Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
have a good 'un they can recommend?

TIA,
Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"

On 9/17/2011 2:53 PM, Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>
> TIA,
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
> --
>
> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"

I'd use my Cuisinart (coffee) grinder just like I do for other spices
like freshly roasted cumin. I don't like mortars or pestles and I find
the mini processor attachment for my Braun immersion blender works well
for softer herbs like parsley.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>
> TIA,
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
> --
>
> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"

I have a coffee grinder that is used exclusively for that. It's one
of those fairly inexpensive ones and I've had it for years and it
works great. If you wipe it out with a damp dishcloth after each use
and let it dry it doesn't retain
the aromas or flavors of the spices you have ground.

http://coffeegrinders101.com/wp-cont...r1-150x150.jpg

On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>
> TIA,
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
> --
>
> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"

For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.

http://www.richardfisher.com

On Sep 17, 2:53*pm, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?

How much do you expect to spend? I have a blade-type coffee mill that
I reserve for spices. (I grind my coffee in an electric burr mill.)
Some seeds are too hard for either a mortar or blade mill. I use a
Porkert mill for poppy seeds. It works for caraway too. (I made peanut
butter with the grandchildren in my hand-cranked coffee mill. The
first pot of coffee made during Irene's power outage tasted a bit
unusual.)

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
get.

On Sep 17, 3:58*pm, Helpful person > wrote:

...

> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.

Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
will perforate a plastic bag.

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
get.

On Sep 17, 1:13*pm, Jerry Avins > wrote:
> On Sep 17, 3:58*pm, Helpful person > wrote:
>
> * ...
>
> > For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> > hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>
> Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
> Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
> will perforate a plastic bag.
>
> Jerry
> --
> Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
> get.

Put them on an anvil.

On 9/17/2011 4:17 PM, Chemo the Clown wrote:
> On Sep 17, 1:13 pm, Jerry > wrote:
>> On Sep 17, 3:58 pm, Helpful > wrote:
>>
>> ...
>>
>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>
>> Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
>> Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
>> will perforate a plastic bag.
>>
>> Jerry
>> --
>> Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
>> get.
>
> Put them on an anvil.

I wonder why you would grind poppy seeds? They seem small enough to me.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

On 9/17/2011 4:36 PM, James Silverton wrote:
> On 9/17/2011 4:17 PM, Chemo the Clown wrote:
>> On Sep 17, 1:13 pm, Jerry > wrote:
>>> On Sep 17, 3:58 pm, Helpful > wrote:
>>>
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>>
>>> Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
>>> Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
>>> will perforate a plastic bag.
>>>
>>> Jerry
>>> --
>>> Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
>>> get.
>>
>> Put them on an anvil.
>
> I wonder why you would grind poppy seeds? They seem small enough to me.
>

Answering my own question :-) I have made Indian foods with white poppy
seeds (Good too!) but I used my spice (coffee) grinder to pulverize them.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

"Terry Pulliam Burd" > wrote in message
...
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>

Use a dedicated coffee grinder. Or get yourself a brass Turkish coffee
grinder. They work great.

Paul

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:36:00 -0400, James Silverton
> wrote:

>On 9/17/2011 4:17 PM, Chemo the Clown wrote:
>> On Sep 17, 1:13 pm, Jerry > wrote:
>>> On Sep 17, 3:58 pm, Helpful > wrote:
>>>
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>>
>>> Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
>>> Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
>>> will perforate a plastic bag.
>>>
>>> Jerry
>>> --
>>> Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
>>> get.
>>
>> Put them on an anvil.
>
>I wonder why you would grind poppy seeds? They seem small enough to me.

A paste is made from poppy seeds for baked goods, called muhn, there
are grinders made for the specific purpose of grinding poppy seeds,
they look somewhat like e meat grinder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy_seed

On Sep 17, 4:17*pm, Chemo the Clown > wrote:
> On Sep 17, 1:13*pm, Jerry Avins > wrote:
>
> > On Sep 17, 3:58*pm, Helpful person > wrote:
>
> > * ...
>
> > > For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> > > hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>
> > Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
> > Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
> > will perforate a plastic bag.
>
> > Jerry
> > --
> > Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
> > get.
>
> Put them on an anvil.

That works. It's hard to collect the paste, though. One of these is
much easier to use: http://www.wayfair.com/show_detail.p...55&piid%5B%5D=

Jerry
--
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 13:17:11 -0700 (PDT), Chemo the Clown wrote:

> On Sep 17, 1:13*pm, Jerry Avins > wrote:
>> On Sep 17, 3:58*pm, Helpful person > wrote:
>>
>> * ...
>>
>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>
>> Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
>> Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
>> will perforate a plastic bag.
>>
>> Jerry
>> --
>> Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
>> get.
>
> Put them on an anvil.

I *almost* made you the inaugural member of my killfile for that, then I
realized it was quite funny.

TFM®

Jerry Avins wrote:
>
> That works. It's hard to collect the paste, though. One of these is
> much easier to use: http://www.wayfair.com/show_detail.p...55&piid%5B%5D=

I have one of those. Works great on other things.
It's the only thing I know that will make a nice paste
out of dried fruit. I hadn't used it in months, but
coincidentally brought it out last night for some work
about which I may post something in a few minutes.

"Terry Pulliam Burd" > wrote in message
...
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>
> TIA,
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>
> --
I use a marble pestle & mortar from the Lehman's non-electric catalog. I
don't use a lot of star anise so grinding that isn't an issue for me.

Jill

In article <bf93fb65-a5db-4413-8311-
>, says...
>
> On Sep 17, 1:13*pm, Jerry Avins > wrote:
> > On Sep 17, 3:58*pm, Helpful person > wrote:
> >
> > * ...
> >
> > > For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> > > hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
> >
> > Put some poppy seeds on an oak board and hit them with a hammer.
> > Mostly, you will end up with whole seeds embedded in the wood. They
> > will perforate a plastic bag.
> >
> > Jerry
> > --
> > Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can
> > get.
>
> Put them on an anvil.

In the spirit of wretched excess:

<http://www.harborfreight.com/50-ton-hydraulic-shop-press-96188.html>.

"Terry Pulliam Burd" > wrote in message
...
> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>
> TIA,
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

Magic Bullet.

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:12:46 -0400, James Silverton
> wrote:

>On 9/17/2011 2:53 PM, Terry Pulliam Burd wrote:
>> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
>> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
>> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
>> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>>
>> TIA,
>> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>>
>> --
>>
>> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"
>
>I'd use my Cuisinart (coffee) grinder just like I do for other spices
>like freshly roasted cumin. I don't like mortars or pestles and I find
>the mini processor attachment for my Braun immersion blender works well
>for softer herbs like parsley.

Go back to the thrift shops and you should be able to find lots of
coffee grinders for a couple of dollars each.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:58:56 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person wrote:

> On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
>> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
>> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
>> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
>> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>>
>> TIA,
>> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>>
>> --
>>
>> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"
>
> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.

or the flat side of a meat tenderizer:

<http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=10805597>

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:58:56 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person wrote:
>
> > On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
> >> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
> >> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
> >> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
> >> have a good 'un they can recommend?
> >>
> >> TIA,
> >> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"
> >
> > For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
> > hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>
> or the flat side of a meat tenderizer:
>
> <http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=10805597>

I believe the official rfc tool here is the Volvo in the driveway.

:-)

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 07:54:38 -0400, The Cook >
arranged random neurons and said:

>Go back to the thrift shops and you should be able to find lots of
>coffee grinders for a couple of dollars each.

Yahbut, can you ever really get the coffee odor out of them? I know
it's been said here that running white bread through it will do the
trick, but that doesn't sound persuasive.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"

On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:34:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd >
wrote:

>>Go back to the thrift shops and you should be able to find lots of
>>coffee grinders for a couple of dollars each.
>
>Yahbut, can you ever really get the coffee odor out of them? I know
>it's been said here that running white bread through it will do the
>trick, but that doesn't sound persuasive.

The bread/rice method is for coffee mills -- those with flat or conical burr
sets to do the grinding.

Most people grind spices with whirly-blade type coffee grinders. In these, the
work tub and blade are generally stainless steel, which doesn't absrob flavors
or doors, so as long as it's visually clean, it's fine.

-- Larry

sorry, i'm a little confuse to what you talk about.

On 9/18/2011 10:47 PM, wrote:
> On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:34:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam >
> wrote:
>
>>> Go back to the thrift shops and you should be able to find lots of
>>> coffee grinders for a couple of dollars each.
>>
>> Yahbut, can you ever really get the coffee odor out of them? I know
>> it's been said here that running white bread through it will do the
>> trick, but that doesn't sound persuasive.
>
> The bread/rice method is for coffee mills -- those with flat or conical burr
> sets to do the grinding.
>
> Most people grind spices with whirly-blade type coffee grinders. In these, the
> work tub and blade are generally stainless steel, which doesn't absrob flavors
> or doors, so as long as it's visually clean, it's fine.
>
In any case, new coffee grinders are inexpensive: $20 to $25 and I just
have one
for coffee and one for spices.


--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:05:00 -0400, James Silverton
> wrote:

>On 9/18/2011 10:47 PM, wrote:
>> On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:34:07 -0700, Terry Pulliam >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>> Go back to the thrift shops and you should be able to find lots of
>>>> coffee grinders for a couple of dollars each.
>>>
>>> Yahbut, can you ever really get the coffee odor out of them? I know
>>> it's been said here that running white bread through it will do the
>>> trick, but that doesn't sound persuasive.
>>
>> The bread/rice method is for coffee mills -- those with flat or conical burr
>> sets to do the grinding.
>>
>> Most people grind spices with whirly-blade type coffee grinders. In these, the
>> work tub and blade are generally stainless steel, which doesn't absrob flavors
>> or doors, so as long as it's visually clean, it's fine.
>>
>In any case, new coffee grinders are inexpensive: $20 to $25 and I just
>have one
>for coffee and one for spices.

Then you'd be better off buying ground coffee, those things are not
grinders, they ruin beans.

On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:31:55 +0000, emmy007
> wrote:

>
> sorry, i'm a little confuse to what you talk about.

The inexpensive ones we're talking about look like this
http://us-machine.com/images/machine...-grinder_2.jpg

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:30:43 -0700, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:58:56 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person wrote:
>>
>>> On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
>>>> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
>>>> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
>>>> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
>>>> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>>>>
>>>> TIA,
>>>> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"
>>>
>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>
>> or the flat side of a meat tenderizer:
>>
>> <http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=10805597>
>
> I believe the official rfc tool here is the Volvo in the driveway.
>
> :-)

but, but...i would have to steal the volvo!

your pal,
blake

On Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:17:14 -0400, blake murphy
> arranged random neurons and said:

>On Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:30:43 -0700, Dan Abel wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> blake murphy > wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:58:56 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sep 17, 11:53*am, Terry Pulliam Burd > wrote:
>>>>> Generally speaking, a mortar and pestle are all that's needed to grind
>>>>> herbs and spices, but I would like to find a good herb and spice
>>>>> grinder for the really hard stuff like star anise and nuts. Anyone
>>>>> have a good 'un they can recommend?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA,
>>>>> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"
>>>>
>>>> For the really hard stuff you can always put them in a plastic bag and
>>>> hit them with the bottom of a small saucepan.
>>>
>>> or the flat side of a meat tenderizer:
>>>
>>> <http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=10805597>
>>
>> I believe the official rfc tool here is the Volvo in the driveway.
>>
>> :-)
>
>but, but...i would have to steal the volvo!

Would an Audi work?

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

To reply, remove "spambot" and replace it with "cox"