Skeppshult Kitchen Tools

Spice and Herb Mill »Swing«

The »Swing« series was designed by the creative duo “Carl & Carl” from Denmark. The two designers Gustaf and Thomas take advantage of the high weight of the cast iron material for these mills. »Swing« consists of two parts: the body (the container in which the grinding takes place) and the grinding part (the counterpart, which also serves as a storage for unground spices, such as peppercorns). The corrugation on the bottom inside of the body and on the counterpart forms the grinding mechanism for »Swing«. Simple, yet ingenious. Spices or herbs are filled into the container and the grinding part is attached. By turning the two container parts back and forth, the content is ground with very little effort. For example, peppercorns or dried chili peppers are gently crushed. The degree of grinding - from very fine to coarsely ground - is determined by the pressure applied while turning. The best grinding result is achieved when the bottom of the grinding container is just covered with spice. So, do not fill too much at once. »Swing« is also very good for intensifying the aroma of dried herbs or herb blends. Add the dry herbs to the body before use and grind briefly - this will release additional aroma. But - please make sure that your spice or herb blend does NOT contain salt. Salt in any form would lead to corrosion!

This spice mill is also aptly referred to as the “hand mortar”. The advantage over a traditional mortar is that the spice remains in the body during the grinding or rubbing process. Especially hard peppercorns tend to burst when crushed with a mortar and pestle, and the valuable spice is distributed throughout your kitchen. With “Swing”, everything stays nicely inside the mill.

The mill is closed with a solid wood or cork lid. Due to the weight of the cast iron and the roundness of the base and lid, “Swing” feels really good in your hand, like a solid hand warmer.

The Skeppshult “Swing” spice mills are painted on the outside. For gentle cleaning, we recommend using a soft brush. If you want to clean the mill with water, please use only hot water, without detergent. Then dry it very well, otherwise corrosion may occur. “Swing” does not like moisture and is only suitable for dry spices, such as peppercorns, dried chili peppers, dried herbs such as oregano, rosemary and tarragon. Spices and herbs that contain moisture, such as fresh basil or garlic cloves, DO NOT belong in cast iron mills. Salt should also not be ground with “Swing”.

Mortar »Cubic«

The design of the Mortar »Cubic« also comes from the Danish creative forge „Carl & Carl“. It is not only functional, but also a real eye-catcher for your kitchen due to its striking design. The cube-shaped mortar has a very secure stand due to its weight. Small soft feet on the underside protect the work surface from scratches. The matching pestle with a walnut wood handle impresses with its feel and the size that is precisely matched to the grinding bowl. For professional crushing and grinding of spices and herbs. Depending on the amount of force and duration of the grinding process, spices can be ground to the degree of fine powder.

Oil-containing foods such as pine nuts or nuts can in principle be crushed in the mortar. However, we would like to point out that residues may be difficult to remove. Cast iron must not be put in the dishwasher. The mortar »Cubic« is hollow inside due to production and weight, so it should not be immersed in water in the sink to avoid its inner walls coming into contact with water. The best thing is to wipe it with a cloth. Some people may not find this type of cleaning thorough enough for oily residues.

Here's a little tip: The mortar can absorb very intense aromas from spices such as cinnamon and transfer them to subsequent foods. Rice grains can help here: simply add a small amount of uncooked rice to the mortar, grind it finely and dispose of the rice. The rice absorbs the residues remaining in the mortar and also removes the attached odors.

At this point, a word of honesty from Butch: Yes, cast iron is not a material for "lazy" heroes in the kitchen. The cleaning and care effort may be slightly higher than with other materials, as it cannot be put in the dishwasher. Basically, it simply requires the willingness to acquire a little expert knowledge and to keep the do's and don'ts in mind when dealing with cast iron. In our opinion, the Skeppshult products are more than worth giving them special attention and treatment.