Available in acrylic, stainless steel or stained wood, the Goa, Daman and Madras nutmeg mills will delight the most refined food experts and palates with their slender lines, minimalist design and technical features. Featuring a storage chamber that can hold about three nutmegs, their ease of use disguises a highly sophisticated grinding mechanism. The acrylic Tidore nutmeg grinder is no different in its sophistication but its whimsical shape has been inspired by the curves of a nutmeg and is equipped with a storage chamber that can hold seven to eight nutmegs. If you wish to produce a good deal of greater nutmeg and you also value the aesthetics associated with gourmet food preparation, consider a rotary-style nutmeg mill. These tools place a nutmeg seed (or several) in a closed chamber topped by a hand-turned crank usually connected to a group of claws that hold the seed in place and apply downward pressure. When operated, the rotating twists the seed against a series of rasps or teeth, shaving bits of nutmeg with ease. Like every spice, nutmeg needs to be freshly ground in a very specific way to reveal its distinct aroma and flavours. Peugeot has applied all its expertise to a collection of nutmeg grinders that do the job perfectly and will soon become your most-used culinary companions. Manual: These classic grinders and graters require a bit of elbow grease to use. Whether you operate it with a crank, as with a grinder, or by rubbing a whole nutmeg against a grater, this is an easy way to get the same fresh flavour offered by using an electric grinder. As mentioned above, nutmeg is native to a number of Indian Ocean islands known, fittingly enough as, the Spice Islands. It was one of many prized and rare spices that were wildly popular in the west during the Middle Ages and Renaissance -- cinnamon, pepper, and cloves were also highly sought after -- both for its culinary uses and for its perceived medicinal characteristics. (It was thought for many centuries that nutmeg and certain other spices could help to prevent infection with the bubonic plague.)

As nutmeg can have generally undesired side effects when consumed in too great a dose, including indigestion, headache, and even induction of hallucinatory and/or otherwise psychoactive episodes, it is best kept out of reach of children and consumed only in moderation. The Spicy History of Nutmeg If there is only one spice that adds a subtlety, warmth, and floral fragrance, without overpowering or sacrificing the character of sweet and savoury dishes, it is nutmeg. Used in traditional Asian cuisine, as well as being deep-rooted in many classic Italian and French dishes, this Indonesian spice boasts traces of smoked hazelnut to bring nutty nuances to your food. Sourced from trees in the Myristica genus native to islands in the Indian Ocean, the nutmeg seed usually measures about one inch in length and is too tough for any practical use as a whole piece. But grated into a fine powder, nutmeg is nutritious, delicious, and perennial popular, used in a range of cuisines around the world and also prized for its ability to be used in creating essential oils.In the case of a manual grinder or grater, a comfortable handle is crucial. Many handles are dubbed “ergonomic” by the manufacturers, which just means the handle is contoured to comfortably fit your hand. Maintaining your grip on a handheld grater or grinder is important for keeping you safe and allowing you to work efficiently. Storage I struggled with this one initially as I found it to overheat of I filled it to capacity. OK, maybe I shouldn’t have filled it to the top with the peppers I was trying to grind, but why have the limit if it can’t cope? Nevertheless, I have reduced capacity to about 90% and it is coping a lot better. Beyond its use in the kitchen, nutmeg also has noted benefits when refined into an essential oil. Achieve through the distillation of ground nutmeg, the oil sourced from nutmeg contains several organic chemicals (mostly terpenoids and phenylpropenes) such as geraniol and safrol. The oil is used in oral hygiene products, cough suppressant medicines, and in tinctures designed to soothe stomach and intestinal issues. It can also be used to invigorate a massage oil or as part of an aromatherapy regimen intended to enhance the relaxation and tranquility of a user. A handheld rasp-style nutmeg grater might not be the most elegant tool a chef owns, but in fact it may well be the best possible device for producing ground nutmeg. These simple graters put complete control of the process into the cook's hands, with a person able to regulate the coarseness of the grinds based on pressure applied and to stop grinding the seed precisely as soon as he or she has produced enough powdered nutmeg. On the other hand, such grater also almost fully preclude the complete use of any seed, as a person risks cutting their fingers on the rasps once the seed has grown too small. And while excellent for controlling minute amounts of grated nutmeg, such a tool is also much less efficient than other more mechanically-inclined options when you have large quantities of ground nutmeg to produce.

Semicylindrical graters are laid flat on a surface to use and often have a compartment to store whole nutmeg. If you’re looking for a grater specifically for nutmeg, this is a good option. Nutmeg is up there with cinnamon and star anise as one of the most difficult seasonings to process, but it doesn't have to be. Because a nutmeg seed is relatively easy to grasp, you can get away with using the Microplane 46016 if you just need small amounts, or the especially versatile Microplane Classic Zester for larger batches. In fact, we'd recommend that classic Microplane be a part of every kitchen, both at home and at work, because it's a remarkably useful tool in a lot of settings. Now that you have some ground nutmeg, what can you do with it? Nutmeg is a versatile spice that adds warmth to sweet or savoury dishes and drinks. Here are some common uses for nutmeg: Mechanical or electric grinders can be kept on the counter or in a cupboard. However, graters have exposed blades that can be a hazard if simply tossed in a drawer. Some graters come with a sheath or cover, which allows you to store your grater in a drawer without fear of cutting yourself or damaging the blades. If a grater doesn’t come with a sheath, it should be hung up or put in a place where people aren’t likely to accidentally cut themselves on it. Maintenance Spice mill: Like the pestle and mortar, a spice mill is manual. These have a similar design to a pepper mill in that the device is hand-cranked and the ground spices come out of the bottom. They’re a great option if you’re looking to grind small amounts. Spice mills are not suitable for wet ingredients.

Nutmeg grinder features

We discussed the Waring brand at the top of this article and it’s recognised to be the most used electric grinder in commercial kitchens. However, some of these coffee blenders listed above are now also used in smaller commercial kitchens and domestically too.

This one is dishwasher safe, has a large capacity, comes with very sharp blades – specially designed to grind toughest nuts. It doesn’t grind down to the finest of powders – this was the case when I used poppy seeds. However, it is really good overall. When you consider the extra flavour offered by freshly ground nutmeg and the fact that whole nutmeg lasts for years, a grinder offers an economical alternative to buying ground nutmeg. Key considerationsA. There is little to no difference in the fineness of the resulting powder, so it’s up to you. Grinders have the added benefit of storing ground nutmeg, but it might also be more difficult to produce small amounts of nutmeg with a grinder than with a grater. Pestle and mortar: Made up of a heavy bowl (mortar) and a club-shaped tool (pestle), this is a primitive and centuries-old means of grinding spices and other foods. These come in a range of sizes, from small ones no bigger than a teacup to large Mexican molcajete. Pestle and mortars are versatile as both dry and wet mixes can be ground in them. Stainless steel is a popular material for graters and grinders because it’s easy to clean, highly durable, and incredibly sharp. Electric grinders use a variety of materials, most of which are plastic or metal. The blades in electric grinders are unlikely to break, so materials are less of a consideration. Nutmeg grinder features What does a nutmeg grinder offer that a store-bought bottle of ground nutmeg doesn’t? A ton of flavour. Freshly ground nutmeg maintains the natural oils that give the spice its distinctive flavour, so less of it is required. The more time that passes after grinding the nutmeg, the more flavour is lost. A grater or grinder is the best way to get that fresh nutmeg flavour when you want it. Manual vs. electric Nutmeg, like most spices, is never a central ingredient in any recipe; in fact, it is rarely even meant to define the flavor profile of a given meal or beverage, but rather to add a bit of complexity to the food or drink. Nutmeg is experienced by most palates as sweet and nutty, with enough camphor-like spice to be harsh in large quantities but easily mellowed by foods such as dairy or rice products and balanced by the bright and crisp flavors of citrus fruits.