If you read our fun post on unusual spice grinders, you will know just how essential this tool is in any kitchen or dining room. But did you know that along with whole spice, pepper and salt, there are many other things that you can grind in your grinder?
In the blog post above, we briefly touched on the concept of grinding Doritos in your grinder, but that is just one alternative use for this kitchen gadget. From seeds to sugar and plenty of other goodies in between, you would be amazed at how much use you can get from a good spice grinder (or few!).
Alternative Uses for Your Spice Grinder
There is nothing like having freshly ground spices to add to foods to give aroma and taste to meals. But beyond spice, spice grinders can be used to grind up many things to add to food and drinks or baked goods. Without further ado, here are some of our top alternative uses for the trusty grinder…
- Seeds. Harder seeds such as flaxseed can be ground with the help of a simple twist grinder. This super seed is high in nutrients and can even be used as an egg substitute for those who do not want to use eggs in baking or cooking! Ground flax can also be added to smoothies or used as a flour alternative for those following a gluten-free diet. Fill up your grinder with your favourite seed and grind away for a finer powdered version.
- Dried Ginger or Garlic. After dehydrating ginger or garlic, you can pop pieces into your grinder and make perfectly sized flakes. These can be added as is to food, or used to make flavoured salt or sugar. Technically speaking, you could grind just about any dried seasoning or herb, as long as it is bone dry and thin enough to grind into a fine powder.
- Sugar. On the topic of sugar, you can make a quick powdered sugar if you have run out. Using regular granulated sugar and grinding it into finer powder can save you a trip to the shops (and end up costing less in the long run as well). You can also grind small amounts to sprinkle over cookies or other baked goods quickly and simply.
- Crisps. It’s not just Dorito’s that can be added to the grinder. You can grind just about any dry crisp of your fancy, to use over food. You can also use the ground crisps as a coating instead of breadcrumbs, to make mozzarella sticks and other crumbed dishes.
- Cornflakes. Cereal such as Cornflakes can be used in the grinder as well. Either make breadcrumb like crumbs for dishes that require coating, or add to smoothies to add a touch of fibre to your drinkable meal. You can even sprinkle over porridge or use the finely ground flakes as a cereal that has a more porridge-like consistency.
Of course, spices remain one of the best things to grind – especially when it comes to enhancing the quality and taste of every meal. But if you want to experiment a bit, be sure to try out these alternative uses for your spice grinder and let us know how it goes!