Easiest Way to Open and Refill McCormick Pepper Grinder / Salt Grinder 

No one’s paying more to do this. That’s literally the whole point of the video, TO SAVE MONEY, and be a little more environmentally friendly. Unless you’re getting some dirt cheap deal on the disposables then you really need to check your math. The disposable sells for $2.13 for a one ounce container which equals $2.13/Oz. You can buy a large 17.5 oz McCormick Peppercorn refill for $13.08 on Amazon or Walmart (both have same price) which equals $0.75/ounce, almost a 66% reduction in cost. And I actually get them for $11.12 for the big container since it is a “subscribe and save” item on Amazon so I save 15%, so MY cost is actually closer to $0.63/ounce. So unless you are getting the 1oz disposables for under $0.75 a piece this way is wayyy cheaper and YOU are the one paying more and doing more work. Just take a step back and think about it logically, for a company does it make sense to do more work packaging the same 17.5 oz of peppercorn into 17 individual bottles just to sell it for less per ounce than a bulk refill bottle, or just make one 17.5 oz bulk refill bottle…? You gotta realize, they have to factor in the cost of the glass bottle (refill just comes in a thin plastic bottle) the cost of the grinder mechanism and all the added extra time/labor (yes I know machines do most/all of this now but it is still a factor in production costs.) Just like how if you go buy a bag of chips. Per ounce which one is almost always going to be cheaper? The single serving size that comes in its own small little bag or the family/party size bag? Absent of any sales promotion/clearance sale, the bigger volume is almost always going to be cheaper per ounce…. Not really sure what you’re missing exactly… And as far as the butter comment I have no clue as I don’t make my own butter but I imagine that is a separate argument, not so much about saving money but more about controlling exactly what ingredients go in /don’t go in your butter. Obviously some are essential but some ppl like to cut all the preservatives/ unnecessary chemicals, etc Here is a link to the bulk peppercorn refill: amzn.to/3bz0WEL

Instead of waterlogging or brute forcing the head off of the grinder, read the label where it states "Remove grinder head to recycle glass. Align arrows on grinder head and bottle to remove." Following these directions is easy enough but remember, the grinder is plastic and will not last forever, especially if you run it on the finest setting. To put the top back on, align the arrows and push.

@@KJ6EAD news flash, this is not the newest model bottle. The newer bottles are easier to remove the cap supposedly, yes. This is a 3 year old video, and an older model that had no instructions to remove, and no arrows to align and yes you DO have to brute force this one off.

@@RobSomeKnowledge Well, in that case you're welcome to the updated information. When are you replacing this video with a new, more accurate one?

@@KJ6EAD C'mon, man. That last question is just ego talking. It was a helpful video years ago and I imagine some people will find it helpful today. I found one of these old bottles in an unpacked moving box recently. Out of curiosity, I just looked and it's the old design. The video was helpful to me.

Yes that is a great tip! Im just a guy and don't keep a hairdryer lol

@@RobSomeKnowledge heat gun!

@@AzuriteCoast yeah true! I do have one of those lol

Breaking out the heat gun...

@@RobSomeKnowledge yeah he’s just a guy leave him alone

Exactly! I keep buying different kinds of pepper grinders and they crap out.

I agree with you on that. Nice to know how to reuse the “disposable ones👍🏼👍🏼

I have bought them thinking of this but could never get it right. Thank you for this! I'm not the only person that likes to find creative used for containers! Yay!

Because they're disposable, they do wear out, but buying bulk sea salt crystals and whole black peppercorns and refilling is definitely better until you notice they don't grind too well anymore. However the ones I buy aren't McCormicks and the tops screw off 😅

Throw it out buy a grinder that's made from steel, otherwise your just eating plastic.

This still works on the updated design. This vid made my day!

I wonder what other herbs and spices we could put in them.

That's a great idea. I Have whole coriander that I've never been able to use. Now I will try it! @@user-is6my9oy8t

Cloves come to mind as something else that would work. Probably also nutmeg if the nutmeg were smashed into smaller pieces first.

Cloves come to mind as something else that would work. Probably also nutmeg if the nutmeg were smashed into smaller pieces first.

@@justin423 thank you. I'm trying to think of something others. When I do I'll tell you about them.

Gotta remember that next summer in Florida 😂😂😂

My goodness! unfathomable! unimaginable! unthinkable this could happen.🤣

Oh yes it was. I remember it well.

@@martyconroy3786 Yeah, just put it on your car's dash for a few minutes. Free solar heat!

Haha 😂 I’ve been to Texas one time for 3-4 days it’s hot 🥵 hot there in summertime and humid as well.

Hahaha of course, that’s the beauty of RU-vid. You can find dang near anything! Glad it helped and gotta say getting this off at 71, and with arthritis is pretty dang awesome!

Try a hair dryer

I am in the same boat here, 75 and my grip isn’t as good as it was. Looking forward to trying this with my empty grinders. Then I can also remove the labels and wash out the bottles to make my own spice mixes from dried herbs from the garden. Yea!

Try putting on a pair of household rubber gloves, the kind you wear when you wash dishes. You get a really good grip with them. I do this when I open jars.

GREAT idea, TY!@@terryt.1643

The company wants the consumer to buy a new grinder. Otherwise they would have designed the top to unscrew like all the other spices.

They don't want you to refill it because its made durable only for the contents. After that the grinder surfaces shed plastics into your food until it eventually fails.

So you think they have this engineered so perfectly, that as soon as the last original peppercorn gets ground, it just starts shedding plastic? That’s not exactly how this works. If it’s shedding once the original content are gone, then it probably was before it was even gone. They just want you to buy a new grinder at 3x or more of the cost of peppercorn refills (cost per ounce)

​@@RobSomeKnowledgeyou're an idiot.

@@RobSomeKnowledge yep, it has a molecular timer that detects when the last peppercorn is ground and then it starts to disintegrate.

That is a great reply and it will extend my spice pantry. Donka schoen.

I like toasting coriander seeds.

Ditto, I just threw one away

I actually broke one, trying 😅, never dawned on me to heat it up doh.

Throw it out buy a grinder that's made from steel, otherwise your just eating plastic.

So happy to see this vid! I hate to waste a perfectly good grinder. The company is so dumb not to make them refillable

1 person suggested warming it with a hair dryer. That would save some time and effort because you wouldn't have to worry about getting it thoroughly dry after being wet.

This worked perfectly for me with that pivot trick too! Such a great video

Only thing is you put stress on the plastic. The heat is to move the molecules to the plastic gets pliable and can take form without stress and go back to its shape. While it's cold, it can get bent out of shape.

South Florida?? The whole south of US could care less for recycling, reusable bagging, sustainable power and more and more. It is sickening seriously. 🙄🙄

Ok Karens

Flori-DUHHHHHHH

Me too; so while I'm at it, I'll refill the others I couldn't throw away🤗 Thanks Rob

I second your sentiments

and then, cut a wine bottle cork to fit as the cap; Done and it works great!

And buy pads you can reuse by washing with towels in washing machine.

Get a spinmop. Stop putting swiffer cloths in the trash

there is a company called clover valley that has a twist off lid, maybe that will help? for grinder, have their sea salt one

@@heaven1kingdom Thanks for the tip!

Just buy a real pepper grinder lol

I don't mind buying a new one because I don't use much salt. However the sweet onion sea-salt variety seems out of production now. So I ordered what I think is probably the closest thing to it and will try to refill the grinder

@@Hunter-sm8nd I like having the ability to decide how course the grindings are with the three positions. And it's so small that fits in my spice rack real nice

Did not work for me not strong enough.

Try a pair of slip-joint pliers. Your wrist will be doing the work instead of your hands.

Agreed! It's such a waste to make these things a one shot wonder. I'm so happy to know how to get the top off so I can refill it!

Agree as well these being glass and the grinder on these McCormicks sea salt and pepper and the grinders are very nice and quality made and for 2.75 cents for these is perfect I love mine have refilled them about 4 or 5 times each so far had these a long time

@@joshuat5140 Thanks for this. I was wondering how many times I can expect to get good results refilling these👍

Shoot! I need to get the peppercorns out, so getting them wet defeats the whole purpose. Good info otherwise! 😁

There’s actual a newer method I have found out that works without the water, use a blow dryer to heat up the plastic cap and then use my pivot method, comes off super easy!!

I was going to suggest that. Works like a charm

Exactly

Waaa waaaa 😂

ditto

In winter, I make a tent with my blanket using my toes, drape the blanket over and use a blow dryer to warm it up before my body can do it💖💖💖

I can’t budge the adjustment mechanism. This is also a pretty useless pepper grinder. But I do appreciate this video. I actually buy these things and keep reminding myself to buy a real pepper grinder.

I didn't know about it either!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! mission accomplished

Thanks for watching! Yeah for sure some silicone gloves or even a rubber band wrapped over the top several times would help a ton with better grip!

Same here, didn't have to warm it up. Once you understand how it is attached you aren't as worried about breaking it.

Me too lol. It just popped off just by me twisting

in the feed!

My version was in the top of the feed - didn’t look for it. Couldn’t resist - thanks! 🙏

Not sure why this was in my feed but glad I watched. Thanks, good vid!

RU-vid recommended.

In my feed, but so excited!

Anytime!

Love an extra step that saves time. Thanks!

I’m glad it worked for you!!

@@RobSomeKnowledge Thank you 😊 for the video. Saved me a lot of stress and cuts.

Thanks for sharing! Whatever works best for you is what’s important!!

My thoughts as well.

That’s right, avoid those plastic mills!

Thank you.

not true at all as the grinding parts never touch: they use the peppercorns themselves to grind

On top of that, we're all probably infiltrated with plastic microbits by now. They even used to put them in some toothpaste. I found this when I liked at the samples my dentist was providing. I showed them at my next exam. They were shocked.

Followed your tip, worked perfectly. Thanks!

Now it’s false advertising because it’s no longer McCormick peppercorns. 🤣

Hahah I just don’t even use this grinder. I have a nice permanent refillable, just made this video for the people that could use it, but yes that would be a nice touch if you plan on keeping it a while!

Lmao! Good thing it’s for private use in my home and not for sale 🤣