One of the top reasons to invest in quality spice grinders is that you can reuse them again and again. Glass bottles will last for many years if they are properly cleaned between uses. You don’t need any expensive ingredients or complicated equipment, either. In addition to storing your favourite whole spices, you can also use your grinders for other purposes once the bottles are cleaned and dried.
In this short guide, we’ll take a look at how you can clean and reuse spice grinders so that they last as long as possible.
Repurposing Your Old Glass Spice Grinders
Before we begin, it is important to note that while glass grinder bottles will last a long time, plastic bottles may not last as long. These can be reused for a while, but as plastic absorbed odours and is more subject to wear and tear; they likely won’t be the best choice for long-term repurposing. You can however clean and recycle your old plastic bottles. Flip tops and grinder lids may also need to be replaced if you are reusing your grinder bottles for spices. The good news is that you can buy separate lids and closures from a spice grinder supplier such as Global Grinders.
Some tips for cleaning and reusing your bottles include the following:
- Soak thoroughly in hot water. For a simple yet effective natural solution, mix a little bit of dish soap with some bicarbonate of soda and a bit of white vinegar. This mixture will clean and remove odours. You will find it easier to remove labels on glass after a good soak as well. Leave in this soapy mixture for a few hours, or even overnight. Afterwards, you can wash as normal in the sink.
- Dry completely before using the bottle. Set the bottles on a kitchen towel or cloth or on a draining board. Allow to air-dry completely before reusing the bottles. Trapped moisture can result in spoilage if you plan to use the bottles for new spices. Moisture can also cause salt to crystallise or sweat. Leave for a good few hours in a ventilated space so that the bottles have enough time to dry on the inside.
- Don’t forget to clean the lids and grinder tops as well. These can be soaked along with your bottles and then left to dry. When drying the flip top lids, leave these open so that air can travel through the top without any moisture being trapped in the top’s hinges or lid. Keep the plastic away from direct sunlight, to preserve the life of the closures.
- Once bottles are clean and dry, add your spices. Try your favourite salt varieties, pink or black peppercorns, coriander seeds, dried herbs, cardamom or any other spice that you enjoy. Visit your local spice market and buy your spices fresh. These are often better quality than pre-packaged spices you will find at a supermarket, and often have more flavour.
- Or, reuse for non-spicy things. In addition to spice, there are many other non-spice things you can grind in a grinder. Sugar, Dorito’s, roasted sunflower or sesame seeds, Cornflakes poppy seeds, flaxseed, rice and even dried insects, if you are so inclined. Who says you have to limit your grinder to spices, after all?
Whatever you plan to do with your spice grinders once they’re clean and dried, remember that you can find a huge range of bottles, grinders and lids right here at Global Grinders.