I don't know about you, but we always seem to have too many Salt and Pepper dispensers on the table.
We have stainless steel electric ones that are not very reliable, shop bought see-through plastic containers with good quality contents that come in their own simple mills, a combined salt-n-pepper mill that works well, and best of all a French antique glass two-bay dispenser that is used by finger-pinching the amount needed (in foreground below).
Someone once said that my preferred French glass twin containers are not very hygienic. That may be so, but the user-friendly advantages far out-way any risk to health. Anyway, we do tend to wash our hands before eating.
I have several other versions of the glass container. I have various English examples including a pair of classic Chippendale cellars, as well as more simple Victorian cut-glass pots.
I had a friend who never went anywhere without his small antique pepper grinder. It was a nice little object, trimmed with silver, that he kept in his pocket at all times. He hated the idea of poor quality pepper! I know how he felt.
I shall continue to use my French glass containers. As far as I'm concerned they are perfect; and don't tell me otherwise!
I am hard pushed to come up with something meaningful in reply to your post.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone have so many pepper/salt grinders - particularly whilst living in a "bijoux" abode?
Cellars? Yes, salt is fine - up to a point. Pepper should be freshly ground on an as and when needed basis not sit there, open, for days/weeks on end. As to hygiene: In the olden days, those salt cellars came with teensy weensy silver spoons - no fingertips in the bowl.
Well, that was "fun".
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We have a pukka grinder for peppercorns, the other is a bit more finely ground. I think our French cellars are a bit too small for even the smallest of spoons. In France we have a small wooden bowl for Sea Salt, and that comes with a small wooden spoon!
DeleteThe open glass dishes would not be advisable here. There is a certain member of our household who seems to have an aversion to hand washing and refuses to be told otherwise.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a gardener with soil under his nails. He'd have to have his own private S & P cellars.
DeleteSalt jars of this nature normally have a small salt spoon with them. I am imagining that yours was just of the signt in the photograph.
ReplyDeleteNo, we use the in the French way; pinched with fingers. I do have some tiny spoons!
DeleteI still use my parents cruet set with the small silver spoon in the salt jar.
DeleteMy tiny salt spoons aren't actual silver and they've gone a bit nasty. I must try to find some decent ones.
DeleteCro, as a race, in the West we are over-hygenic... Sweden and Norway were the first to discover it in the late '70s.... and advised their populations to stop washing their veg and hands when cooking and eating.
ReplyDeleteWhat was discovered was a lack of ordinary antibodies....and that was because everything was being ultra-cleaned because of their lifestyle... so, a little bit of dirt actually does you good... yes, we may get the squits from time to time, but that's because our bodies haven't met that particular germ before.
It used to be said that we will eat a peck of dirt before we die... that's two imperial gallons of muck!!
So keep using your "un-hygienic" salt and pepper dishes.... they are doing you good!!
I do remember back in the 60's (I'm that old) a doctor saying that if a chef dropped your steak on the floor before cooking it, it would be better for you. I've never forgotten that, although I, myself, am fanatical about cleanliness in the kitchen.
DeleteWe have five mills from the IKEA 365 range... four types of pepper and one with "especially dried for mills" Sel de Guerand... the peppers are black (set on very coarse), white (fine), gourmande (medium) and Bristol Five Pepper Mix (also on medium)..... and as our dining area is close to the cooker.... that's where salt and pepper live....
DeleteThere is an example to cut back on plastic…don’t buy those plastic containers
ReplyDeleteActually I've just looked at them again and they're glass, other than the tops! It's really difficult NOT buying any plastic.
DeleteDon’t buy them and buy peppercorns for refillable mills and you have reduced some plastic.
DeleteIt's irritating how ineffective some salt and pepper grinders can become. We have been through several. You would imagine that they might last a lifetime but no! So I approve of your little glass containers - they can never go wrong!
ReplyDeleteI bought a William Bounds pepper mill over 30 years ago and it is still going strong. It has a crank handle so you can grind a lot of pepper very quickly.
DeleteHighly recommend
We have a wood salt box by the cooktop in the kitchen, and pepper grinders everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI need a small wooden bowl for Sea Salt. I must look around.
DeleteI have many salt and pepper shakers but I tend to use only one pair. Plain . Aesthetically pleasing of course. A pretty little container in my bag . In the kitchen my mother's pottery salt pig and a tiny wooden spoon. They make me happy
ReplyDelete