NorproNut/Topping Chopper

My mother had this nut chopper years ago. When she passed 25 years ago, I took it to my home. Well, throughout the years of use, it broke. I was so upset that I knew I would never find another one like it. Well....low and behold, it was on Amazon! I was shocked! Not only do I have the best nut chopper back in my kitchen, I feel like Mom is here too!

I've been searching for a nut grinder like the one my mom has had for 35 years- a testament to the design and quality of the product- and this Norpro Hand Crank Nut Grinder is as close as I have found. I hope mine lasts as long as my mom's, because so far I'm very happy with it!Some 1-star reviewers have stated that the base does not tightly screw onto the grinder. That was not my experience. Many of the 1 star reviewers have also complained that the blades bent while grinding almonds or mixed nuts. Hand grinders are typically not used to chop hard nuts like almonds or hazelnuts, but rather softer nuts like walnuts, pistachios, cashews, pecans, and peanuts, and it works great for this purpose. However, the product description does not specify what kind of nuts it can grind, so Amazon/Norpro may want to add this to the product description and packaging.My Norpro grinder arrived on time and undamaged. However, I think it's worth mentioning that although there is a glass base, the manufacturer's original packaging is a relatively lightweight box with no styrofoam or cardboard inserts to hold it in place and provide cushioning if it is dropped or jostled in the shipping process. The Amazon shipping box was adequately packed with the air-packs, though, and there was no damage done to mine. There are no care instructions in the box, and the box itself does not specify if the grinder is dishwasher safe. I planned to wash mine by hand, just to be on the safe side, but it ended up on the top rack of the dishwasher, and it came out fine. I would still recommend washing the plastic pieces by hand, though- I wonder if the plastic part of some of the 1 star reviewers' who stated the base doesn't screw on got warped in the dishwasher.The grinder has a sturdy glass base- equivalent to or slightly thicker than the thickness of a canning or food jar (like a spaghetti or salsa jar.) It has rounded edges on the bottom that make it resistant to chipping. The grinder is plastic with a metal handle and blade, and screws onto the base. The plastic and metal are not as good of quality as by mom's "vintage" model, however, I'd say it's on par with the quality of any moderately priced kitchen utensil these days, and above the quality of what I'd expect for its price. It looks exactly as it is pictured, and the size and capacity are as described on Amazon.I have already used it to grind walnuts and pecans I put about 1/4 cup of whole (shelled) nuts into the top at a time. The handle turned easily and smoothly, and I had consistently ground nuts in seconds! It is far less hassle than using a food processor, and no electricity is required. I took a picture immediately after grinding pecans to show the blades are in perfect condition after use. If you are unfamiliar with hand grinders, here is a tip: if a nut gets stuck, simply turn the handle in reverse.I have not tried grinding cookies or candy, as suggested on the packaging. Personally, I would only choose to use dry, "soft" ingredients in this grinder- such as the soft nuts stated above, or maybe a cookie such as Pecan Sandy. The dry nuts easily rinsed off of the blades after use, but I think it would be really hard to scrub any sticky residue from the blades, and they may get stuck.One thing to consider before purchasing is that there is no way to adjust the size of the grind. I would consider the nuts to be the perfect size for baking and most recipes calling for chopped nuts baked/stirred in or sprinkled on top (examples: banana bread, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, roasted butternut squash, cheese balls, etc), but some people may prefer a corser chop. Also, some people may consider the ground nuts to be too slightly too corse for recipes that call finely chopped nuts (such as cookie and candy recipes that call for rolling in finely chopped nuts to coat), however I have used it for this purpose and have been happy with the result.Overall, the Norpro Hand Crank Nut Grinder is perfect for my uses, and exactly what I expected based on the product description and the performance of my mom's old model. I think it's a great value for the price (and I'm a pretty frugal person.) I would definitely purchase it for myself again, and would recommend it to anyone with needs similar to my own.

Works adequately. The plastic on the handle does cover the entire handle which isn't very comfortable. The nuts don't feed into the blades consistently, so you have to shake it a little. Not as good as vintage ones, but less annoying than pulling out (and cleaning) an electric chopper. Hopper fits snuggly on base (which was a problem with a previous chopper I purchased). We will see how long it lasts

I bought this grinder because of its glass base. A different grinder with a plastic base did not endure well. I chop mostly whole almonds. On its first use I noticed that it took a lot of effort to turn the handle, especially near the end and I am a strong person. When I removed the lid I discovered three of the eight “fingers” were severely bent. Two of them now interfere with the slots. The grinder is ruined with ONE use. This is a cheap, poorly designed product. Amazon should not be selling it. Buyer beware.

Love this nut chopper!! The metal blades are wonderful for chopping the nuts.

Perfect manual nut chopper with glass base and stainless steel cutting blades. Very handy in the kitchen, well-designed and works perfectly without the need for electricity.

If it lasts as long as my other one I’ll never have to buy another

I am not pleased at all with this nut chopper. The handle is very small and you can't turn it very well enough to chop the nuts. It gets hung on the nuts instead of going through them. The blades do not seem sharp at all. Going to get a refund on this Useless thing. I do not recommend this chopper at all. Get either a different one, or get an electric one. Sure can't crank this one very well.