The fresher the pepper, the more fragrant it is, that is why notorious gourmets and good housewives prefer not to buy ground spices in bags, but whole seeds that need to be ground right before use.
Pepper Mills
To grind whole seeds, a special mill is required, which can be of two types:
- Mills from well-known manufacturers of kitchen utensils, created specifically for reusable applications. They are able to serve the mistresses faithfully for several decades.
- Plastic packaging of pepper with a device that can grind the contents. This device cannot be called a full-fledged mill, but it copes with its task perfectly.
Let's talk more about the second type of device. A prominent representative that everyone knows is the Kotanyi brand. As planned by the manufacturers, these mills are disposable, that is, unsuitable for further use. The device is capable of functioning only for that period until the contents of the jar are over, after which the packaging must be recycled. But most of our compatriots disagree with this statement, they believe that it makes no sense to buy a new mill, if it already exists. That is why the enterprising Russian people are wondering: how to open a Kotanyi pepper mill to fill it with contents again and make it suitable for reusable use?
Kotanyi Mill
So, as we already managed to find out, many choose Kotanyi spices in glass jars with a grinder built into the lid. Using such mills is very convenient - you do not need to purchase expensive devices, pour them over, and sealed packaging holds the taste and aroma for a long time. Using the mill is very simple. We twist the lid - and the ground pepper is evenly scattered across the products, the peppercorns are obtained in the right size (small and not small). In a word, beauty!
There is only one drawback of this mill - it is disposable, we have already mentioned this. But people coped with it, realizing how to use the device for the second, or even the third time. So how to open a Kotanyi pepper mill?
Disassembly Methods
You can disassemble the Kotanyi mill in many ways that many have already tried out:
- To open the mill, make cuts on the sides of the plastic cover with a sharp knife. Pull lightly and the lid will give in easily. Pour a new portion of pepper into the jar and put the lid back on. Fix it with any lock that is at hand (a plastic ring, a technical clamp, etc.) or heat to such an extent that the plastic becomes soft. But keep in mind that the last method can be used once, that is, the next time you can’t remove the cover without damaging it, and the mill will lose its attractiveness.
- Not sure how to open a Kotanyi pepper mill? Some jars can be opened simply by making great efforts - for example, ask your husband for help. With one hand, grab the lid, with the other, the glass base and pull them in all directions with all the force, while slightly twisting the lid. If the first time it didn’t work out, you should not continue (not this time), we move on to another method.
How to open a disposable mill for a fragile girl?
If it is not possible to use brute masculine power, then you should use the following method:
- Lower the mill with the lid down into a container filled with boiling water.
- Leave it there for literally a few minutes until the plastic softens. In the process of waiting, the jar can be turned over so that water can penetrate everywhere.
- Pull the mill out of the water (use a tack to prevent burns).
- Pull the cover. It bounces with ease.
A similar way is to heat the mill lid under the hot air of the hair dryer, while the jar must be constantly rotated so that the lid and connection fall under the stream. The expansion process takes about a minute, after which you need to strongly pull the cover or take it sideways to a distinctive cotton.
- Wash, dry the jar and fill it with new spices.
- Insert the plastic ring into the grooves, put the lid on top and lightly slam it. Done!
Manual and mechanical methods
Not sure how to open the Kotanyi 4 Pepper Mill? The design of the product has the following features - the movable element of the lid is held on the cloves, for this reason not everyone is able to remove it with boiling water or using force. If the methods described above did not work, try using agility. To do this, you must:
- Remove the top of the lid and set the mill to coarse grinding (up position).
- With one hand, you should hold the lid, with the other hand, the jar, trying to raise the edge of the lid as if at a kink.
- Turn the cover slightly and raise again.
- Repeat the manipulation again (the third time, the lid itself bounces off);
The process of disassembling and assembling the pepper mill is identical, therefore, to bring the lid back, you must again apply force to the edge. That is, you do not need to immediately put the element on the jar, you should start from the edge. In this matter, male power will not be superfluous.
Another way is known how to open a disposable Kotanyi pepper mill - mechanical. In this case, a knife is used, respectively, there is a risk of scratching the plastic. When applying this technique, not the entire cover is removed, but only the membrane (plastic circle).
- Remove the outer part of the lid, under which there is a membrane with holes for spilling pepper.
- Raise the plastic circle from several sides with a knife.
- Pull out the element (some details will fall out with it).
- Pour new spices through the partially open neck of the jar.
- Insert all parts into place and press down lightly. Done!
Last way
Some batches of mills are more stubborn, sometimes it is not easy to control them. In this case, it remains to resort to the last method - the use of two wooden planks. In order to disassemble the mill you will need:
- Take two boards wider than the diameter of the lid.
- On one of them cut a semicircle from either side, recessed into the board.
- On the other, repeat the action, but with a mirror image.
- Set the mill on a hard surface and grab it with one of the blanks.
- Rest the second workpiece from the opposite side and raise it. She will lift the lid in a semicircle.
Done! You can fill up fresh pepper and put the lid back in place.
Unfortunately, even knowing all the ways to open a Kotanyi pepper mill, you won’t be able to use it forever. The device will last a maximum of four fillings, after which the mill will become dull and will not be able to function.