The 6 Best Table Top Wet Grinders
This wiki has been updated 37 times since it was first published in June of 2015. Put aside the old mortar and pestle and let one of these fine tabletop wet grinders do the hard work for you. They're ideal for making pastes and sauces, grinding rice and seeds into a batter, and a host of other culinary chores. We've included both large and small models with a range of motor sizes to ensure there is one to fit every kitchen and food preparation need. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. SS Premier Compact
2. Ultra Dura+
3. SS Premier Tilting
Editor's Notes
September 14, 2020:
The truth is, there aren't that many wet grinders available in U.S. markets, so identifying the best options wasn't that difficult. Since our choices are somewhat limited, this list is dominated by two brands, SS Premiere and Ultra, both of which make reliable machines. We used to also recommend the Vidiem Jewel Clear Drum, however we decided to remove that from our list during this update for multiple reasons. Right off the bat, its 90-watt motor is a bit underpowered, which resulted in it taking two to three times as long as most others to create a nice, smooth batter. Also, there were simply too many reports to ignore of it breaking after just a few months of periodic use.
The two new additions to our recommendations this year are the SS Premier Compact and Ultra Grind+ Gold, both of which offer a 2-liter capacity. Of these two, the SS Premier Compact has the more powerful motor, and it comes for a lower price, which is why it is one of our top choices. That being said, we do like the conical grinding stones that can be found in all of the Ultra models, which may allow them to produce fully smooth batters and butters in a little less time than the competing SS premier options, which have cylindrical stones.
Those who already have a lot of kitchen appliances crowding their counters will probably want to look to either the SS Premier Tilting or SS Premier Small Wonder. Both of these have a stacked design with the drum directly on top of the motor. Of these, the SS Premier Tilting is the more convenient of the two, however it is a little taller than the small wonder, so if you have low cabinets, you may want to take this into consideration.
May 20, 2019:
Whether you need to make pastes from grains and lentils or create your own nut butter, a wet grinder can make the process easier and less time consuming. If you make batters in large batches, your best bet is a powerful model with a large 2-liter or more capacity, such as the SS Premier PG 501, which has a 200-watt motor, the Ultra Bigg+, which has a 2.5-liter capacity, or the Premier 2.0l. If you have a smaller kitchen, the SS Premier Small Wonder, which has a compact footprint, or the Vidiem Jewel Clear Drum, which has a low-profile base and folding shaft, are smart choices. Speaking of smartly-designed bases, the Premier 2.0l is worth mentioning again because of its tilting base, which makes pouring out large batches more convenient and less messy.
Special Honors
Prestige Cookers Mantra If you like to keep an eye on the process of your batters, you'll appreciate the transparent top on Prestige Cookers Mantra. It comes with kneader and coconut scraper attachments, and each of its two grinding stones has a different groove pattern to help ensure the end results come out smooth. wayfair.com
4. Ultra Grind+ Gold
5. SS Premier Small Wonder
6. Ultra Bigg+
Table Top Wet Grinders: How Great Are They?
As the food hits your plate, you take pride knowing that your hands went into every minute of this labor of love.
For the home kitchen connoisseur, a table top grinder is a sign of reaching the pinnacle in freshness. There is something about taking raw, unrefined grains and breaking them down; only to be formed again into a delicious meal. As the food hits your plate, you take pride knowing that your hands went into every minute of this labor of love. To achieve this feeling, you really must have a table top wet grinder. Unless you plan to grind all the grains on a mano and metate. Luckily for your forearms, table top grinders are very accessible; and can grind, pulverize, and puree many different grains, beans, and nuts relatively quickly. Some table top wet grinders can even turn hard wheat kernels into fine chapati flour in as little as fifteen minutes.
Table top grinders give you the power to make delicious chutneys, perfectly pureed soups, smooth, rich chocolates, and even some of your favorite nut butters. All in a device that fits on your counter.
A Quick History Of Table Top Wet Grinder
The history of the table top wet grinder goes almost as far back as humankind itself. As soon as humans realized grains were edible, we started to look for a way to process them to be more easily cooked. Ancient cultures used various methods involving the use of crushing, grinding, or pulverizing grains between two hard stones. Just like that, the grindstone was born. The mortar and pestle are a great example of modern tools from ancient times. They are variations of similar tools used over 37,000 thousand years ago!
Later, the windmill was invented, which meant that grinding grains to powder was a breeze.
Once the wheel was invented, millstones were not far behind. The millstone was made up of two abrasive circular stones; one lying flat on the other. Through the use of an external force, the top stone was spun around on top of the bottom stone, pulverizing anything that lay between the two. All that was left was to find a way to power them. Early on, millstones were animal powered. Later, the windmill was invented, which meant that grinding grains to powder was a breeze. The millstone allowed people to keep up with the production of large scale farming for an entire community. It could be said that millstones allowed for the expansion of early societies.
Centuries later, a man by the name of P. Sabapathy wanted to make his bride-to-be a gift. As he did not like the idea of his love spending hours hand-grinding grains to make batter, he decided to make her an electric tabletop grinder. The news spread, and soon, everyone in town wanted one. It wasn't long until all of India was raving over the table top grinder. It is thanks to his gift that tabletop grinders exist at all.
While it wasn't until 1960s that the wet grinder was invented, the technology remains relatively unchanged from the ancient grindstones. Two or more hard stones, usually made of granite, are rolled and ground on top of each other, pulverizing whatever gets between them. Of course, modern technology has allowed us to make the process much more efficient. What took an early grinder hours can now be done in minutes with a tabletop grinder.
Things To Consider When Buying A Table Top Wet Grinder
As there are a few potential functions of a table top wet grinder, it is important to consider which of these you will be using your grinder for. The grinding stones in some machines are more suited to different uses. Some table top wet grinders are also built to stand up to long term, every day use. If you use your grinder once a week, you may not need to spend the extra money for a professional or industrial strength model.
If you plan to get heavy use from the machine, but don't want to rack up the electricity usage in your home, consider a newer model table top wet grinder.
For many people, a table top wet grinder is not something that will be used for every meal, and will therefore need to be stored somewhere. If the counter space in your kitchen is already dwindling, the thought of adding yet another kitchen appliance may be enough to make you say no. For you, there are some collapsible models which are easy to store and lend themselves well to small cupboards and tight spaces.
Efficiency is an important factor to consider with table top wet grinders. Some grinders take 1 hour to grind what other models do in 15 minutes. Is speed an important factor for you? If so, you will lean more towards the high performance models on the market. You may also want to consider energy efficiency. If you plan to get heavy use from the machine, but don't want to rack up the electricity usage in your home, consider a newer model table top wet grinder. Newer appliances tend to be more energy efficient.
Noise level can also be a contributing factor in your decision making process. Some models factor in noise reduction, providing insulation around moving parts of the machine. Other models pay little attention to noise reduction. If you live with other people, it may be important to find a model that operates quietly. Careful consideration of all factors involved will help you make the best decision for your needs.
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.