Is there a way to make pink peppercorns properly grindable in a pepper mill?
Dried pink peppercorns are softer than their black and white cousins and have skins that come off easily. Consequently they clog up the grinding mechanism in my mill. If the setting is coarse enough for them to come out at all they come out whole or in very big pieces. Is there something I can do to them to prevent this from happening? If not, what is the best way to dispense them?
Best Answer
Honestly this isn't something I've thought about before, as when ever I've used pink peppercorns they've been mixed with black, green and white ones. Which I assume help's dry out the softer and wetter pink corns stopping the grinder from clogging.
Moving forward my first and main suggestion would be to treat it like any other spice, and use a pestle and mortar. Asides from definitely not clogging with this method, you will also have much greater control over how fine/coarse the result is.
Another possibility would be a spice grinder though, probably no use for small amounts.
On a side note:
Apparently pink peppercorns can affect persons who are allergic to tree nuts.
They are also deemed as a toxic by the FDA, although not at a life threatening level
https://nutgourmet.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/warning-pretty-pink-peppercorns-can-be-dangerous/
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Quick Answer about "Is there a way to make pink peppercorns properly grindable in a pepper mill?"
How to Use Pink Peppercorns. Since they break apart so easily, they should be crushed with a knife or spice grinder, not a pepper mill. And as they're so delicate, they're better purchased in small quantities from a specialty spice store to ensure top-quality freshness.How do you grind pink peppercorns?
Editor: Arielle, because pink peppercorns are so soft and have papery skins, they easily clog pepper grinding mechanisms. They are better off ground alone in a spice mill, with a mortar and pestle, or mixed with other types of pepper, which help push them through the grinder.Can you rehydrate pink peppercorns?
There is also a hint of a citrus, pine like flavor similar to rosemary. Use pink peppercorn whole, cracked, ground, or rehydrated. If rehydrating the peppercorns, consider exploring different liquids for soaking. Water is classic, but wine, liquor, or stock work as well.Can you grind peppercorns?
Yes, it's still pepper in a pepper mill, but freshly grinding these addictive peppercorns makes their mouth-numbing potency even more potent. Try grinding some into a burger, on top of popcorn, or on a chocolate mousse. Yes, like the kind you eat with salsa.Using Pink Peppercorns
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