To refill an electric grinder, open the chamber over a plate, fill it with whole peppercorns or dry coarse salt, close it and run it briefly so the mechanism fills. To clean it, brush the grinding area dry and wipe the outside with a barely damp cloth. Never let water reach the motor section.
Every electric grinder opens a little differently, so check the instructions that came with yours to see how the chamber comes apart. The steps below apply to most models.
What do you need?
A plate or a sheet of kitchen paper to catch spills, a small funnel or a folded piece of paper, whole peppercorns or dry coarse salt, a soft dry brush (a clean pastry brush or a small paintbrush works well) and a soft cloth.
How to refill an electric grinder, step by step
- Make sure the grinder is switched off and not charging. Hold it over a plate or a sheet of kitchen paper.
- Open the chamber. On most electric grinders the motor section comes away from the chamber with a twist or a pull. If it feels stiff, check the instructions rather than forcing it.
- Tip out any old dust and broken pieces. They have lost their flavour and can clog the mechanism.
- Fill the chamber with whole peppercorns or dry coarse salt, using a small funnel or folded paper. Stop a little below the top so the grinder closes easily.
- Close it firmly and check that it sits straight. A crooked fit lets dust escape.
- Turn the grinder over and press the button for a few seconds over the plate, until salt or pepper comes out evenly.
Keep salt and pepper in their own grinder, every time. If your two grinders look the same, a small sticker on the base saves guesswork. Mixing them leaves pepper dust in your salt and salt residue in your pepper.
How do you set the coarseness after refilling?
Refilling is a good moment to check the grind. Most electric grinders have a dial or knob, often close to the mechanism. Which way makes it coarser varies between models, so test rather than guess. Turn it a little, grind a pinch over the plate and look at the result. Repeat until it looks right.
For which setting suits which dish, see our guide to coarse vs fine grind.
How to clean an electric grinder
- Clean it when it is nearly empty, just before the next refill.
- Brush the grinding area with a soft dry brush to clear dust and fragments. Hold the grinder so loose bits fall out rather than in.
- Wipe the outside with a soft cloth, dry or barely damp, and dry it straight away.
- If the chamber comes away completely from the motor and electronics, and your instructions allow it, you can wash that part by hand in warm water. Let it dry fully, ideally overnight, before you refill.
How often? In most kitchens, a wipe when you notice fingerprints and a proper clean every few refills is plenty.
What not to do
- No water on the motor section. Do not rinse, soak or put any part with electronics in the dishwasher. A barely damp cloth on the outside is as wet as it should get.
- Do not swap salt and pepper. Keep each in its own grinder so flavours and residue stay separate.
- Use dry salt only. Moist salts, such as grey sea salt or fleur de sel, clump and can clog the mechanism. Sprinkle those by hand instead.
- Do not run it empty for long. A few seconds to check is fine. Any longer does nothing useful and puts needless wear on the motor and mechanism.
- Grind only what it is made for. Some spices and seeds are harder than pepper. Unless your instructions say otherwise, stick to peppercorns and dry salt.
A charging tip
Charge it before it runs flat, not after. An easy habit is to plug it in straight after a refill, when it is already in your hand. Keep the charging port dry and free of salt dust, and only charge it with dry hands.
Our Electric Salt & Pepper Grinder Set comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, so a phone charger plug with a USB-A port or a laptop is all you need. Still deciding whether rechargeable is right for you? Read USB-rechargeable vs battery grinders.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an electric grinder in the dishwasher?
No. Parts with a motor or electronics should never go in water. Only a chamber that comes away completely and holds no electronics can be washed by hand, and only if the instructions allow it.
Why is my grinder not grinding after a refill?
Usually the corns have not reached the mechanism yet, or the chamber is not seated properly. Close it again firmly, turn it over and press for a few seconds. If the battery is low, charge it and try again. Moist salt can also block the mechanism.
Can I use pink Himalayan salt in an electric grinder?
Yes, as long as it is dry and sold as coarse crystals for grinders.
How full should I fill the grinder?
To a little below the top. That way it closes easily and cleanly.