February 8, 2024, 4:32 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Disposable spice mills are convenient and found in many kitchens. No wonder: Freshly ground, salt, pepper, and other spices taste best. However, there are also several good reasons to avoid disposable mills.
Many spices, such as white or black pepper, are also available in convenient disposable spice mills. This saves the hassle of refilling, as the mills can be used directly while cooking. They are made of transparent plastic, allowing you to see how much spice is left. However, these spice mills are not recommended for several reasons. Experts advise against purchasing them. But why is that? And what alternatives are available?
Reasons Against Disposable Spice Mills
Disposable spice mills are mostly non-refillable, making them a poor choice from an ecological perspective. But that’s not the only reason why the Consumer Center of North Rhine-Westphalia views them critically. Because: Disposable mills can also increase the amount of microplastics in food.
How to Avoid Microplastics When Making Tea
Can You Still Use Expired Spices?
Beware of Microplastics!
The consumer center refers to a study by the University of Münster and the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe. The researchers found that salt plastic mills add additional microplastics to food. Additionally, many table salts already contain microplastic particles before grinding. And you certainly don’t want to consume these–nor should they end up in the environment.
When it comes to the health effects of microplastics in the body, many questions remain unanswered. Studies suggest that they can cause inflammation in the body, among other things.
Also of interest: The Differences Between Herbs and Spices
What Alternatives Are Available?
So how should you salt or pepper better? The consumer center recommends using refillable mills. The best models are those whose grinding mechanism is not made of plastic. This way, at least at this point, no microplastics are produced. The mills are reusable, and you can usually clean them in the dishwasher.
With material from dpa