Can I Grind Spices Without A Grinder? Let’s Find Out

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In whatever steps we take, we should always be grateful for each technological attainment. What would have become of mankind if we hadn’t made the move to make life easier for us all? That would have been disastrous.

However, with the advent of new technological exploits, life has indeed taken a burden off our shoulders. And one of these exploits is the use of grinders which over the years, has freed us from the shackles of stress. But what do you do then when you don’t have one in moments of need.

So, Can I Grind Spices Without A Grinder? the answer is a resounding Yes. You can use either a Mortar and a pestle, Microplane grater, or Peppermill as an alternative to grinding spices when you don’t have a spice grinder at the moment.

What Is The Best Way To Grind Spices?

Since we can’t use a grinder to grind all spices, there are definitely other ways to get the spices properly grounded to become smooth as though a grinder is being used. Let’s quickly jump on them right away. Shall we? good.

1. Mortar And Pestle

In years to come, mortar and pestle would always be one of the best spices grinders of all time. Evidently, they’ve made things quicker and easier for us as humans. In other words, mortar and pestle help to breakdown spices and making it convenient to be used in cooking different delicacies.

Firstly, season or condition the mortar and pestle with clean water if it’s a granite mortar. Then, add uncooked rice into the mortar and bash so as to ensure there is no debris or dirt. Pour it out and repeat the same rice process twice or thrice. Then, it is ready to be used by you for bashing and muddling your spices.

Note: You can only carry this out if the mortar was newly purchased.

Secondly, pour the spices you want to grind into the mortar. Please understand that you’re either to measure the number of spices you want to use or you could pour all into the mortar and bash or muddle.

The purpose of the latter is, that you can easily measure any amount of spices you want whenever you would want to prepare other delicacies, so you don’t have to bash or muddle the same spices over and over again. With this, it saves you lots of stress of having to bash/muddle.

Thirdly, hold the mortar and gently use it to bash the spices. Be careful so you don’t use force when bashing so it doesn’t end up spilling away. Slow and steady would certainly get your spices ready in no sooner time.

Lastly, get a bowl or a plate so you can turn the spices into it. If the quantity is much, you can simply save some for later days. Then measure the quantity you would want to use.

2. Microplane Grater

Some spices differ. While some require bashing/muddling in a mortar, others require grating with the use of a grater. So, get the grater, hold it by standing it, then grate gently till you’ve exhausted the spice or gotten the quantity you need.

3. Pepper Mill

Another method used in grinding spices is the pepper mill. Like I earlier stated, technology has done more good than harm. We can’t begin to imagine what it was like to not have any of these things. It was hard getting such spices grounded to become powdered spices.

Read Also: Can You Grind Pepper In A Coffee Grinder?

The manufacturers of these aren’t ignorant of the world’s needs. And another of these exploits is the pepper mill. Get the mill, rinse with clean water, and pour the spices into the pepper mill. Hold it and twist the cover to get a finely powdered result. The cover of the mill is where the grinder is located. So the moment you twist it, the spices are being ground to pieces, quite awesome right?

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How Do You Grind Nutmeg Without A Grinder?

I have seen thousands of people asking if nutmeg can be grounded with a spice grinder. The answer is No. You pretty much don’t want to get your grinder spoilt if you should take the risk of using a grinder to grind nutmeg. There are ways to which you can get a smooth nutmeg without using the most commonly used grinding product which is the grinder or blender. So how do you grind nutmeg without necessarily using a grinder?

Below, we’ve listed two important products that anyone can use to grind nutmeg in the kitchen.

1. Microplane Grater

The usefulness of a Microplane grater cannot be overemphasized. It is the perfect solution to some of our kitchen troubles. There’s no thinking or worrying on how to get such things done, knowing that so many things have been put in place to serve as a helping hand to us.

With a grater, our problems are solved. All you need to do is to get the grater and the nutmeg ready for the grating process. Place the grater either in a bowl, on a flat cutter, or on a marble kitchen counter. Whichever you find suitable, please go ahead and do just that. The most important thing is being able to get the end product of what you intend to do.

Now, stand the grater by using your hands to hold it in a slating way, then get a hold of the nutmeg and grate it along the grater to get your smooth powdery nutmeg.

2. Nut Mill/ Nutmeg Grinder

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Nut mill grinders are grinders that have been manufactured specifically for the sole purpose of grinding nuts. We all know grinding of nuts is one of the hardest things to grind. Even though you may want to break them with the help of a knife, it still wouldn’t be as smooth as that of a nut mill grinder.

How do you use a nut mill or nutmeg grinder?

Using such a product to grind your nutmeg is pretty easy. If you don’t have such a product, please click on the link (GEFU 34670 Nutmeg Grater) to purchase one right away. So in using the grinder, you’d first have to pour the nutmeg into the grinder.

After that, you hold the handle of the grinder and you keep twisting it till you’re done grinding and you’ve achieved the purpose to which you decided to make use of the grinder.

Can I Grind Spices Without A Grinder – Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Grind Cloves Without A Grinder?

One of the spices that people find it so hard to grind is cloves. To some, it’s quite a difficult thing to do. Well, we’re here to help you out so you can easily crush and grind your cloves at any point in time.

Sadly, you can’t use a grinder in grinding the cloves. We all know we can achieve a lot of things with the help of a grinder but, we can’t use the grinder to grind every single spice out there. So if you’re wondering how you can grind your cloves, I am here to show you how you can do just that with less difficulty.

1. Mortar And Pestle

With a mortar and pestle (such as CBAM White Marble Mortar & Pestle), you can crush and grind any cloves you may want to grind. Get the cloves into the mortar and use the pestle to bash/muddle the cloves in a gentle manner, till you’ve got the texture you want.

Also, you can decide if you want it grounded dried or with the addition of little water. You know what you want and as such, you can follow any of the steps. In all, ensure you’re achieving better results.

2. Knife And A Chopping Board

The second method used in grinding cloves is by chopping them on a chopping board. Place the chopping board on a flat surface, take the cloves one by one or in pairs, and chop them.

Please Note:

One can’t possibly use a grinder to grind cloves for a reason such as this. Cloves are a bit strong which could cause harm to the grinder being used. So the best way to get them grounded is by using either a mortar and a pestle, or by chopping on a chopping board using a knife.

How Do You Grind Coriander Without A Grinder

In this aspect, we’ll be looking at it from two different perspectives. We can use coriander in two ways. Either using the coriander leaves to cook or, using the coriander seeds in cooking. Whichever type of coriander you have, we’ve got a way out for you.

First, using a blender or a chopping board if you want to use coriander leaves in cooking. Grinding such leaves with a grinder is easy and much simpler. Just get the leaves right into the blender, turn it on and let it grind smoothly till you’re satisfied with the results.

Secondly, the use of a chopping board and a knife would be another best alternative if you’re to use just the leaves in any of your delicacies. Get the chopping board in place and wash the leaves with clean water. Place them in a filter so it would sieve the water out. Then place them on the board to cut.

The second way to grind coriander seeds that we are going to be looking at is with the help of a mortar and pestle and a rotary coffee grinder (such as this Noiseless Electric Coffee Bean / Spice Grinder By Keenstone)

Mortar and pestle seem to be making waves in our world today. There’s certainly no doubt about that because you can use them for almost anything, even before the invention of grinder and the rest of kitchen equipment.

Wash your coriander seeds, dry with a sieve, and pour them into the mortar. Bash/ muddle till you’ve got the texture you need. As for the second method, a rotary coffee grinder would solve this. If you don’t have it yet, please get one through the link. Do the needful by washing and letting it dry, then pour into a coffee grinder and turn the grinder to give you the texture needed by you.

How To Grind Fennel Seeds Without A Grinder

The last aspect of spices grinding we’ll be looking at is fennel seeds. Known for treating constipation, indigestion, bloating, and the likes, fennel seeds are the best grounded in different ways.

The four ways you can use to grind your fennel seeds include;

  1. Mortar and pestle (such as Thai Super-Size Granite Mortar and Pestle)
  2. A spice grinder
  3. By using your hands
  4. By using a pot
  5. By using just a knife and a chopping board

The following listed above are the best ways to grind fennel seeds. Let’s discuss them below.

1. Mortar And Pestle

Grinding with mortar and pestle has always been easy. Place the fennel seeds into the mortar after they have been washed with clean water which is very important. After that, pour the fennel seeds into the mortar and use the pestle to gently bash/muddle the seeds

2. Spice Grinder

Spice grinder has remained one of the most useful products in this 21st century. It used for virtually all spices including fennel seeds. You can purchase through Amazon.  So then, pour your fennel seeds into the spice grinder, turn it on, and let it grind for a few minutes.

3. By Using Your Hands

By the saying “use your hands”, we don’t mean using your bare hands to crush the fennel seeds. In using your hands, get the fennel seeds into a plastic disposable bag, zip it up, and get a rolling pin or a pestle or anything to begin crushing the seeds.

Please Note: If you are to use this method, please go over it gently so you don’t inflict injuries on your hands. Do not be in haste that you end up causing pain to yourself.

4. By Using A Pot

I know some of you may find this weird, but no it isn’t. The using of pots to grind some kind of spices didn’t just begin today. This has been invoked since time memorial and has worked overtime if and only if it is done in the right way. Place the seeds on marble, then run the pot over the seeds till it is well-grounded.

5. By Using A Knife And A Chopping Board

Another way to get the fennel seeds done is by using a knife and a chopping board. Wash them as usual, place them on the board as many as you can and start chopping them. Don’t think it’s gonna slow you down. It’s easy and fast.

Can I Grind Spices Without A Grinder – Conclusion

Just as the use of spices cannot be neglected in preparing each meal, so the usefulness of grinders can’t be overridden. By grinders, we’re referring to all types of grinder, mortar and pestle, and so on and so forth.

Such products have made the standard of the kitchen to be significantly better and less cumbersome. Back in the days, we only dreamt of days like this but luckily for us, we’re leaving those dreams now.

Please kindly follow the above procedures in crushing spices without a grinder. With the perfect kitchen equipment and techniques used in crushing spices, desires would meet actualization.