This just my opinion.......

[BagCSC]

I am the same way. It started with one of those disposable McCormick pepper grinders and matching Sea Salt grinder. Well....it is all over with now...I have to have Sea salt and fresh ground pepper. I like the larger chunks of salt for some reason...it seems to give it a more potent taste..and takes less salt than normal salt.

[Mrs. Chipotle]

I have to agree. Pre-grated cheese just doesn't taste the same, no two ways about it.

[aeiou]

Sea Salt is healthier than regular table salt because it does not contain the artificial chemicals used in processing regular table salt. Sea salt also tastes better to me than regular table salt. I no longer have regular salt in the house only fine sea salt. If you switch from regular salt to sea salt you should purchase sea salt that is iodized (essential vitamin for the body).

[Mama Mangia]

I don't buy salt - haven't bought regular salt in over 30 years! It's sea salt and kosher salt.

[Raquelita]

Yeah, iodized salt is really important, especially if you're pregant b/c its important for the baby's development.

I agree that fresh-grated cheese tastes better! Plus as a kid it was so fun to grate and then see the fluffy pile I made .

[Upennmama]

I use a big mortar and pestle to grind up my pepper and it makes great big flakes of pepper. So good. And don't get me started on the canned cheese! Ew!

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

I know this is an old post but I wanted to mention I could not agree more about fresh vs. canned parmesan or pregrated packaged cheeses. I own a salad shooter and love to use it to grate my cheese fresh, it works great and clean up is a cinch.

[Jafo232]

I always buy a block of parmesan or as it is lovingly called in my house "stinky cheese" and shred it up in a food processor and then store it in the fridge. It goes pretty quick!

I use a pepper grinder too. When I need a lot of pepper for some recipe, more than I want to grind by hand, I use a coffee grinder.

[George]

Originally Posted by Mama Mangia

This is just my opinion on black pepper and Parmesan cheese.

I never bought ground black pepper - I prefer to grind and crack my own for cooking.

And I don't buy sawdust (that is what I call grated Parmesan cheese - like Kraft, for instance). Fresh grated cheeses give a much better flavor and you can mix two or more together for a wonderful flavor.

Completely agree with you on both points. I usually use a blend of whole peppercorns...either a four blend or a five blend (has allspice in it as well) but will only but it whole and use a pepper mill.....

Parmesan...I am not even entirely sure that junk you buy from Kraft is real parmesan...it may say that it is, but man the taste and smell difference from real freshly grated parmesan is HUGE....

[Mama Mangia]

Originally Posted by George

Completely agree with you on both points. I usually use a blend of whole peppercorns...either a four blend or a five blend (has allspice in it as well) but will only but it whole and use a pepper mill.....

Parmesan...I am not even entirely sure that junk you buy from Kraft is real parmesan...it may say that it is, but man the taste and smell difference from real freshly grated parmesan is HUGE....

George - you are so right and there is a big difference in flavor as well. But I do wonder what exactly that sawdust is in the jar! Just curious.

I am a huge Pecorino Romano fan which I use in place of Parmesan. And I love to grate it myself - I never buy any shredded cheese in the store - I do it myself.