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by Anonymous on November 29th, 2004

Anonymous

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Why do salt and pepper shakers often have a different number of holes on top?

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Answers. 6 helpful answers below.

  • by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on October 5th, 2005

    Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog

    It probably comes from the 'olden' days when we weren't so concerned about salt in our diets. People would sprinkle salt quite liberally on their food, so more holes in the shaker meant it came out faster and you could get on with eating all that good grub sooner. Back then, even pepper was considered a bit exotic by some folks (and was more expensive to boot) and they wouldn't use as much. Besides if you used too much, it pretty much ruined your food. So it was used in shakers that sprinkled more gently, hence fewer and smaller holes.

    Of course, you can put salt in a pepper shaker and vice versa. What you do with your condiments is no one else's business!

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  • by Bob Head on January 16th, 2005

    Bob Head

    I always thought it was so you know which has salt in and which has pepper in so you don't put the wrong thing on your food by accident

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  • by TheycallmeMel on December 17th, 2004

    TheycallmeMel

    Pepper shakers normally have more holes than a salt shaker because pepper granules are generally bigger than salt granules. This answers the question because you don't want salt rushing out of the shaker a million miles per hour and the pepper to come out at a snails pace. This sort of evens out the rate of speed that it will come out.

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  • by Banana Breath plays the piano on March 31st, 2012

    Banana Breath plays the piano

    Most importantly, a good host doesn't want anyone's meal ruined by accidentally adding pepper for instance (which some people can't tolerate) instead of salt. Having a different number of holes was one way of keeping the salt and pepper shakers from looking identical. If the shakers are clear glass of course, you can see the contents, but many are made of wood, metal, porcelain or other opaque materials. I have seen people in restaurants with identical shakers and they will shake some into their hands to identify it, and then dump it on the floor, which is not a very attractive options. While shakers can be labeled with the words "salt" and "pepper" or "S" and "P," many people find that visually unattractive.

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  • by flyingbum on March 31st, 2012

    flyingbum

    UsageSalt and pepper shakers can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, glass, metal, and ceramic.[2] Except in the most casual dining establishments, they are usually provided as a matched set, sometimes distinguishable only by the number of holes on the top of the shaker. Designs range from small, plain glass screw-top containers (invented by John Landis Mason, inventor of the Mason jar) to more ornate works of art. Sometimes the design refers to some pair of related objects, such as a replica of a West Highland White Terrier containing the salt and a Scottish Terrier containing the pepper. Designs may also relate to specific occasions, such as holidays. As a result of this diversity of design, collecting salt and pepper shakers is a hobby.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

    Design of salt and pepper shakers has also been used to transmit cultural perspectives about race,[9][10] friendships,[11] and other cultural values.[12]

    The number and size of holes on salt shakers has been observed to influence consumption of salt, within limits, and it has been suggested that proper selection of shakers delivering smaller amounts may be a means to improve diet by reducing sodium consumption. Salt shakers will normally have fewer holes in them than pepper shakers.[13][14]

    As an alternative to salt and pepper shakers, pepper may be distributed at the table by use of a pepper grinder, while salt may be distributed from a salt cellar or a salt mill.

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  • by flyingbum on March 31st, 2012

    flyingbum

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