Make your dishes taste amazing with freshly ground pepper

When adding pepper to a dish, freshly ground is the preferred choice. This is because the pepper has less time to oxidize, which means it has a more robust flavor and loses less of its health benefits. To get the best freshly ground pepper, you need the best pepper grinder.

What to know before you buy a pepper grinder

How does a pepper grinder work?

Most pepper grinders feature two conical shaped burrs. When the user rotates these burrs, any peppercorns caught between them are cracked and crushed. When the crushed pepper becomes small enough to pass through the burrs, it comes out the bottom of the grinder to season your food. By changing the distance between the two burrs, the user can adjust the fineness of the pepper.

Manual vs. electric pepper grinders

While grinding pepper requires some effort, it probably wouldn’t be described as a strenuous activity. Still, for convenience, it’s possible to purchase either a manual or an electric pepper grinder. The benefit of an electric pepper grinder is that it does the work for you. Many may even feature an LED light so you can better see how much pepper you’re adding to your food. The downside to an electric pepper grinder is you have the added (but nominal) expense of replacing batteries.

What to look for in a quality pepper grinder

Sturdy food-grade material

Peppercorns can be tough. When you’re shopping for a pepper grinder, you want a model that’s built to last. While the grinding mechanism — the burrs — should be made of either carbon steel or ceramic, the housing may be manufactured using a wide variety of materials. You can find wooden pepper grinders, stainless steel pepper grinders and plastic pepper grinders. If the pepper grinder you’re considering is plastic, make sure it’s BPA-free.

Variety of grind settings

All pepper grinders have the option to create fine ground pepper, coarse ground pepper or something in between. The best models, however, have markings on the housing so you can be precise and consistent with the grinding to achieve the same results each time.

Easy to fill

The best pepper grinder is a top-fill model — just remove the lid and fill the container as needed. Alternatively, a side-fill model is acceptable, but in general, that type requires a little more care and precision when filling.

Easy to clean

Most pepper grinders come with instructions stating they should not be washed in a dishwasher. Many models don’t recommend hand-washing, either. Cleaning with a damp cloth is the preferred method. Because of this, you want a pepper grinder that can be easily disassembled so you can wipe down all the components.

How much you can expect to spend on a pepper grinder

While some high-end pepper grinders may cost as much as $200, the average homeowner doesn’t need to spend that much to purchase a quality model. For $15-$50, you can get a pepper grinder that meets all your expectations.

Pepper grinder FAQ

Where does pepper come from?

A. Black pepper actually comes from a flowering vine. It starts as a tiny fruit that’s harvested while it’s still green (unripened). It’s briefly cooked in hot water, then dried. While drying, the skin shrinks and darkens, becoming the familiar black peppercorn. The beneficial oil from peppercorns is released when it’s crushed.

What are the health benefits of black pepper?

A. Black pepper has a number of potential health benefits. Black pepper is rich in piperine, an antioxidant that can help prevent cellular damage and has been shown to decrease inflammation in animals, though its effect on humans has not been determined. Additionally, black pepper may help lower cholesterol and increase the good bacteria in the gut. While these and many other benefits may be possible, black pepper has not been studied enough to offer conclusive evidence for benefits in humans, but the current outlook appears promising.

What’s the best pepper grinder to buy?

Top pepper grinder

COLE & MASON Derwent Pepper Grinder

What you need to know: This top-of-the-line model is the best option for those who want to treat themselves to a quality pepper grinding experience.

What you’ll love: This stylish two-stage grinder cracks and shaves peppercorns for the most flavorful experience. Six settings, from fine to coarse, allow you to choose the ideal grind for your needs.

What you should consider: This model’s only downside is that it costs significantly more than other models.

Top pepper grinder for the money

OXO Good Grips Pepper Grinder

What you need to know: This model is the perfect balance of price, ease of use and quality.

What you’ll love: The OXO pepper grinder uses a ceramic grinding mechanism that won’t rust or corrode. The five grind settings lock in place to produce consistent grind sizes. The nonslip grip allows you to grind easily, even if your hands are a bit wet or oily.

What you should consider: This pepper grinder is better suited for individuals who like their pepper a little coarse.

Worth checking out

Kuhn Rikon Adjustable Ratchet Grinder

What you need to know: A budget-priced option for the individual who has difficulty with twisting motions.

What you’ll love: This pepper grinder utilizes a ratchet mechanism to grind peppercorns, allowing you to move a lever back and forth instead of twisting. It’s easy to fill, offers a consistent grind and features a durable ceramic grinding stone.

What you should consider: Although this model works very well, it isn’t as durable as other pepper grinders.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Which post hole digger is best?

Nearly every house, deck or dock you’ve stood on started with the same thing: a deep hole, dug through dirt and rock and backfilled with a sturdy post surrounded by concrete. Governed by industry guidelines and regulations, most posts need to be set below the frost line, be adequate in space for concrete and dug straight down. The best way to accomplish this is using a post hole digger designed for the job.

For quiet, powerful digging that gets the job done even when you’re off-grid, the Landworks Earth Auger is a great option.

What to know before you buy a post hole digger

Manual vs. electric vs. gas

Post hole diggers can be powered by brute strength, electricity or gasoline. Manual diggers obviously require more strength, but they’re less expensive and quieter than their gas- or battery-powered counterparts.

Gas-powered augers are fast, but they require a mix of gas and oil to operate and are often noisy. Battery-powered diggers solve the noise problem, but many users struggle with the short battery life since it won’t get them through bigger projects.

Blade size

The blade size should match the necessary diameter of the hole you’re digging. Although larger blades have a better “grip” in terms of the earth they grab, they may remove too much for delicate jobs (such as installing a decorative picket fence). The best post hole diggers come with a variety of blade sizes for all the jobs you need to do.

Weight

Heavier post hole diggers use the weight of the machine and gravity to take bigger bites out of the earth. Although this seems like a great idea — grabbing more dirt and rocks with each turn or thrust — a heavy post hole digger is a lot of work.

Imagine building a fence that requires 30 holes. Now imagine the difference between lifting a 5-pound post hole digger for those holes as compared to a 10-pound machine.

Of course, using an electric or gas-powered auger lightens the repetitive lifting, but you’ll still need to be able to haul it around to each hole.

What to look for in a quality post hole digger

Cushioned handles

Manual or automated, the handles of a post hole digger need to be well-padded to absorb the shock of the machine. Constant vibrations of electric or gas-powered diggers can cause blisters, too. Get a good grip on your machine before buying to make sure it’s comfortable.

Sturdy handles

Manual diggers should have generously sized, sturdy handles. Look for handles that are at least 4 feet long and made of hardwood or fiberglass. Both materials are strong and light, but make sure to store both out of the weather and sun to preserve them.

Rechargeable battery

Battery-powered augers are great for off-grid use. They tend to be quieter, but their batteries can drain quickly. Look for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for longer life.

Extra blades

Gas- and battery-powered augers that come with extra blades of varied sizes allow you to dig different diameters of holes. Because some DIY projects require different holes, this allows you to get it all done with one machine.

How much you can expect to spend on a post hole digger

While high-quality manual post hole diggers cost around $25, battery- and gas-powered versions can cost double or triple that price.

Post hole digger FAQ

Why can’t you just dig a hole with a shovel?

A. Post holes need to be absolutely vertical. This prevents water from trickling down underneath the set post, freezing and heaving your post and concrete (and the rest of your structure) out of the ground, or at least off-level.

A post hole digger also only removes the amount of dirt that needs to be removed. A shovel creates a wide ditch that could certainly get to the correct depth, but it moves a lot of earth to do so. Post hole machines are more targeted and retain the stability of the supporting earth by removing only as much as you need to remove.

Is there a recommended technique for using a manual post hole digger?

A. Yes.

Bring your hands together as you thrust the blades into the ground. This opens the clamshell blades.
As you bring the blades down, hold both handles together. This prevents smashed knuckles.
Separate your hands wide to grab dirt.
Move the dirt out of the way, and close your hands again to reset.
Rotate the blades 90 degrees in one direction, and repeat the process. This helps avoid any stubborn roots or rocks and loosens the dirt so you can remove more at one time.

Depending on your soil, it may take a few passes to get the hole started. Be patient, and don’t forget to rotate the blade each time you bring it down into the hole.

What’s the best post hole digger to buy?

Top post hole digger

Landworks Earth Auger

What you need to know: The powerful battery on this electric option digs to the required depth quickly.

What you’ll love: It comes with three different bit sizes. It rotates in two directions at 300 revolutions per minute. Operation is quiet, and the whole unit weighs 22 pounds. You can dig 30-60 holes on one charge. It comes with one rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

What you should consider: You might want a spare battery for big jobs.

Top post hole digger for the money

Ames Post Hole Digger

What you need to know: This is a great choice when money is tight and you have to dig some holes.

What you’ll love: The 48-inch hardwood handle has a padded grip for comfort during use and measurements etched in so you know when you’ve met your mark. The steel blades open to 6.25 inches.

What you should consider: The blades aren’t welded, so they may come loose after repeated use.

Worth checking out

Fiskars 60-inch Steel Post Hole Digger

What you need to know: This manual post hole digger reaches up to 60 inches and comes from a trusted brand.

What you’ll love: This digger is really good at breaking up dense ground. It also reaches 12 inches longer than most other models.

What you should consider: The digger’s increased length may make it more difficult to use or carry.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.