from grinding your salt a-la-minute vs. getting some that was ground up/crystallized a decade ago, as long as it will still come out of the salt-shaker.
But having a salt grinder and pepper grinder must appear more sophisticated or gourmet to the unaware, so that’s what a lot of restaurants go with, instead of a salt shaker and pepper grinder.
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/18 "2015-08-14T18:40:17Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> To be fair, pepper grinders have a clear purpose, as pre-ground pepper does lose some flavor after being ground for a while, just like any spice.
>
> Salt grinders are just moronic pretense; all they do is reduce the size of the salt pieces. There is absolutely no flavor or aroma difference from grinding your salt a-la-minute vs. getting some that was ground up/crystallized a decade ago, as long as it will still come out of the salt-shaker.
>
> But having a salt grinder and pepper grinder must appear more sophisticated or gourmet to the unaware, so that’s what a lot of restaurants go with, instead of a salt shaker and pepper grinder.
I like it because you can get bigger hunks of salt.
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### Author:  [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/19 "2015-08-14T18:45:59Z")
I used to like going to Wendys on Ariapita, they had cheap large fries and your choice of US style ketchup or local style ketchup.(Heinz versus Mabels, local ketchup is disgustingly sweet, like jelly)
Then they stopped stocking the Heinz, I complained and they said no one likes it, I stopped going in when in the area.
OP complain and if that does nothing go elsewhere.
(My wife tasted Heinz, spit it out and said OMG this ketchup is spoiled)
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-sick-of-having-to-grind-my-own-pepper-and-now-my-salt/727846/20 "2015-08-14T18:57:53Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#):
>
> Last nite, not only having to grind my own pepper, but now freshly ground sea salt? I like salt, and it took forever to grind salt for my lovely veggies and steak. and I want it to stop.
[You’re doing it wrong](http://lifehacker.com/5918291/attach-a-cordless-drill-to-your-pepper-grinder-for-super-powered-pepper-production).
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