This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
work, especially when it comes to cleaning.

wrote:
>
> This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> work, especially when it comes to cleaning.

Depends on which herbs and quantity needed... btw, anise seeds are not
an herb, they are a spice. Most often a chefs knife is all that's
needed to prep fresh herbs. For large amounts I chop fresh herbs with
my meat ginder, especially when the herbs are part of a ground meat
dish, like adding parsely to meat loaf, grind the parsley along with
the meat, stems and all. But for herbs that will be presented fresh
like in a salad they make for a much better presentation when minced
with a *sharp* chefs knife... crushing quickly turns fresh herbs
brown.

On Dec 10, 2:50 pm, " > wrote:
> This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> work, especially when it comes to cleaning.

Your understanding is correct. Coffee grinder for hard spices, sharp
knife or chopper for herbs.

I was given one of these recently:

http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Mill-210.../dp/B002YYUC9Y

It works as advertised: fill with fresh herbs, pack 'em down, stick
in the freezer (and keep it there), grind out fresh frozen herbs
whenever you want them. It's one way of stretching a bunch of
cilantro, parsley, basil, whatever, when you aren't likely to use a
whole bunch before it goes bad, but I don't think I'd buy one myself
at that price, especially if you want more than one so you can keep
more than one herb around. But, as always, YMMV.

You can also just pack leftover herbs into small freezer bags, squeeze
as much air out as possible, and freeze them. Break off a chunk
whenever you want some.

--
Silvar Beitel

wrote:
> This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> work, especially when it comes to cleaning.

I again recommend the Sunbeam Oskar, as I did in the thread about
almonds.

-S-

On Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:50:20 -0800 (PST), "
> wrote:

> This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> work, especially when it comes to cleaning.

Get one of those $20 mini-Ninja's then. It has 4 blades vs. the usual
two. I bought one and haven't been sorry I did. I use it more than I
ever used the last mini-food processor I had and use my full sized one
a lot less now.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
>
> On Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:50:20 -0800 (PST), "
> > wrote:
>
> > This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> > my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> > like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> > work, especially when it comes to cleaning.
>
> Get one of those $20 mini-Ninja's then. It has 4 blades vs. the usual
> two. I bought one and haven't been sorry I did. I use it more than I
> ever used the last mini-food processor I had and use my full sized one
> a lot less now.

Many of you talked about those mini-Ninja things a long time ago here and it
interested me.

Question for you and others that have one. Will that powder hard things like
a coffee grinder will? Think of dry cat food....will the Ninja turn that
into a fine powder like a coffee grinder will?

I use my Krups coffee grinder for turning dry ferret food into powder. It's
old though and one of these days it's going to die. Just wondering if I can
use a Ninja for this or should I get another coffee grinder. When my coffee
grinder finally does die, I'll need to replace it pronto so I'm asking in
advance.

G.

On Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:09:38 -0500, Gary > wrote:

> sf wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:50:20 -0800 (PST), "
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > This group previously said to use a cheap electric coffee grinder, but
> > > my wife wants to do more things like fresh cilantro and less things
> > > like anise seeds. My understanding is that a coffee grinder won't
> > > work, especially when it comes to cleaning.
> >
> > Get one of those $20 mini-Ninja's then. It has 4 blades vs. the usual
> > two. I bought one and haven't been sorry I did. I use it more than I
> > ever used the last mini-food processor I had and use my full sized FP
> > a lot less now.
>
> Many of you talked about those mini-Ninja things a long time ago here and it
> interested me.
>
> Question for you and others that have one. Will that powder hard things like
> a coffee grinder will? Think of dry cat food....will the Ninja turn that
> into a fine powder like a coffee grinder will?
>
> I use my Krups coffee grinder for turning dry ferret food into powder. It's
> old though and one of these days it's going to die. Just wondering if I can
> use a Ninja for this or should I get another coffee grinder. When my coffee
> grinder finally does die, I'll need to replace it pronto so I'm asking in
> advance.
>
I don't know if the Ninja would powder Ferret food or not. You have
two weeks to return it to Target and I don't think you need an excuse.
They'll ask you if anything is wrong with it, you say no and that's
that.

I use my coffee whirler on coffee beans and spices. I use water to
clean it between uses, so I don't end up with spicy tasting coffee and
all is still well after a couple of years. My Ninja mini-model takes
care of herbs and vegetables. Two machines, two different uses and
they cost about $20 ea (the coffee grinder was on sale at Surly Tab
when I bought it).

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

sf wrote:
>
> I don't know if the Ninja would powder Ferret food or not. You have
> two weeks to return it to Target and I don't think you need an excuse.

Thanks Barbara. Actually I'm going to buy one and keep it whether or not it
does the ferret food. It sounds handy to have in the kitchen.

Gary

On Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:49:21 -0500, Gary > wrote:

> sf wrote:
> >
> > I don't know if the Ninja would powder Ferret food or not. You have
> > two weeks to return it to Target and I don't think you need an excuse.
>
> Thanks Barbara. Actually I'm going to buy one and keep it whether or not it
> does the ferret food. It sounds handy to have in the kitchen.
>
> Gary

YW! I hope you find yours to be as useful as I think mine is.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.