How to disassemble a mill for pepper, spices, grain, remove the cover, use

Absolutely all spices taste better if you grind them immediately before eating. This explains the desire of housewives to reuse the spice mill. As practice shows, the first such tool in the house is disposable. But if desired, an empty jar can be filled again and again. You just need to know how to open it.

Purpose of the mill

The device is used for grinding granular and granular food additives that improve the taste of cooked dishes. Thanks to the popular and popular device among housewives, it is possible to obtain a fragrant mixture from individual ingredients. Such additives are added to food during preparation or immediately before consumption. The compact hand mill is convenient for everyday use and is indispensable in any kitchen.

The fragrant powder obtained with its help gives food a special rich aroma and piquant taste. You need to disassemble a pepper mill using an unconventional method when using a disposable model. Practical housewives and experienced chefs do not always trust factory-ground spices and seasonings, preferring to grind natural ingredients themselves.

The compact, practical and convenient device quickly grinds grains and granules of flavoring additives into a fine powder. Hand grinding of products guarantees their quality to a greater extent.

Another purpose of the device is to store ready-made seasonings or spices. A kitchen mill is a kitchen utensil that is simple in everyday use, but complex in design and operating principle. The most popular are affordable disposable models, the disassembly of which is not provided for by the manufacturer. Another purpose of such devices is the precise dosing of hot seasonings.

Typical Features of Disposable Kitchen Mills:

What spices are best to use for reuse?

You can buy seasonings at the store, or you can make your own. The aroma and taste of additives prepared with your own hands are much brighter and richer.

The simplest thing you can put in a Kotani grinder is coarse sea salt or pink Himalayan salt. This salt is much healthier than what we usually buy on store shelves. It is important to remember that the container must be thoroughly rinsed and dried before reuse.

Recipes

We present to your attention several recipes for aromatic mixtures.

For meat. We will need: dill seeds, allspice peas, black pepper, bay leaf, cloves and coriander. Fry the ingredients in a dry frying pan and then pour into a spice container.
Seasoning for baking and coffee. We will need: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, star anise for some piquancy, cardamom and black pepper.
Black salt. We will need: purchased coarse sea salt, freeze-dried garlic, black peppercorns, coriander, hot red pepper. The seasoning is ideal for salads.
Dried tangerine peels with vanilla. Cut the peels of tangerines (or oranges or lemons) into squares, dry them in the oven, add vanilla sugar or vanillin and cinnamon to the mixture to taste. We get the ideal additive for baking.
Peanut seasoning. We will need: fried walnut kernels, dried basil herb, black pepper, coriander, freeze-dried garlic. This seasoning is good for soups.

How to use?

This depends on the type of drive, the design of the flask, and the design of the handle in mechanical models. The rules for using each device are set out in the instruction manual supplied with it.

Often, a kitchen mill is used to grind granular and granular aromatic spices and then add them to the prepared dish. Reusable models have a special receiver for storing and dosing powder products. Expensive devices have a removable container with compartments for several different food ingredients. They have a collapsible design.

Standard rules and grinding technology:

First you need to remove or unscrew the lid of the container.
The product is poured inside and the device is assembled.
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The mill is turned over with the millstones facing down.
The container with the spice must be held motionless.
Grinding the contents, depending on the model, is done by turning the lid or rotating the handle attached to one of the surfaces of the device.

In electric models, the procedure is carried out with one keystroke, and in lever-type devices, the grinding mechanism is activated by pressing on the handle. An adjusting screw is used to determine the size of the fractions. The amount of crushed contents is determined visually. The grinding speed depends on the functional characteristics and operating principle of the drive mechanism and the diameter of the millstones.

You can disassemble the pepper mill using the standard method provided by the manufacturer or by using special techniques that allow you to bypass the established technical limitations and use the design features of the device.

At the end or on the side surface of the device there is a hole for pouring out the product crushed by metal millstones or ceramic worm knives. A dosing mechanism is also located here, dividing the resulting powder into small portions.

Disassembly methods

You can disassemble the Kotanyi mill in different ways, which many have already tried:

To open the mill, make cuts along the sides of the plastic lid with a sharp knife. Pull lightly and the lid will give way easily. Pour a new portion of pepper into the jar and put the lid back on. Secure it with any fastener you have at hand (plastic ring, technical clamp, etc.) or heat it to such an extent that the plastic becomes soft. But keep in mind that the last method can be used once, that is, the next time you will not be able to remove the cover without damaging it, and the mill will lose its attractiveness.

Don't know how to open the Kotanyi Pepper Mill? Some jars can be opened simply with a lot of effort - for example, ask your husband to help. Take the lid with one hand and the glass base with the other and pull them in different directions as hard as you can, while twisting the lid slightly. If it doesn’t work the first time, don’t continue (not this time), move on to another method.

Types of grinders for pepper and other spices

Such devices are represented by several basic design and functional options. Mills are single-use and reusable, mechanical or electric. Each type has its own advantages, operating features and technical characteristics. The design of reusable kitchen mills is collapsible.

They consist of several parts:

container for granular, grain or powder spices;
grinding mechanism - teeth, round millstones, worm knives and others;
removable handle;
covers.
detachable compartments for storing various types of food additives.

Such devices are made from various materials that determine the durability and operational reliability of the mill.

On sale there are reusable devices made from:

food grade polymer of increased strength;
of stainless steel;
clear or frosted glass;
ceramics;
wood.

Expensive electric models run on miniature flat or AA batteries. There are types of kitchen mills with a built-in battery. They are practical because they do not require periodic replacement of batteries and are charged from a socket with a standard voltage of 220 V. The design features of electric models are practically no different from mechanical reusable devices.

Due to the high speed of the knives, such mills quickly and efficiently grind any spices, including hard crystals of table salt. They significantly save the owner’s time and physical strength, since there is no need to rotate the handle for a long time and tediously.

Electric mills are common in catering establishments where large volumes of flavoring additives need to be ground in a short time. The cheapest and most popular variety in home kitchens is disposable mills.

Such models already contain the desired food ingredient inside. They are airtight, so they retain the taste and rich aroma of the contents during long-term storage. Grinding while simultaneously extracting a portion of spices is accomplished by simply twisting the lid. Using a disposable device allows you to evenly distribute the food ingredient over the entire surface of the dish.

Mills of this type have the only drawback - the limited period of operation provided for by the design. They are suitable for long-term storage of pepper, but after the contents are completely consumed they must be disposed of. The need to disassemble the device arises if you want to extend its service life.

How it works, selection criteria when purchasing

Before you start choosing a mill for a mill, it’s a good idea to understand its structure and operating principle. Both mechanical and electric pepper mills have a similar design. It consists of:

containers in which spices are stored;
millstones;
container into which the ground mixture falls.

A hand mill can be equipped with a handle. As a rule, it looks aesthetically pleasing and has an interesting design. The principle of operation is to “scroll” the upper half of the body to grind spices with millstones.

The electrical device is equipped with a start button and runs on a battery or rechargeable battery. Advantages: fast speed with a minimum of manual labor, the ability to select the degree of grinding (the parameter is set on a special scale).

When choosing a mill, it is important to find out the material from which the millstones are made. If it is plastic, the device will fail very quickly. Ideal if the millstones are metal.

Attention! It is not advisable to choose a mill with a wooden body. Wood absorbs aromas; after several “grindings,” the smell of the next spice mixture will be questionable.

Features of choice

The range of such kitchen utensils is huge. This makes choosing the right device difficult. For home use, it is advisable to give preference to a budget disposable model that can be used repeatedly. Such products already contain a combination of flavoring additives, selected in the required proportions and combinations of aromas. Such mills greatly facilitate the process of preparing dishes.

Among the disadvantages, there are difficulties in selecting the preferred bouquet of spices. Each dish requires different seasonings. Therefore, you have to purchase several disposable mills. The best choice for mixing flavoring ingredients yourself is a reusable model. Devices for grinding allspice are equipped with paired rows of millstones.

They qualitatively crush granules of any hardness into fractions of a given size thanks to the adjusting screw. Wooden mills are popular, the range of which includes dozens of models of any size, shape, structure and design.

This device can be matched to the style of your kitchen interior. There are cast iron mills that can be used as an original gift.

Some massive products are decorated in authentic oriental or Russian style with engraving. Glass, steel and ceramic options are often made in a high-tech spirit and look ultra-modern.

Wooden mills are poorly suited for grinding and storing oily spices - garlic, star anise and others.

When choosing a device, you should pay attention to:

millstone material – the most reliable, durable and suitable for grinding hard granules are models with knives made of stainless steel or high-strength ceramics;
arrangement of teeth - the finest grinding is provided by models with double-row arrangement of working elements;
mechanism for adjusting the size of fractions;
number of compartments for storing different spices;
the total capacity of the kitchen appliance, on which the required frequency of refilling depends;
the shape of the accessory and the ease of holding it in the hand;
strength, chemical inertness and moisture resistance of the housing.

An electric mill operating in automatic mode would be a good choice. The only thing that scares off potential buyers is the high cost. The best models are produced by the British manufacturer Cole&Mason. The company's product range includes mills made in retro style and in the traditions of modern high-tech. The manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty on its products.

Products from the French company Peugeot are equipped with a unique patented grinding mechanism with double-row toothed millstones made of alloy steel. High-quality products are produced by the Italian brand Nuova Cer. These mills are distinguished by an attractive design in an ecological style and the use of high-strength ceramics in their production. Original, reliable and cheap models are available in the assortment of the Joseph & Joseph company.

Kitchen mills produced by the German manufacturer Fissler are attractive with their laconic design and excellent quality. This device will last a very long time. The kitchen appliance uses steel millstones and a mechanism for high-precision adjustment of the size of the fractions.

Spice grinder: video

A disposable grinder for pepper or other spices has a non-removable lid, so after using all the spices it is simply thrown away, since it cannot be refilled. At the same time, its millstones have an untapped resource; they can easily continue to grind pepper. Even though the manufacturer has made the mill disposable, there is still a way to open it and refill it. This, firstly, will allow you to save 10 times by simply buying spices in bags, and secondly, it will protect the environment from additional plastic waste.

Ways to open a disposable grinder so you can use it again and again

Not every housewife is ready to spend the family budget on the constant purchase of a new kitchen appliance. This approach is impractical and harmful to the environment. This is especially true for products made of polymer materials that do not decompose. There are various ways to disassemble a pepper mill for reuse. The choice of circuit depends on the design of the device and the materials used in its manufacture.

The clogging method may differ fundamentally between different manufacturers and models. When disassembling, it is important not to deform the lid and body or damage the grinding mechanism. There are little tricks that allow you to use a disposable spice grinder over and over again.

How to disassemble a Kamis pepper mill.

The table shows disassembly options for popular products from different manufacturers:

Manufacturer	Disassembly diagram	Important nuances
Kamis	The emptied accessory is placed in a basin or pan. The polymer lid of the device is evenly poured with a thin stream of boiling water. You need to wait 2-3 minutes. before removing it. During this time, the plastic will soften and become pliable. Before reusing the device, it should be thoroughly washed and dried.	If the lid does not come off after heat treatment, you should repeat the boiling water procedure. Assembling the opened mill is not difficult - you need to align the top with the plastic grooves on the body and fix it with a sharp cotton.
Kotanyi	First, remove the protective plug and set the device to grinding mode into large fractions. The body and cover are turned in opposite directions to break the thread. As a result, a gap will appear between the cover and the body. The action is repeated until the device is completely opened.	You can remove the lid with a kitchen knife. This will require significant physical effort. The risk of damage to the plastic container increases.
Pripravych	A domestically produced mill is dismantled using the “fracture” method. The scheme is extremely simple. Grasp the body with one hand and the lid with the other. Make a sharp twisting movement in different directions.	In models for different purposes, Russian manufacturers of kitchen appliances use different locking mechanisms. Sometimes the mill does not need to be untwisted, but rather to be torn off by sharply pulling both parts of the device up and down.
Erringen	The plastic cover is heated with a regular hair dryer. After softening, the mill is opened by sharply tearing off the lid.	Mechanical impact requires the application of great physical force. The locking teeth have a pointed cone shape and are tightly interlocked.

These methods are quite aggressive. It is important not to damage the device. Otherwise you won't be able to reuse it. It has been noticed that in disposable mills, after three uses, the grinding mechanism becomes dull and loses efficiency. It is better to consider other methods of opening such kitchen utensils using the example of a product from the Austrian company Kotaniy, given their prevalence and popularity among housewives.

The models are made of tempered transparent glass and equipped with a smooth lid made of food grade polymer material. The mechanism for crushing seasonings and spices is made of high-strength plastic.

Different models initially contain a mixture of flavoring additives in the flask or separately:

allspice peas;
cilantro;
dried onions;
fenugreek;
basil;
rosemary;
thyme;
sea salt crystals.

Many housewives want to use these relatively expensive disposable kitchen devices multiple times. Therefore, ingenious ways of opening such accessories are extremely relevant.

No tools

You can disassemble a pepper or other spice mill made in Austria manually. The method is more suitable for men, since it is designed for the application of brute physical force.

The principle is as follows:

The device is released from the protective cap.
The mill is switched to coarse grinding mode.
With one hand they grasp the glass flask, with the other they clamp the upper plastic part of the structure.
Sharply rotate the mill segments in different directions, while simultaneously pulling the lid up.
With the next movement, the parts of the device are again rotated in different directions, lifting the top on one side.

The procedure must be repeated until the cover is completely removed. After cleaning, rinsing the container and filling it with a fresh portion of spices, the lid is returned to its place with a sharp pop.

Using a knife

Using a well-sharpened tool, remove the locking membrane disc, made of a rigid polymer composition. The resulting gap is enough to accurately fill the kitchen mill with herbs or spices.

Algorithm of actions:

After removing the safety cap, a thin knife blade is inserted between the grinding mechanism and the neck of the glass flask.
The sealing plastic insert separating them is lifted with a sharp tool, slowly moving it around the circumference.
After removing the polymer plate, you can add flavoring additives using a funnel with a flat spout.
The removed part of the Austrian design is installed by lightly pressing until it is completely sealed in the place provided by the manufacturer.

Another disassembly option involves using a knife to make vertical cuts on the plastic cover. After this, it can be removed by sharply pulling upward with force. The disadvantage of the scheme is that the device loses its aesthetic appearance.

Using two planks

To open the kitchen mill from the Austrian brand Kotanyi, you can use a couple of wooden blocks. They should be wider than the cover of the device, and their length should allow them to be securely fixed in the palm of your hand. A semicircular recess is cut out at the ends of both planks, corresponding to the radius of the polymer top of the mill. The device is conveniently clamped with your knees. It is advisable to securely fix it.

The lid is clamped between wooden blocks, using them as a lever. Perform sharp twisting movements, tearing off the plastic part. The manipulation must be repeated several times until the cover is completely removed. The method requires less physical effort than manual. Therefore it is suitable for women.

Heating the lid

The thermal disassembly circuit does not require the use of brute force or sharp tools that can damage the structure. This is the undoubted advantage of the technique. Boil water in a saucepan or other metal container and immerse the plastic top of the mill into it. Care must be taken to ensure that the temperature does not affect the glass flask. It might burst. The lid must be kept in boiling water for 4-5 minutes.

During this time, the plastic will soften, which will allow you to remove the part without effort. The lid should be grabbed with a kitchen towel and pulled out of the glass spice container by twisting or lifting. After cleaning, drying and filling the flask with a new portion of spice, the cooled lid is returned to its original place by slamming shut.

Any heating device can be used to heat treat the plastic part of the pepper mill. The polymer material becomes pliable and soft under the influence of hot air. Using the methods outlined above, you can disassemble kitchen appliances from other manufacturers.

Nuances of different manufacturers

The technologies of mill manufacturers are not too different, but some life hacks take into account the differences in attaching the lid to the body.

Kotanyi (Kotani)

At Kotani mills, you can remove the plastic millstones without disturbing the outer covering. To do this, remove the top cover, carefully pry off the white plastic with a knife or thin screwdriver and move it in a circle. The auger pops out and a hole opens into which you can add a new portion of seasonings. The part is inserted back using gentle pressing movements along the edge.

Kamis (Kamis)

The lid from the Kamis jar can be removed by forcefully twisting and swinging it away from the body. The heating method also works great.

Pripravych

Pripravych's lid can be unscrewed, but the sides prevent it from being separated from the body. Brute force may be needed to rip the plastic out of place. If you can’t do it this way, use a knife to pry up the edges; they are visible on the lid by the difference in thickness.

You can simply break off the plastic in these places, and the pepper jar will become reusable. When the mill is operating, the lid will not unscrew spontaneously, because the directions of rotation of the grinding and the threaded connection are opposite.

Aesthetics of taste

Take a flathead screwdriver, push it between the edge of the plastic and the side of the glass case, and turn to push the lid off. Thus we act in a circle. Eventually the lid comes off.

IKEA

The IKEA brand produces reusable spice grinders, including the Ihardig line with a removable grinder. The mechanism can be installed on any IKEA can.

Miss Aroma

Jars of pepper, salt and spice sets for reuse are heated in hot water or with a hairdryer. However, this is unlikely to be useful. The Russian manufacturer has poor reviews about the quality of processing of even one serving of seasoning.

Gipfel

The Gipfel brand has established itself as a high-quality manufacturer of reusable electric and manual mills. In different models, the lid either unscrews or simply pulls off.

The purchase price of a package of pepper mixture is almost 4 times cheaper than a new seasoning grinder, so the benefit is obvious. But, unfortunately, the economical pepper mill cannot be recharged more than 4 times. Millstones are not designed for repeated use.

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