The Best Salt and Pepper Shakers (for Every Type of Design Aesthetic)
Francky Knapp
created: Feb. 20, 2025, 2 p.m. | updated: March 19, 2025, 5:36 p.m.
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<p>Jazz up your tablescape with colorful Le Creuset mills, tinned fish-shaped shakers, and more grinders and pinch pots to impress</p> <p id="IFVTtV">When it comes to ever-present table accoutrements that make an impression, salt and pepper shakers are where we can really let our personality and preferences shine. These <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F266988084002%3F&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F24368634%2Fbest-salt-and-peppers-shakers-grinders" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Memphis Design-style salt and pepper mills</a> were whimsical additions to the dinner table at my parents’ house, and I blame <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Frasier/comments/k8s5yz/i_do_so_love_tiny_things/">this salt cellar episode of <em>Frasier</em></a> for driving my obsession with the idea of owning a tiny little pinch pot with an equally tiny spoon. </p>
<p id="9R7MHj">We reach for my salt and pepper shakers at nearly every meal, so it only makes sense that such a frequently used item should beget a design that’s not just efficient, but cool. Imagine pulling up for dinner at your friend’s house, and they greet you with <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfridges.com%2FUS%2Fen%2Fproduct%2Fgohar-world-engraved-lemon-stainless-steel-squeezer_R04387935%2F%3F&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F24368634%2Fbest-salt-and-peppers-shakers-grinders" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">this lemon wedge juicer</a> and <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F1824385729%2Fkingsway-silverplate-condiment-set-salt%3F&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F24368634%2Fbest-salt-and-peppers-shakers-grinders" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">chic salt server</a>: </p>
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<p id="ZXskyb">Of course, the way you store and serve your salt and pepper varies according to your spice specifications. There are grinders, cellars, shakers, and combination sets; there are folks who shop for functionality, and folks who want to dazzle guests with a pair of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anthropologie.com%2Fshop%2Fcanterbury-stoneware-salt-pepper-shakers%3F&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F24368634%2Fbest-salt-and-peppers-shakers-grinders" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">salt and pepper shakers shaped like rabbits</a>. I’m a big proponent of letting kitsch options add some ambiance to your breakfast nook or dinner party in lieu of, say, towering flowers and candles that <a href="https://www.eater.com/23964656/holiday-tablescape-thanksgiving-decor-how-to">block guests’ views</a> (it’s all about cutting a low profile, decor-wise). But if you want to crank your workhorse Peugeot pepper mill like Jacques Pepin reincarnate, that’s cool too. </p>
<p id="73WDe3">Below, I have rounded up the coolest salt and pepper vessels that the internet can offer — starting with an explainer on figuring out which shakers, pots, and grinders are perfect for you. </p>
<h2 id="iM9kJi"><strong>Salt and Pepper Grinders vs. Shakers and Pinch Pots</strong></h2>
<p id="ylSVvR">While some of us like our salt and pepper freshly ground, others prefer a quick shake or even a few pinches. Much of this comes down to personal preference, and is enacted via the kind of salt and pepper you’re using. Cooks who favor convenience and pre-ground salt and pepper will reach for shakers, while those who want a fresh, often coarser grind will opt for grinders or mills (many of which have adjustable settings for varying degrees of coarseness). Pinch pots or salt cellars, on the other hand, are ideal for finishing salts (like the popular varieties by <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fjacobsensalt.com%2F%3F&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eater.com%2F24368634%2Fbest-salt-and-peppers-shakers-grinders" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jacobsen</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Maldon-Sea-Salt-Flakes-ounce/dp/B00017028M/ref=sr_1_1_mod_primary_new?tag=eater0c-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Maldon</a>, beloved for their flaky, pyramid-shaped crystals). </p>
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<h2 id="pSl1xq"><strong>The Best Salt and Pepper Mills and Grinders</strong></h2>
<p id="fDx6S2"><strong>The chicest set on a budget</strong></p>
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<p id="uwcfgp"><strong>Equal parts romantic and practical</strong></p>
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<p id="cCR81C"><strong>You’re a Le Creuset collector</strong></p>
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<p id="06wFWk"><strong>An elegant grinder and shaker combo set</strong></p>
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<p id="Lu3Ezn"><strong>You’re all about the chrome dishware trend</strong></p>
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<p id="Gm1xmQ"><strong>You’re into Japandi design </strong></p>
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<h2 id="9uYIbE"><strong>The Best Salt and Pepper Shakers </strong></h2>
<p id="Esjblp"><strong>For the proud tinned fish folks</strong></p>
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<p id="Z6J1N3"><strong>You have tried every Sfoglini shape </strong></p>
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<p id="divvw3"><strong>You have a MoMA Design Store membership </strong></p>
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<p id="YDABun"><strong>You used to play with your food (a lot)</strong></p>
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<h2 id="Wul2GU"><strong>The Best Salt and Pepper Pinch Pots and Cellars</strong></h2>
<p id="cxiGkz"><strong>The pinch pot with a lid that’s impossible to lose</strong></p>
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<p id="IqEaZM"><strong>You’ve seen </strong><em><strong>Dune</strong></em><strong> several times </strong></p>
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<p id="E8DDpB"><strong>You want ‘The Brutalist’ to win Best Picture</strong></p>
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4 months, 4 weeks ago: Eater