What to Buy Hosting & Dining Serveware The 10 Best Salt and Pepper Shakers for Your Kitchen Our list of favorites includes affordable everyday sets and shaker-grinder mills perfect for gifting. By Clarissa Buch Zilberman Clarissa Buch Zilberman Clarissa Buch Zilberman is a freelance Commerce Writer at Food & Wine, specializing in product reviews and roundups. Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, Entrepreneur and Realtor.com, among other print and digital titles. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 2, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food52 Salt and pepper are an essential part of virtually any recipe, so there's likely no other cooking tool you use more often than your salt and pepper shaker. If your current shakers don't exactly spark joy when you reach for them or — even worse, they don't match (!) — it may be time to swap them out. Whether you're looking for a durable everyday set to keep next to your spice rack or an upgraded pair to dress up your table for your next dinner party, a matching salt and pepper shaker set is a kitchen essential worth investing in. We tested several popular shaker-grinder mills and sets and researched dozens more to find the best everyday picks for your kitchen. From basic everyday sets to highly giftable shaker-grinder picks, here are the best salt and pepper shakers to upgrade your home kitchen setup. Our Top Picks Best Overall: OXO Shaker Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Le Creuset Salt and Pepper Mill Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best Grinder Set: Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wooden: Peugeot Paris Salt and Pepper Mill Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best Crystal: Waterford Lismore Round Salt and Pepper Shakers at Amazon Jump to Review Best Stoneware: Pottery Barn Black & White Marble Salt & Pepper Shakers at Pottery Barn Jump to Review Best Porcelain: Crate & Barrel Mercer Salt and Pepper Shaker Set at Crate & Barrel Jump to Review Best Glass: Sagaform Glass Salt & Pepper Shakers at Amazon Jump to Review Best Large: Great Credentials Stainless Steel Dredge Shakers at Amazon Jump to Review Best Modern: Nambé POP Salt and Pepper Shakers at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Overall OXO Salt and Pepper Shaker Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Oxo Pros: Reliable, durable, and stylish, these shakers also have a handy side spout to dispense larger quantities. Cons: These shakers are plastic and not dishwasher safe. There are many reasons to love the OXO Salt and Pepper Shaker Set. They're compact but mighty, easy to use and refill, durable, and BPA-free. Each shaker also includes a side spout to dispense larger quantities when cooking — inspired by a Morton Salt container. With these shakers, you can do everything at once, from sprinkling a pinch of pepper on your salad to pouring a tablespoon of salt into your cookie dough mix. Price at time of publish: $17 Dimensions: 2 x 4.13 x 4.5 inchesMaterial: Plastic Best Splurge Le Creuset Salt and Pepper Mill Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Food52 Pros: Our experts ranked this set with a near-perfect score in every category, including design, performance, and value. Cons: The S or P on each mill’s top tells you what’s inside, but this might be a bit difficult to discern for some. The Le Creuset Petite Salt and Pepper Mill Set is a classic, timeless addition to any kitchen. Our testers gave this pick a perfect ranking in both the design and performance categories, noting the mill’s ease of use, clean aesthetics, and durability. Available in various high-gloss colors, from a simple black or white to a bright-and-bold Caribbean blue or flame orange, the mills are made from scratch- and chip-resistant ceramic. They’re strong enough to crack peppercorns and are corrosion-resistant for grinding salt. Adjust the top knob clockwise for a finer ground and counter-clockwise for a coarser grind. When in use, our testers noted that this pepper mill efficiently and consistently produced excellent quality ground black pepper, regardless of coarseness. The mills also didn’t pick up odors or moisture, and they easily wiped clean after use. Price at time of publish: $75 Dimensions: 2.5 x 8 inchesMaterial: Ceramic Best Grinder Set Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set 4.8 Amazon View On Amazon Pros: This versatile shaker set combines a sleek stainless steel aesthetic with grinding functionality. Cons: At nearly 9 inches in height, this grinder set is on the larger size, so you may need two hands while operating. The Latent Epicure Battery Operated Grinder Set is sleek in design, constructed with high-quality materials, and among the easiest to use. It’s also the only pick on this list to receive a perfect ranking in all five categories (design, size, performance, ease of use, and value) during our tests. Our experts were very impressed with the grinders’ performance overall. They noted that the size and build of the grinder helped evenly distribute the peppercorns, leading to a more consistent grind no matter how long the grinder was powered up. When not in use, this set is ideal for storing in a pantry or keeping out on the countertop — just make sure to wipe away smudges or fingerprints if you plan on displaying it. Price at time of publish: $41 Dimensions: 4.41 x 3.15 x 8.66 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Best Wooden Peugeot Paris u’Select Salt and Pepper Mill Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma Pros: This set’s design, performance, and ease of use make it an editor-favorite pick. Cons: These grinders can be complicated to fill and might require more frequent refills. The Peugeot Paris u’Select Salt and Pepper Mill Set Cobbler Shaker is an ideal choice for anyone looking to create fine and medium grinds with a stylish-looking mill. Our experts reported that this grinder excelled in every test, producing extremely consistent ground pepper every time. Though the mill struggled more with the coarse setting, its grind consistency was still acceptable — just not as uniform as the finer grind settings. Design-wise, this grinder is well-built, easy to hold thanks to its substantial length, and even easier to grind, with smooth turns from start to finish. Adjusting the grinder is simple, too. The bottom can be twisted with corresponding lines that denote grind setting. It’s slightly more difficult to fill, but that's par for the course with this style of grinder. Price at time of publish: $86 Dimensions: 2.25 x 2.25 x 7 inchesMaterial: Wood Best Crystal Waterford Lismore Round Salt and Pepper Shakers Amazon View On Amazon View On Dillards.com Pros: This affordable crystal salt and pepper shaker set is equal parts decorative and functional. Cons: This set is significantly smaller than most other sets on our list and is hand wash only. Crystal salt and pepper shakers that won't break the bank? The Waterford Lismore set highlights the brand's best-selling Lismore crystal pattern, known for its signature diamond and wedge cuts. Perfect for a big-moment gift or a gift for newlyweds, these decorative yet functional shakers get the job done, but will require frequent refilling due to their petite size. Price at time of publish: $95 Dimensions: 2.13 x 2.13 x 3.23 inchesMaterial: Crystal Best Stoneware Pottery Barn Black & White Marble Salt & Pepper Shakers Pottery Barn View On Pottery Barn Pros: No two shakers will look the same, thanks to the stone's unique color tone and texture. Cons: These shakers are among the smallest, with a capacity of only 1.75 ounces. Made of beautiful natural marble, this Pottery Barn salt and pepper shaker set adds a touch of elegance to your table. Simply refill by removing the rubber stopper on the shaker's bottom. Steer clear of the dishwasher for this set and opt for hand washing instead. Price at time of publish: $30 Dimensions: 1.75 x 3.5 inchesMaterial: Marble Best Porcelain Crate & Barrel Mercer Salt and Pepper Shaker Set Crate & Barrel View On Crate & Barrel Pros: This contemporary, simple set is elegance on a budget. Cons: Each shaker only holds 2.75 ounces, so expect to refill often. Crate & Barrel's porcelain salt and pepper shakers pair effortlessly with most dinnerware sets. They look and feel more expensive than they actually are, making it hard to beat the $15 price tag. With easy-to-remove silicone stoppers, refilling is a seamless process, as is cleaning because they're dishwasher safe. Price at time of publish: $15 Dimesions: 2 x 4 inchesMaterial: Porcelain Best Glass Sagaform Nature Collection Glass Salt & Pepper Shakers Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros: This Scandinavian-inspired glass shaker set is beautiful and functional. Cons: These shakers are hand-wash only. For a minimalist and refined salt and pepper shaker set, the Sagaform Nature Collection is a great option. This Sweden-made set is made of blown glass with two oak stoppers, a unique element that is sure to look stylish on your tabletop. To use, simply remove the oak stopper and shake. Make it a collection by pairing the salt and pepper shakers with the brand's oil and vinegar bottles or wine and water carafes, which all feature the unique solid wood stopper. Price at time of publish: $30 Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 4.5 inchesMaterial: Wood and glass Best Large Great Credentials Stainless Steel Dredge Shakers Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros: Each extra-large shaker holds up to 22 ounces. Cons: This set is not the most stylish, so you may want to store them inside a cabinet. Most salt and pepper shakers hold anywhere from two to four ounces each. But this no-frills set holds up to 22 ounces per shaker — a major plus for enthusiastic home chefs who use their shakers for dredging, making big batches of spice rubs, and also don't love to refill often. Made of commercial-grade stainless steel, each extra-large shaker features a secure, simple screw top, and the entire piece is dishwasher safe. Price at time of publish: $18 Dimensions: 2.75 x 7.5 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Best Modern Nambé POP Salt and Pepper Shakers Bloomingdale's View On Bloomingdales View On Macy's Pros: These shakers feature a compact, low-profile design and come in four neutral colors. Cons: The small size may force you to refill often. These compact, low-profile salt and pepper shakers are part of Nambé's mid-century modern collection, which is displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. With a clean, simple design, this set offers the best of function and style and is available in neutral-colored stone exteriors. If you use salt or pepper often, you may have to refill this set often as the capacity is lacking compared to some other shakers. Price at time of publish: $30 Dimensions: 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 inchesMaterial: Stoneware Factors to Consider Material You can find a salt and pepper shaker made in almost any material, from ceramic or porcelain to plastic, wood, glass, and stainless steel. There's no right or wrong answer to choosing a material type, though certain ones will require more upkeep than others. For example, stone or glass shakers are not always dishwasher-safe. If you're prone to dropping your kitchen tools, a more fragile material like glass or porcelain may not be right for you. Whichever you choose, make sure your shaker has a tight seal to maintain freshness. Cleaning When in doubt, you can't go wrong with hand washing and air drying. Some shakers are dishwasher safe though, so your best bet is to read the fine print before cleaning. No matter how you clean them, make sure to thoroughly empty each shaker, scrub the inside and outside, and rinse with hot water. Salt and pepper shakers should be cleaned regularly, especially if they are used frequently. You can clean them as often as once a week, or more often if you have a busy household. Capacity Capacity is a sticky subject. On average, salt and pepper shakers range from two to four ounces, though we found an extra-large pick that fits approximately 22 ounces per shaker. If you opt for a smaller set, make note that you will probably have to refill them more often. Ease of Use Salt and pepper shakers are typically easy to use. Simply unscrew the top lid or remove the bottom cap, and fill the shaker with your choice or salt, pepper, or another seasoning. When not in use, store the shakers in a cool, dry place to help keep the salt and pepper fresh. Extra Features Depending on the shaker you choose, it may include a slate of added features. For instance, some shakers have an adjustable grinder, so you can control the coarseness of the salt or pepper. Others are built with a custom stand, so you can neatly store and place the shakers when not in use. There are even some that include a side spout, where you can easily dispense larger quantities of salt and pepper at once. Frequently Asked Questions How can you tell the difference between salt and pepper shakers? The short answer is it really depends on where you are and who owns the shakers. In the U.S., the salt shaker typically has larger and fewer holes, and a pepper shaker has smaller and more holes, as individual pepper particles are smaller than salt. However, this can vary across cultures and countries, so the right decision depends on your preferences.In general, most experts say it's fine to use the shaker with the most holes for the seasoning you use more of. On the other hand, if you're trying to lower your sodium intake, the best practice is to use a shaker with fewer holes. What's the benefit of having grinders versus shakers? Grinding salt and pepper on the spot will result in stronger, more flavorful, and fresher spices. You also have more control over grind size, from ultra-fine to coarse. When were salt and pepper shakers first used? The first salt shaker — made by John Mason (who invented the Mason jar) — is said to have been created in 1858. Salt and pepper shakers are believed to have gone mainstream in the early 1920s after Morton Salt added magnesium carbonate into its recipe to prevent salt from clumping. Our Expertise Clarissa Buch Zilberman is a writer and editor based in Miami. Specializing in lifestyle, business, and travel, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Realtor.com, Travel + Leisure, and Bon Appétit, among other print and digital titles. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit