Metal and Ceramic Only: My Pick for the Best Plastic-Free Salt and Pepper Grinders

How the HexClad HexMill set stacks up against Männkitchen, Luvan, and the old guard

I want to get plastic out of my kitchen. Not in a dramatic, throw-everything-away-overnight kind of way. More of a slow replacement strategy. 

My salt and pepper grinders were next on the list. The old ones had acrylic bodies and even cheap plastic grinding mechanisms. Every twist was plastic-on-plastic-on-salt, and once I started thinking about it, I couldn't stop. So I went looking for a set made from metal and ceramic. No plastic bodies, no plastic burrs, no plastic adjustment knobs.

The market for truly plastic-free salt and pepper grinders is much thinner than I expected.

What I Was Looking For

My criteria were specific. I wanted a set (salt and pepper together, not mismatched singles). I wanted zero plastic in the grinding path and minimal plastic anywhere else. I wanted something that would actually perform well, not just look good on a shelf. And I wanted a warranty that backed it up.

That combination eliminated a lot of popular options fast. Here's what fell off the list and why:

What remained was a short list. The two serious contenders were the HexClad HexMill Salt and Pepper Grinder Set and the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon (paired with their upcoming Salt Cannon). A newer brand called Luvan also makes an aluminum set that caught my eye as a budget option.

The Research

HexClad HexMill Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

The HexClad set is a pair of 9-inch manual grinders with solid-milled aluminum bodies. The pepper mill uses a stainless steel burr. The salt mill uses a corrosion-resistant ceramic burr, which matters because salt destroys steel over time. Both have 10 adjustable grind settings controlled by a dial on the base, and a removable bottom cap that catches residual grounds and can hold up to a quarter cup of pre-ground seasoning. Capacity is large: roughly 60g of peppercorns and 140g of coarse salt. 

The independent testing backed up the marketing claims. A Tom's Guide review by their Managing Editor of Homes called the set "worth every cent" and confirmed that the burr mechanism produces dramatically more output per twist than standard mills. She noted the "5 grinds, not 50" tagline was no exaggeration and that she had to adjust her habits to avoid over-seasoning.

Serious Eats tested the HexClad pepper grinder in a roundup of premium pepper mills and ranked it as a close runner-up to the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon. It had the largest capacity of any mill tested at over 80 grams. The review noted it got marked down for spilling loose pepper from its burrs when uncapped and for weighing almost two pounds when filled. Their overall top pick for most home cooks was the Cole & Mason Derwent, not the HexClad. But the Derwent is acrylic-bodied, which takes it off my list.

Owner feedback on Amazon sits around 4.7 out of 5 stars with hundreds of ratings. The overwhelming majority of reviews praise the build quality and grinding speed. On Costco's site, the set carried a 5.0/5 rating from a smaller pool of buyers.

HexClad backs the set with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. That warranty does not cover misuse, damage from improper cleaning, putting salt in the pepper mill, or commercial use. You can see the full warranty language on their product page.

The Caveats 

The most concerning issue I found in my research: rust on the salt mill's steel components. A handful of owners have reported corrosion on the bottom cap's steel parts after 6-12 months of use. This appears to happen when moisture gets trapped with the salt, whether from grinding over steaming pots, using damp salt, or washing the cap with water. The ceramic burr itself doesn't corrode. It's the surrounding steel hardware that's vulnerable.

HexClad's care instructions are explicit about this. They say to avoid introducing any moisture, clean only with a dry cloth or compressed air, and never put the grinders in a dishwasher. Following those instructions matters.

The grinders are also heavy. Each one weighs roughly 1.75 pounds. That's a feature for most people (it feels premium and stable), but if you have arthritis or limited grip strength, it could be a problem. One Reddit user with arthritis opted for HexClad's smaller 5-inch Tabletop version and reported it was still efficient.

HexClad's customer support is email and web ticket only. No phone line, no reliable live chat. Response times vary. Some people report hearing back within 24 hours; others have waited over a week during busy seasons. The company has a mixed reputation on the BBB (205 complaints in 3 years), though most of those relate to their cookware line, not the grinders. For grinder-specific warranty claims, the reports I found were generally positive. Multiple owners described getting replacement units shipped promptly.

Männkitchen Pepper Cannon + Salt Cannon

The Pepper Cannon is the performance king. In testing, it ground pepper roughly 2-3 times faster than HexClad. It's all aluminum with a hardened stainless steel burr, and it has approximately 30 adjustable settings compared to HexClad's 10. If pure pepper-grinding speed is your top priority, nothing else comes close. You can see it on Männkitchen's site.

The problem is cost and availability. The Pepper Cannon alone is $199. The Salt Cannon is also ~$199 and ships March 2026. That's roughly $400 for a full set. And the Salt Cannon only carries a 1-year warranty, compared to HexClad's lifetime warranty on both mills. Männkitchen is also transparent that salt will eventually corrode even their stainless steel internals. They've addressed this by making corrosion-prone parts user-replaceable, which is a thoughtful engineering choice but also an admission that salt corrosion is an inevitability, not a defect.

For someone who wants the absolute fastest pepper grinder and doesn't mind paying double for the set, Männkitchen is the answer. For everyone else weighing the full picture (both mills, warranty, price), HexClad wins.

Luvan Aluminum Set (The Budget Option)

Luvan offers a pair of aluminum grinders with 12 adjustable settings for roughly $80-$100 on Amazon. The form factor is similar to HexClad. They use ceramic burrs for both salt and pepper. Owner feedback is surprisingly positive for the price point. One Reddit user bought multiple sets as gifts and noted that arthritic family members found them easy to use.

The trade-offs: Luvan is a newer, less established brand. Warranty coverage is unclear (likely a standard 1-year Amazon warranty). Ceramic burrs grinding pepper may dull faster than steel. And there's simply no long-term track record to draw on. If budget is the primary driver, Luvan is worth a look. But I wasn't comfortable recommending it as a "buy it for life" pick.

How They Compare

Where I Landed

I bought the HexClad set. I paid $199 on Amazon. Prices vary by retailer and fluctuate. At the time of writing, HexClad's own site lists the set at $249, and Amazon pricing has ranged from the high $180s to $249 depending on timing. Seasonal sales (Black Friday, Prime Day) and Costco have historically offered lower prices.

The HexClad set isn't perfect. The salt mill has a real corrosion vulnerability if you don't keep it dry. The grinders are heavy. Customer support could be better. And the "lifetime warranty" has exclusions you should read before assuming it covers everything.

But for what I was trying to solve — a plastic-free, high-performance salt and pepper grinder set with a strong warranty — nothing else checked every box at this price. The Männkitchen setup is faster but costs double with weaker salt warranty coverage. The Luvan set is cheaper but unproven. The legacy brands (Peugeot, Cole & Mason) are solid but either use plastic/acrylic or trade significant performance for tradition.

The HexClad set does the job. It does it in metal and ceramic. And it does it without plastic touching your food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are in the HexClad grinding path?

The pepper mill uses a stainless steel burr. The salt mill uses a corrosion-resistant ceramic burr. The bodies are solid-milled aluminum. HexClad does not use plastic burrs or plastic internal grinding components. The salt mill uses ceramic specifically because salt corrodes steel over time. Source: HexClad product page.

Is the rust issue on the salt mill a common problem?

It is not widespread based on the owner feedback reviewed, but it is a documented pattern. A handful of owners reported corrosion on the bottom cap's steel hardware after 6-12 months, particularly when moisture was introduced through grinding over steam, using damp salt, or washing parts with water. The ceramic burr itself does not corrode. HexClad's care instructions explicitly warn against introducing moisture and recommend dry cloth or compressed air cleaning only.

What does the HexClad lifetime warranty actually cover?

It covers manufacturer defects for the original owner. It does not cover damage from misuse, improper cleaning, putting salt in the pepper mill, commercial or restaurant use, neglect, or improper storage. Rust caused by moisture exposure would likely be considered misuse under the warranty terms, though some owners have reported HexClad replacing corroded salt mills on a case-by-case basis. The full warranty language is on the product page.

Why didn't Serious Eats pick the HexClad as their top pepper mill?

Serious Eats named the Cole & Mason Derwent as their top pick for most home cooks. The HexClad was ranked as a close runner-up to the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon but was marked down for spilling loose pepper from its burrs when uncapped and for weighing almost two pounds when filled. The review did note it had the largest capacity of any mill tested (over 80 grams). Source: Serious Eats pepper mill roundup.

How does the Männkitchen Salt Cannon warranty compare to HexClad's?

The Männkitchen Salt Cannon carries a 1-year warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship. HexClad's salt mill carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. The Männkitchen Pepper Cannon has a lifetime warranty on its burr mechanism, but that coverage does not extend to their salt grinder. Männkitchen is also transparent that salt will eventually corrode even stainless steel internals, which is why they designed corrosion-prone parts to be user-replaceable. Source: Männkitchen Salt Cannon product page.

Can I use the HexClad grinders for spices other than salt and pepper?

HexClad says no. The pepper grinder is for peppercorns only. The salt grinder is for dry salt crystals only. They explicitly warn against using corrosive or acidic spices in the pepper mill, and doing so voids the warranty. In Amazon Q&A sections, some owners have reported using dry allspice berries or juniper berries in the pepper mill, but this is off-label use and not endorsed by HexClad.

Is the Luvan set a reliable plastic-free alternative?

Luvan's aluminum set uses ceramic burrs for both salt and pepper and has a similar form factor to HexClad. Owner feedback is positive for the price point (~$80-$100). However, the brand has a limited track record, warranty coverage is unclear (likely 1 year through Amazon), and there is no long-term data on how the ceramic pepper burr holds up over years of use. Whether the internal components are entirely plastic-free has not been independently verified.

Are there any food safety concerns with aluminum grinders?

The research found no regulatory red flags. The aluminum bodies are anodized (non-reactive to dry spices), and the spice only contacts the burr and internal chamber. Ceramic burrs are inert. There are no coatings that could flake into food, no CPSC recalls, no SaferProducts.gov complaints, and no Prop 65 warnings associated with the HexClad grinders. The grinding mechanism being metal and ceramic means no microplastic shedding into your salt and pepper.

References

1. HexClad HexMill Salt and Pepper Grinder Set — Official Product Page
2. Tom's Guide — "I tried Gordon Ramsay's favorite salt and pepper grinders, and now I can't cook without them"
3. Serious Eats — "The Best Pepper Mills, Tested & Reviewed"
4. Männkitchen Salt Cannon — Official Product Page
5. HexClad Salt and Pepper Mill Set — Amazon Listing

Disclaimer: The conclusions in this post are mine. They reflect the way I think about this problem and the research I did to get here. I'm not an expert in materials science, food safety, or kitchen equipment engineering. This is meant to be helpful as you form your own conclusions, not a substitute for doing your own homework. I may be wrong about some of this. Where possible, I've linked to every source so you can check my work.