Most times, blenders and electric grinders cannot give you the results the traditional mortar and pestle will offer you. When there is a need to grind your ingredients into a paste for your favorite meal without losing the unique flavor or denaturing the nutrients, mortars and pestles are always the best to use.
We do want you to end up buying an inferior quality mortar and pestle that begins to chip and crack after a few uses. We have done the research and compiled the best options available. Below are our five (5) best mortar and pestle reviews.
Table of Contents
Best Mortar and Pestle
Image | Best Mortar and Pestle | Rating |
---|---|---|
![]() | 1. ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle | 99% |
![]() | 2. RSVP International Authentic Mexican Mortar and Pestle | 96% |
![]() | 3. M.V. Trading Stone Granite Mortar and Pestle | 92% |
![]() | 4. Chef'n Mortar and Pestle | 89% |
![]() | 5. IMUSA USA Granite Molcajete Spice Grinder | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our Best Mortar and Pestle reviews.
1. ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle
To efficiently grind and crush spices and herbs the traditional way, you need the ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle. Grinding with this set brings out the complete aroma profile and flavor of your cooking ingredients. We like it because it gives you autonomous control over the texture of the resulting paste. Luckily, unlike electric blenders and grinders, no heat is generated. You will be getting all the nutrients available in the ingredients you are grinding. Regular refilling won’t be needed when you use this 500ml mortar. You can easily grind all the ingredients in one go, thereby saving a lot of time.
The interior of the mortar and the surface of the pestle are made from unpolished granite. Not only does this give you ultimate convenience, but it also ensures that the ingredients you grind are completely crushed. Fortunately, they can also be used to grind your medicine pills. ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle create metate-like friction that brings about quick ingredient grinding and powdering.
Handling the pestle is not difficult. It offers a fool-proof grip and doesn’t require excess hand motions that could cause your ingredients to splatter out of the mortar and mess up your countertop. Remarkably, the mortar is heavy and would not slip off your countertop.
Why do we like it?
- Highly multifunctional
- Does not absorb flavors and odors
- Very easy to clean
2. RSVP International Authentic Mexican Mortar and Pestle
Prepare your fresh and tasty guacamole with the RSVP International Authentic Mexican Molcajete. Hardly does any other mortar give you the perfect inner grinding surface that this exceptional mortar offers. You will love the result you get when you use this molcajete to grind up your curry paste, chimichurri, or pesto. Carved out of natural volcanic stone, crushing ingredients to paste and pulverizing pills to powdery form is easy due to its unpolished surface. With its sturdy construction, you won’t spend so much energy trying to make it stable while you grind ingredients.
The RSVP International Mexican molcajete or mortar measures 8.5-inch in diameter and stands 5-inches tall. You can grind a lot more ingredients at a time with this size. Although, we recommend that you grind in batches for smoother results. Remarkably, the tejolote or pestle measures 4.5-inches in length and has a 2.5-inches diameter grinding end. Hand fatigue is minimized when you use this pestle, so you can thereby grind for longer.
It is very important to season this mortar and pestle before use. An informative booklet is included to this effect. When it comes to satisfaction, you will get it to the fullest while using this functional mortar and pestle.
Why do we like it?
- Easy to scrub clean
- Looks great on your countertop
- Serves as a nice gift
3. M.V. Trading Stone Granite Mortar and Pestle
Are you in search of a visually appealing mortar and pestle that will look great on your countertop? We recommend the Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle. This mortar is made out of carved granite. Carved in the sense that it is cut from one solid piece of granite rock and skillfully hand-carved into shape. No doubt, this excellent traditional mortar, and pestle is heavy and approximately weighs 15 pounds. Grinding your spices, nuts, and herbs is enjoyable with this mortar and pestle. The shape of the mortar prevents ingredients from flying out of the pestle as you grind.
We like that this mortar and pestle will not crack or chip no matter the amount of force you use to pound. Although, we do not recommend that you wilfully pound it hard every time you use it. The durability of the Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle is undeniable. Even celebrity chefs endorse it. We recommend that you cure the pestle and mortar before first use.
With an inner bowl measuring 5.5-inches in diameter, it will conveniently contain and enable you to grind a fair amount of ingredients at a go. The total diameter of the mortar is 8.0-inches and stands at a height of 5-inches. The pestle measures 7.5-inches in length.
Why do we like it?
- Indestructible
- Made with the finest materials
- Highly versatile
4. Chef’n Mortar and Pestle
Some flavors are impossible to achieve if the spices and herbs are not manually ground in a mortar with a pestle. Making the most delicious sauce is easily achieved when the ingredients are ground in the Chef’n Mortar with its pestle. Made of high-quality granite, this mortar and pestle will stay in perfect condition and provide you excellent service for a very long time. Luckily, this is one of the very few mortars that allows grinding from any angle. This is because it can be easily moved on its base to any side and positioned at any angle. The one-of-a-kind flexibility it offers is the reason we like it.
Uniquely, this mortar comes with a silicone base that makes grinding enjoyable and reduces the sound generated when pounding ingredients. More so, there will be no need to frequently adjust its position as this silicone base features non-slip properties. At last, your countertop is safe from scratches.
Capacity-wise, this mortar is approximately 1 – 1.25 cups. We recommend that you season it well before first use and avoid dropping it from heights. If you’ll be grinding large quantities of ingredients, doing it in batches will give you the best results. Cleaning this mortar and its pestle is remarkably easy.
Why do we like it?
- Very stylish
- Sturdy
- Dishwasher safe
5. IMUSA USA Granite Molcajete Spice Grinder
The IMUSA USA Granite Molcajete would not absorb the flavor of the ingredients you grind in it. This is due to the non-porous property of the superior quality granite it is made of. When you crush and grind ingredients with this mortar and pestle, the unpolished surface allows easy extraction of the essential oils and nutrients. Featuring a 6-inch diameter opening, grinding a large volume of ingredients is a breeze. With the uniquely shaped pestle, you can crush spices and herbs twice as fast. While measuring 3.9 x 6.7 x 6.7-inches and weighing approximately 5.3 pounds, you can effortlessly move it from kitchen to dinner table.
This mortar and pestle is highly multifunctional. It can be used to prepare dips, guacamole, salsa, and dried or fresh spices. It can also be effectively used to crush medicine pills, nuts, and herbs. Unfortunately, IMUSA USA is not dishwasher safe but can be washed with a mild detergent. Its total capacity is equivalent to 4.8 fl-oz.
Going through an elaborate seasoning procedure is recommended to get the grit and stones off before using it to prepare your first meal. It is also important to put a potholder underneath it to prevent damages to your countertop.
Why do we like it?
- It can be used as a serving bowl
- Bumpy inner surface for efficient grinding
- Very durable
Mortar and Pestle Buyer’s Guide
Having a functional mortar and pestle in your kitchen is essential. Our buyer’s guide includes some things to consider in a bid to buy the best mortar and pestle available on the market.
Interior smoothness
Mortars with an unpolished and abrasive interior are the best for grinding your ingredients to paste. When a mortar has a smooth inner surface, it becomes extremely difficult to use it efficiently because it won’t shred the ingredients into smaller bits.
Material
The most common materials mortars and pestles are made from include granite, ceramic, marble, and wood. Marble and granite mortars and pestles are the most durable. Ceramic mortars might not be able to withstand series of pounding without cracking or shattering. While wood mortars also tend to do a good job, mortars carved out of stone are always the best to use.
Size and shape
Preparing guacamole or pesto for a large family or many guests would require a large-sized mortar and pestle. Grinding of spices and herbs can be easily done with a smaller-sized mortar. However, what you intend to grind or crush regularly should determine the size of mortar and pestle you purchase. Cylindrical-shaped mortars would not allow the pestle to do a good job of grinding every bit of ingredients present in the mortar. On the other hand, the best mortars and pestles have round bowls for efficient grinding.
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