Skeppshult Cast Iron Pepper & Spice Grinder Bowl, 9cm Best

Skeppshult’s large cast iron spice grinder is a fantastic way to grind spices such as cumin seeds, star anise, peppercorns or coriander seeds. Simply pour a few whole spices into the pot, then lightly push and twist with the inner section. The weight of the cast iron means you don’t have to apply much extra pressure, so although it feels heavy it isn’t tiring to use.

You can also use the grinder to store any unused herbs and spices – the inner section is partly hollow and has a natural walnut wood stopper to keep things fresh.

Do not use water to wash the grinder, as this can cause rust. Instead, use a brush to clean out any dry residue.

Swedish company Skeppshult (pronounced hep-salt) has been making cast iron products by hand since 1906. The process starts with raw iron that is heated to a searing 1,500°C in the furnaces. The molten iron is then cast into special moulds, made from sand which can withstand the extreme temperatures.

Sand moulds can only be used once, and therefore each product is unique – no two items are exactly alike. Each sand mould is recycled and used for another product. Skeppshult seasons their cast iron with rapeseed oil (also called canola oil) from Osterlen to protect it from damage.

Read our guide to cleaning and seasoning cast iron here.

Size: Large; 6cm high x 9.5cm diameter