I don’t use shakers of any kind, but in my family, it was salt 3, pepper 5. I use more pepper than salt, by far. Currently, I just use a grinder for the pepper, and a small ramekin for the Kosher salt. I mostly cook with the salt, but my wife uses it to season her food at the table, as she’d probably even salt a salt lick.
More holes = salt, always (in my experience).
I checked the pre-filled salt shaker that I use. It has six holes. I bought a whole tray of them at Sams. They are considered disposable.
For me personally, I put the pepper in the one with the more holes, since I use more pepper than salt. I’m aware, though, that the other way around is more usual, and if I’m at someone else’s house and there’s no other indication, I’ll assume the one with more holes is salt. Since I wasn’t sure which the OP was asking for, I didn’t answer.
Presumably, pepper is spicier, so, for the less spicy inclined, pepper tends to get fewer holes.
This. Fresh-ground pepper beats the hell out of canned, preground stuff.
It’s fascinating that this poll is split almost evenly. My experience is that more holes = salt.
Shakers are designed with the idea that salt goes in the one with larger/more holes. The question should be worded “Which one do you put salt in?”
Please do not apply the same freedom of choice when it comes to which side of the road you drive on.
Salt goes in the one on the right, with pepper going on the left, although we only bring out the table-top set when company comes over. We prefer to season the dishes properly while preparing them.
And if I’m sitting directly across the table from you?
Seems ike this is another UK/US difference. I’m with njtt on this one. Salt - fewer but larger. Pepper - more but smaller.
In my house though I have pepper and sea salt grinders.
Most of the images I found using the generic search engine of my choice show the pepper shaker with more holes and the salt with fewer, often only one.
In some cases the distinction was pretty dramatic. (Although that image does not definitively identify which shaker is which.)
I did find exceptions, and in many cases it’s just impossible to tellwhat intent, if any, the manufacturer had for their product’s use.
By looking at the poll results, I’m guessing the battle is likely to continue.
Since they’re British, to a Brit I feel the distinction would be blindingly obvious - the one-holer would be the salt.
And to me as an American it is as obvious as which side of the road you should drive on.
Please note that I said: that image does not definitively identify which shaker is which.
I tend to agree with you, but it is a opinion poll, and the numbers are still running about 50/50.
while more holes in a shaker is for salt, is the traditional, that is just plain wrong.
it is too easy to over salt. if you use ground pepper then you need a lot more than if you use a pepper mill.
I would put salt in the one with fewer holes. I voted first before reading any other responses.
I use more pepper than salt.
More holes for salt, otherwise your grandmother doesn’t get to say “careful, it comes out fast!”
Every time you eat together. For decades. Even until you’re well into your thirties and are pretty familiar with salting your own food. Requiescat in pace.
What I’m saying is that it does definitively identify it if you’re British. Which it absolutely does, because they’re British shakers. If you’re American, clearly the jury’s out.
Salt goes in the shaker with fewer holes, because table salt (as opposed to sea salt) comes out quickly and you can easily oversalt your food accidentally with too many holes. Ground pepper requires more shaking and more holes.
I guess I’m missing something as I’m not sure why those are British. Perhaps you meant these. two click rule
I didn’t notice anything I would have considered a British shaker when I lived there, although that obviously means very little.
What I meant by definitively was something like this.
Again, the salt shaker has only one hole, but I don’t see how any nationality can be assigned because of that.