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    Home » Recipes » Things I love

    Things I Love: Unicorn Magnum Plus Pepper Grinder

    Published: Dec 13, 2010 · Modified: Feb 9, 2015 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    The key to cooking is properly seasoning food. When a recipe ends with the instruction season to taste, I reach for salt and pepper. I use them in just about everything that comes out of my kitchen.

    Pre-ground pepper is flat and lifeless. It has a little heat, nothing more. Fresh ground pepper is sharp, spicy, and bursting with flavor. Why use pre-ground? All it takes to improve your cooking is a good pepper mill, so why wouldn't you use one? Well, because some pepper mills are a pain. They're hard to fill, hard to turn, and only grind a tiny amount of pepper.

    The Unicorn Magnum pepper mill is the best pepper grinder around; it solves all those problems, and makes fresh ground pepper easy.
    *I love this pepper grinder in spite of the name. Every time I say it, I have to bite my tongue to not follow with: "The most powerful pepper mill in the world."

    The Magnum has a very large grinding mechanism, which produces a huge shower of ground pepper with each twist of the knob.
    *15 twists of the top give me 1 teaspoon of pepper, which is a very large amount. I usually start with 7 twists, or a half teaspoon of pepper, when seasoning to taste.

    The Magnum has a wide range of grinds, adjusted by turning a small knob in the business end of the mill. The grinds range from a fine powder (my favorite for soups and stews) up to very coarse (perfect for topping a steak).

    Coarse grind on the left; fine grind on the right

    Finally, it is easy to fill. There is a big loading hole in the side, hidden behind a twisting collar just under the grinding knob. You don't have to remove any of the grinder to fill it; twist the collar, pour in the pepper, then twist it shut.

    This loading collar is, unfortunately, the only problem I have with the design. The loading collar is directly under the knob. Sometimes, when I'm grinding, I accidentally grab the loading collar along with the knob. This opens up the loading hole, and if the mill is full enough, I get a spray of whole peppercorns bouncing out. I've learned to keep my fingers off the collar when I'm grinding. And, after all the other, really awful loading mechanisms I've dealt with, I'm willing to alter my grinding grip to have the easy loading.

    I own the giant Magnum Plus model, which is 9 inches tall and holds almost one cup of peppercorns; the regular sized Magnum model is 6 inches tall and holds a half cup of peppercorns. Both have identical grind mechanisms, so they have all the benefits I list above. They also come in any color you like...as long as it's black.
    *Everyone who reviews it makes a reference to Darth Vader. It's the pepper mill that finds your lack of faith...disturbing.
    **Sorry, had to do it.

    Want to own the best pepper mill? Get yourself a Magnum.

    Disclaimer: This month I'm writing about essential kitchen tools. As with all my "Things I Love" posts, I am not receiving anything from the manufacturer, and I bought all the items with my own money. I use these tools every day in the kitchen, and I would hate to live without them. I thought, with Christmas coming, you might need a few gift ideas for the cook in your life. And, as always, if you buy something through the Amazon.com links on my site I get a small commission from the purchase. Thank you!
    (OK, I'm good with the FCC now.)

    Unicorn Magnum Plus Pepper Mill 9-in.
    Magnum Peppermill - 6-Inch

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. ehrose says

      February 21, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      I can't remember when I bought this pepper mill...........that long ago. Bought as gifts for family also.

      Reply
    2. kaylyn munro says

      May 02, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      I understand that unicorn no longer makes a salt grinder due to 'problems'. That's too bad.

      I those way back times I asked a local kitchen store order for 'The Last Pepper Grinder I'll ever Buy' . She handed me the Unicorn pair for pepper and salt. I have had both pepper and salt for over 25 years and both work as well as they did when new.

      Reply
    3. Jeremy says

      January 01, 2011 at 7:40 pm

      You are right. First time I used it in a meal today and I wanted to grind, grind, grind and grind some more. Almost disappointed that it only took a few grinds.

      Reply
    4. Jeremy says

      January 01, 2011 at 5:29 pm

      I just got this! If its wrong to be in love with a pepper mill I don't want to be right.

      Reply
    5. MikeV @ DadCooksDinner says

      January 01, 2011 at 5:39 pm

      @Jeremy:

      Ha! Isn't it great?

      Sometimes I get an urge to put too much pepper on food, because it is so easy to grind with that pepper mill...

      Reply

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