How to Clean a Spice Grinder
A spice grinder is a perfect tool for making delicious dishes that require spice blends that are not regularly found in stores. It also allows you to custom make your spice mixes for spicy meals. But it can only serve you as needed if you commit to caring for your spice grinder as you do all your other kitchen gadgets.
Signs that it’s time to clean your spice grinder
As a general rule of thumb, you should clean your spice grinder after every few uses to maintain blade sharpness and prevent it from getting a permanent spice smell. Here are some things to look out of as an indication of when it is time to clean your spice grinder.
It starts jamming while grinding
Resistance when grinding spices is an indication that some spices are stuck around the blade, making it inefficient. Not cleaning your grinder blades regularly can make the blades blunt over time. Due to overexertion when grinding.
Spice smell contaminated
If your spice mix starts smelling like a spice blend your had ground previously, then it is time to clean your spice grinder. The last thing you want is making a tea spice blend that tastes like a curry spice blend.
It has caked-on spice residue
If your grinder has caked on spices, then you definitely need to clean it. Not only is this an eyesore, but it can also attract germs that will contaminate your freshly ground spices.
Is my spice grinder cleanable?
Yes. All reliable spice grinders are cleanable. But you should never immerse your spice grinder in the water while cleaning it as this will damage its motor rendering it useless. Spice grinders can only be cleaned by wiping them down, as stated below.
How to Clean a Spice Grinder
What You Need
- Bread or Rice or Baking Soda
- White vinegar
- Paper towel or dishcloth
- Clean paintbrush (optional)
- Air compressor or canned air (optional)
Method 1 (Using Dry Rice)
- Add a spoonful of dry rice in our spice grinder and pulse it until it is finely ground.
- Then pout the rice and tap the spice grinder lightly to get all the rice powder out of the grinder.
- Then use the paintbrush to wipe off any leftover rice powder and spice crumbs.
- Or you can use the air compressor or canned air to blow off any leftover particles in the spice grinder.
- Then use a damp paper towel or dishcloth to wipe the spice grinder.
Method 2 (Using Bread)
- Place a slice of bread in your spice grinder and pulse it until it is finely ground.
- Then pour the breadcrumbs and tap the spice grinder lightly to get everything out of the grinder.
- Then use the paintbrush to wipe off any leftover bread and spice crumbs.
- Or you can use the air compressor or canned air to blow off any leftover particles in the spice grinder.
- Then use a damp paper towel or damp dishcloth to wipe the spice grinder.
Method 3 (Using Baking Soda)
This method helps to eliminate any smell from the spice grinder.
- Add a spoonful of baking soda in our spice grinder and pulse it a few times.
- Then pour the baking soda and tap the spice grinder lightly to get all the baking soda out of the grinder.
- Then use the paintbrush to wipe off any leftover baking soda and spice crumbs.
- Or you can use the air compressor or canned air to blow off any leftover particles in the spice grinder.
- Then use a damp paper towel or damp dishcloth to wipe the spice grinder.
To remove any funky smell from the spice grinder, use a mixture of warm water and white vinegar on the paper towel or dishcloth to wipe the spice grinder.
While cleaning a spice grinder is a thirty-second affair, most people neglect to do it until their spice grinder starts looking like a cement mixer. At this point, any effort is too late as chance are the blades are already damaged. The critical thing to remember is the better you are at maintaining your spice grinder, the longer it will serve you.