Why do you need to use a mortar and pestle when you could stick to alternatives (like a processor or just your kitchen knife)? Easy: there is no actual substitute for what the mortar and pestle do to your food. These tools, as opposed to knives and food processors that cut, grind.
And grinding or crushing ingredients does something very special for their taste: it enhances flavors and scents by releasing the essential oils that are trapped inside. This is something other tools (such as your knife) don’t do.So, yes, even if it looks old-fashioned and bulky, the mortar and pestle set you’re thinking of getting is totally worth it! As a pro cook, I stand by it!
Table of Contents
- Best Mortar and Pestle Sets Review Guide
- Comparison of 10 Best Mortar and Pestle in 2020
- Top 10 Best Mortar and Pestle reviews in 2020
- 1. Cole & Mason Granite Mortar and Pestle
- 2. RSVP White Marble Mortar and Pestle
- 3. eBoTrade Dirct Stainless Steel Mortar and Pestle
- 4. StainlessLUX 75552 Brushed Mortar and Pestle Set
- 5. ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set
- 6. JAMIE OLIVER Mortar and Pestle
- 7. HIC Mortar and Pestle Herb Grinder Pill Crusher Set
- 8. Fox Run 3822 Marble Mortar and Pestle
- 9. Ironwood Gourmet 28341 Olmec Mortar and Pestle
- 10. EZ-Grip Silicone & Porcelain Mortar and Pestle
- Materials: What’s the Big Deal?
- How to Maximise the Use of Your Mortar and Pestle Set
- Happy Grinding!
Best Mortar and Pestle Sets Review Guide
In my many kitchen years, I have come across countless sets of mortar and pestle. Some were good, some were terrible, but there have been some that truly stand out and deserve the limelight and a standing ovation for adding so much great flavor to my meals!
That’s why I’ve compiled a full list of the 10 very best mortar and pestle products you can get your hands on. Check out this table with the basic info on mortar and pestle sets and, if a product catches your eye, scroll down to find everything I liked (and, perhaps, did not like) about it.
Comparison of 10 Best Mortar and Pestle in 2020
These are the specifics of each of the mortar and pestle I have reviewed. Pay close attention!
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
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Cole Mason |
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RSVP International |
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eBoTrade Direct |
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Check Price ➜ |
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StainlessLUX |
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Check Price ➜ |
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ChefSofi |
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Check Price ➜ |
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Jamie Oliver |
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Check Price ➜ |
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HIC Harold Import Co. |
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Check Price ➜ |
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Fox Run |
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Check Price ➜ |
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Ironwood Gourmet |
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Check Price ➜ |
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Cooler Kitchen |
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Check Price ➜ |
Top 10 Best Mortar and Pestle reviews in 2020
Got it? Good! Now, on to everything I liked and did not like when trying out these top-end, best mortar and pestle products.
1. Cole & Mason Granite Mortar and Pestle
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Cole and Mason has created a pretty durable, stylish set that is one of the main competitors for the best granite mortar and pestle product. It’s black and spotted, rigged on the outside, and with a bowl 7 inches wide.
- It has the perfect balance between durability and (non-)permeability (as long as you seal it correctly) which allows you to grind different ingredients without much residue.
- Clean-up is pretty easy, because the inside of the bowl is polished.
- Being pretty heavy in the hand, it’s very satisfying to hold.
- Can hold up to 4 cups of water: impressive!
- It might be a bit on the large and heavy side for some users.
2. RSVP White Marble Mortar and Pestle
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This small set of marble mortar and pestle is great for many functions and tasks around the kitchen. I’ve used it to crush pills and spices without any issue— just make sure to clean it with a damp cloth in between uses.
- The pattern in the natural marble varies from set to set, which gives you a pretty, unique design of your own.
- Manageable size, easy to use.
- The interior is unpolished, which makes it easier for the material to ‘grab’ the ingredients and grind them well.
- The interior is unpolished, which can also be a bad thing, as it makes the bowl harder to clean up.
3. eBoTrade Dirct Stainless Steel Mortar and Pestle
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A contender for the mortar and pestle best material is stainless steel, which makes this eBo product one of your best accessible options. As it has a proportionately deep bowl, this set is good the best mortar and pestle for grinding spices and other small ingredients.
- Because it’s steel, it’s quite light when compared to other sets, which makes for easier (if somewhat less pleasing) handling.
- Lasts for a really long time, as long as you take care of it properly. Steel products have been known to stay usable for decades!
- Non-porous, which means no residue from previous grindings.
- The aesthetics are lacking: it simply doesn’t measure up to the pretty stone bowls out there.
4. StainlessLUX 75552 Brushed Mortar and Pestle Set
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If you’re looking for something small and of good quality, you can’t go wrong with this StainlessLUX grinder. Its stainless steel construction is carefully designed, making it durable and good at what it does.
- I love that it has a base that stops it from sliding around (like so many other sets tend to do!).
- The quality of the materials and the brushing process do show in the finished product.
- At least half of the pestle is completely solid.
- The bowl is too small for big batches— say goodbye to your guac by the ton dreams.
5. ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set
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Back to the black, solid granite! If a book witch owned a best mortar and pestle, it would be this one. It looks fanciful and as a lovely shape that’s both tough and attractive as decor. Its 5.5 inches are completely solid.
- Tough as nails, it can crush the hardest ingredients without showing wear.
- My new favorite decoration piece.
- The weight and fit of the pestle are perfect: grinding has never felt better.
- You’ve got to invest a little time in sealing it before you start using it.
6. JAMIE OLIVER Mortar and Pestle
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When a famous cook makes a specialised mortar and pestle, you obviously try it out. And this Jamie Oliver set doesn’t disappoint: it showcases amazing quality and an attention to detail in the design that are hard to equal. Maybe the best mortar and pestle for guacamole. There, I’ve said it.
- The top-notch, unpolished granite gives this product a rough, sensuous feel.
- Holds two cups: not too big, but enough for most of my needs.
- The texture makes for easy, fast grinding.
- I dropped it on my foot. Very heavy, not recommended. Though it’s actually not the product’s fault that I’m clumsy!
7. HIC Mortar and Pestle Herb Grinder Pill Crusher Set
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Simplicity and ease of use are the main attractions this HIC mortar and pestle set offers. Very small and light, it won’t do for big amounts of preparation and is less durable than other materials: it just depends on what you need it for.
- Extremely manageable, thanks to its reduced size and weight.
- There’s no seasoning to be done, as the porcelain is glazed.
- As porcelain doesn’t retain residue, it’s god for grinding pills and remedies.
- Very easy to clean— just stick it in the dishwasher!
- Not durable enough— I need to know my set can take a pounding.
- Very small.
8. Fox Run 3822 Marble Mortar and Pestle
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Green, tough, and lovely. This Fox Run mortar and pestle set might be the best type of mortar and pestle. It’s moderate in size— just 3 inches in diameter— and not as heavy as to prevent natural handling.
- Its depth-to-width ratio makes it perfect for crushing and grinding small ingredients without sliding around and spilling out.
- My new favorite color!
- You can feel the good quality of the material as you hold it.
- If you’re not careful with the sealing, you might get marble powder or chips in your meal. Yuck!
9. Ironwood Gourmet 28341 Olmec Mortar and Pestle
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When you think ‘ceremonial mortar and pestle’, this Ironwood set pops to mind. Designed in Acacia wood and inspired by ancient, pre-columbian Olmec models, this grinder looks polished and decorative, besides being useful.
- The perfect balance between decor and practicality, this acacia wood design is comfortable to use.
- Clean-up isn’t complicated. Just handwashing it will do.
- If you use it the right way (aka always for the same preparation), it will store and enhance the flavor the more you use it.
- I’m not the greatest fan of wood in a mortar and pestle set, as it tends to absorb and store residue in its pores. Get this product if you’re only ever going to use it for just one ingredient.
10. EZ-Grip Silicone & Porcelain Mortar and Pestle
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This product is a good option for most people, while remaining in the realm of porcelain. The proportions and ergonomic design of this set makes it easy to use, which is especially important for people suffering from arthritis or other diseases that limit hand mobility.
- It has a detachable anti-slip mortar base and pestle handle, both made of silicone.
- Dishwasher safe
- Well-designed size and proportions make for a pleasant grinding experience.
- While thick for porcelain, this product’s durability is still nowhere near stone or steel.
Materials: What’s the Big Deal?
Mortar and pestle sets are found in cultures throughout the world. However, they sometimes have different names (like molcajete) and they’re made of diverse materials. The main requirement is for the material to be durable, able to grind the substance, and not easy to crack!
So, which are the best materials for your mortar and pestle product? It depends on what you’re planning to use it for, and just how much you are going to use it:
- Granite: Incredibly solid and sturdy, granite makes for a hefty, durable product. This is perfect for Asian (especially Thai!) food, and its coarse surface grinds all sorts of materials. However, granite is porous, so it absorbs the substances you put in and can be hard to get completely clean.
- Marble: The surface of marble is incredibly smooth, which makes it tops for crushing spices but less so for those ingredients that move around a lot. While pretty durable, it is even more porous than granite.
- Porcelain: This material is easier to clean than stone, but also more fragile— that means no pounding or rough handling. This set is lighter (easier to use) and less porous than stone.
- Stainless steel: This material is the most durable of all (you will not get stone chips in your guacamole) and easier to clean than stone— though less so than porcelain. The negatives— you will not get the powdery finish of traditional best mortar and pestle, because the surface of the bowl is too slick.
- Wood: This mortar and pestle is light and also traditional. Grinds ingredients quite easily, but is the most porous of all: you only want this set if you are going to use it always for the same ingredients (in which case it contribute a stronger taste over time).
How to Maximise the Use of Your Mortar and Pestle Set
With traditional mortars (rock or wood), you have to prep before use. This means seasoning the bowl— ‘sealing’ the surface so you won’t get bits and pieces of the material in the ingredients you grind.
There are lots of techniques to do it, but one of the usual ones (for rock sets) is to just rinse it until you don’t see as much debris coming off. Then, grind uncooked white rice with a bit of water until it is a spread-out grey paste (yes, yuck!). Rinse and repeat until you get white paste. Yay.
Happy Grinding!
So, now you have everything you need to choose the very best mortar and pestle product for yourself. Materials, uses, how easy it is to clean— it all comes down with just how comfortable you feel with it, so trying can’t hurt. So, give it your best shot, relax, and enjoy your home-ground meals with those you love— no pressure!
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