Mortar and pestle is the olden tool that has been in use for countless years. They perform numerous purposes like cracking spices and peppercorns as well as grinding aromatic roots, crushing gentle herbs for pesto and pastes, and even for crushing medications for pets and humans. This tool is an essential utensil that adds a touch of remarkable elegance to any kitchen since it is easy to use, simple to clean, and helpful plus well suited for use.
Before purchasing, familiarize yourself with what you intend to use the device for and select a set based on your wants and liking. For example, if you want to make pastes and tapenades for a banquet party of ten, find a tool with a larger capacity and more bottomless well to sufficiently seize the ingredients and provide room to unite them together. On the other hand, if it is for home use like for crushing up spices occasionally, then a smaller one will work for you.
Moreover, you should opt for a crusher with; a deeply rounded well, enough bottom strength and weight, a slight pebble or matte finish, and a wide gently curved base broader than the tip for you to enjoy your cooking kitchen activities.
Choosing the most excellent device can be very hectic because of the many models inexistent nowadays. Happily, this article ensures you don’t go through the bother. Here, we have offered information in detail about all the factors you need to know before buying a specific model and the most excellent products available for you. Make sure you read through it to discover the diverse elements and the benefits that this device can bring to your kitchen.

Top 6 Mortar And Pestle In 2021 (Best Picks)
In a hurry? Check the bestseller top Mortar and Pestle from Amazon. Just check the product link, the details, and the price.
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Tera Mortar and Pestle Set Natural Marble Grinder... | Buy on Amazon | |
2 |
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ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set - 6 Inch - 2 Cup... | 17,535 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
3 |
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LEETOYI Porcelain Mortar and Pestle, Ceramic Herb... | 2,083 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
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HIC Mortar and Pestle Spice Herb Grinder Pill... | 7,003 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
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Kaizen Casa Stone Mortar and Pestle, for Grind... | 790 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
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Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty, Unpolished Granite Mortar... | 9,138 Reviews | Buy on Amazon |
How To Use Your Mortar And Pestle

Whenever you want to grind peppercorns, seeds, whole spices, aromatic roots, the seeds of herbs, fresh herbs, leaves, rice, legumes, nuts, sea salt, and non-culinary items as well, such as medications in your kitchen into powder or paste masher is the best tool to use.
Below are some tips for using your new kitchen device if you want to use your crusher for the first time.
First, read and understand the guide given by the manufacturer to know how to use the tool. Though many recipes will call for a paste or powder, the most significant time to prepare them is before they’re needed. Assemble the ingredients then measure and put in the mortar all the components that you want to crush. Nonetheless, ensure that you don’t fill up the cannon, or else it will be difficult to grind. However, you can add more ingredients as they smash down in batches.
With Pestle, grind the ingredients to attain your desired consistency, by holding the mortar steady around the base with one hand, and using the pestle in the other fist, twist the components against and around the bottom and sides of the mortar. Ensure that you go on until the elements have reached their desired texture that is fine and medium.
Furthermore, pound evenly by crushing all components using the pestle to mix and mash until all have been reduced to the same consistency. Finally, quantify out what you need for the recipe at that time and store up the rest in a cool, dry place in a well-labeled airtight container with a tight-fitting lid.
What To Look For When Picking Mortar And Pestle

Since a Masher is one of the essential pieces of equipment for your kitchen, you have to go for the best models. Nevertheless, buying from the best brands will not necessarily satisfy your quality needs. As a result, we advise that you have familiarized yourself with the factors that influence the workability of the tools. The following are the factors you should look into before purchasing the device.
- Material
The tool is made of various materials; however, the best material for the device should be strong and durable. It should not be rough to be porous or challenging to clean or smooth as to be slippery. Below are the various types used in making the tool?
· 2. Stone
The majority of stone models are very efficient, mainly those made of granite or marble. The granite mortars and pestles offer a sturdy base for grinding spices, seeds, and nuts, as well as a smooth surface for cleaning. The lack of texture means you can easily collect and use every speck of spice from the bowl without losing any crevices or cracks
When cleaning, you should avoid using soap because the semi-porous stone can take on a soapy flavor. However, you can rinse it thoroughly with warm water. Also, after cleaning, then season in the juice of half a lemon and rub it generously all over the let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse it again and let it dry.
3. Wood
Wood is a very fine-looking material for this type of utensil, though; it is too light to be efficient for any heavy-duty household tasks in the kitchen. When cleaning, you can rinse it thoroughly with warm water. Subsequently, apply lemon juice generously all over the crasher, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then clean it again and let it dry.
4. Ceramic
Ceramic is not as much as porous as wood. Since it is more fragile than stone, it’s suggested to use it for primary grinding of pills or softer spices. This device should be washed using lemon and warm water
5. Porcelain
Porcelain is well-known for its smooth finish and is a perfect option to grind wet or oily constituents because once it turns into fine particles, it is not easy to extract from the mortar. It is dishwasher safe.
6. Metal
Stainless steel has a slick and slippery surface; thus can make the ingredients slip. They can be used for the faster crushing of coriander seeds, whole cardamom pods, and similar spices that don’t need to be smashed into a fine powder. Also, they are durable and dishwasher safe.
7. Shape
The finest mortars have a deeply rounded shape with a firm base to prevent the ingredients from spilling out when crushing. However, when it comes to pestles, several are too narrow and rounded, making the elements jump out; thus broader and more gently rounded base works far much better.
8. Size
When it comes to size, you should think of big rather than small. For example
If you want to buy just a single tool, a large mortar can pound small quantities just as well as bulky. But a small mortar is very limited to use and can only be used for small amounts.
9. Price
A device is reasonably cheap to buy in the market compared to some other sophisticated kitchen gadgets. Though the capacity may affect the price of this product, the material used in making them seems to be the essential feature that establishes the price, for example, a marble one will generally cost more than a steel one.
Reviews Of The Best Mortar And Pestle
Based on many factors that you have to reflect on before purchasing a device, you might find it challenging to choose the best. Accordingly, we have seen it necessary to feature in detail the top-reviewed models to simplify your course of picking the most excellent device.
Here are some top reviews for the leading grinders that exist in the market nowadays;
1. Chef Sofi Mortar and Pestle: Best for Herbs
Chef Sofi Masher is a kitchen must-have tool that has been used for many to crush, grind, and powder herbs and dry spices. It is a versatile tool; as a result, you can use it to pound nuts, seeds, ginger root, and garlic and make home-produced salad dressing, sauces, and condiments, such as fresh mustard, guacamole, pesto, salsa, chutneys, and more.
Furthermore, using this device is very easy as well as convenient; thus, you need not much effort to use it. The sides of this device are tall and narrow, enabling the components to easily slide back to the center of the mortar, whereas the pestle is well-sized and intense enough to make any type of grinding smooth and easy. Besides, this tool is made from coarse granite, which is substantially durable and heavy. Therefore this mortar will be remaining still and not slip on your kitchen counters throughout the grinding process. Therefore, while it’s a moderately looking tool, we think it’s the best in overall quality and value for money.
Pros
- Comes with anti-slip, anti-scratch pad
- Highly versatile
- The capacity of up to 2 cups
- Foolproof grip pestle
- Grooved interior for metallic-like nature frictions
- Ideal for grinding herbal medicine
Cons:
- Expensive (but the quality justifies the price)
- Some people might find the product a bit too heavy.
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 6 x 6 x 6 inches |
Weight | 7.04 pounds |
Pestle Length | 6 inches |
Capacity | 2 Cups |
Material | Granite |
2. Sagler mortar and pestle:Best mortar and pestlefor curry paste
Sagler Tool Set is the ideal device to crush items into a fine paste or powder. It is prepared using beautiful marble and can hold up to 3 ounces. This device is used to pound and break down items rapidly to speed up food preparation with a minimum effort. It can quickly crush fresh ingredients, like garlic, herbs and spices, peppercorns or cinnamon, nuts, grains, and seeds, into a fine paste or powder.
Besides, it is simple to use, and you just need to place an item into the Mortar bowl, hold the pestle by the handle and using firm pressure, make a circular stirring-like motion to grind your item into a paste or powder.
Pros
- For crushing foods and pills
- Easy to clean
- Nice-looking Marble
- Can be hand washing
- Is robust, and holds a Lot
Cons
- There is plenty of room to grind multiple pills atonce
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 4.1 x 4 x 3.6 inches |
Weight | 1.35 Pounds |
Pestle Length | 4. 2 inches |
Capacity | 3 ounce |
Material | Marble |
3. TeraStainless Steel Mortar and Pestle: Best Stainless Steel
Fair enough, this is one of the best stainless steel tools available on the market. This set is flexible for any use like grinding medical pills, herbs, and spices. It is very versatile; it can fit right into your kitchen or your pharmacy. Also, it comes with a silicone-padded base, which ensures the device stays steady in place despite your rough handling.
Furthermore, this device is made of food-grade 18/8 stainless steel, which is durable, stable, rustproof, and challenging to damage and corrosion by acidic food. It comes with a translucent lid that permits you to estimate your thumping while keeping flying debris from making a mess in your kitchen.
Pros
- Easy to use and food-safe
- Durable and stable when it is used
- No lead and BPA-free
- Can avoid unnecessary messes
- Highly versatile
- Can stay firmly in place while being in use
Cons
· Users may find the pestle head too small.
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 3.94 x 3.31 x 3.54 inches |
Weight | 1.8 pounds |
Pestle Length | 18/8 inches |
Capacity | 1 cup |
Material | Stainless steel |
4. Cooler KitchenEZ-Grip Silicone & Porcelain Mortar and Pestle:Best mortar and pestle for kitchen
This sleek and smart-looking white tool features a modern twist of the traditional marshier.It is the best option because it can be used for crushing the fibers of herbs, grinding grains, spices, nuts, seeds, teas, bread, and even crushing pills into powdered medication. This device also comes with a ceramic surface that is long-lasting and does not absorb any odors or transfer flavors, making it very easy to keep it clean. Their unfurnished grinding surface enables you to avoid flaking; hence your spices or herbs will not be spoiled by the ceramic material.
Moreover, the mortar has a new resistant bottom to prevent any breakage, thus long-lasting. Also, the pestle is food-grade, and the mortar comes with a non-slip separable silicone base to keep it steady on the countertop while you crush and combine your spices.
Pros
- Versatile: Can be used for crushing and grinding all sorts of ingredients
- Ideal for crushing pills into powdered medication
- Strong and sturdy
- Food-grade EZ-Grip black accent on the bowl and EZ-grip pestle
- Ideal for arthritis suffers or for those with wrist injuries
- Non-slip detachable silicone base
- Dishwasher safe
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for a lot of ingredients
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 5.1 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches |
Weight | 2.51 Pounds |
Pestle Length | 5.5 inches |
Material | Porcelain |
5. IMUSA MEXI 2011M Granite Mortar and Pestle: Best Mortar and Pestle for avocado
The IMUSA USA granite tool is made of heavy-duty material,thus need the least effort to pound the hardest of components. This device will assist you in carrying out all sorts of household tasks, from mashing soft ingredients to crushing hard peppercorn.
Besides, these sets of tools are very affordable, easy to use, hand-wash, maintain, and re-use as often as you want. Additionally, this device comes in a beautiful color pattern that will match the decoration of your kitchen counter as well as your table whenever you choose to serve food on the bowl.
Pros
- Great for crushing a large number of ingredients
- Great for crushing fibrous ingredients
- Is very affordable
- Comes with an intense slope
- Doesn’t let ingredients easily spill
Cons
- Can have a porous surface
- May need to be seasoned before use
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 8.9 x 8.9 x 4.6 inches |
Weight | 10.83 Pounds |
Pestle Length | 8 Inches |
Material | Granite |
6. RSVP White Marble Mortar and Pestle: BestMortar and pestle for herbs and spices
Rsvp white marble is made of dense white marble with grey veins, which enhances its splendor and functionality. It comes with a slightly rough surface in the bowl and mallet and breaks up herbs, spices, roots, and other components with no difficulty.
Moreover, the tool is equally skilled at crushing pills for pets and humans too. Also, it comes with a felt pad on the bottom to guard countertops. At first, you should hand wash it before using it.
Pros
- It is hefty and sturdy and is easy to grind
- Good value for the price
- Handsome appearance
Cons
- Small in size
- Presence of dust from the manufacturing process when it arrives
Below is a summary of the specifications of this model
Features | |
Dimension | 5 x 5 x 5 inches |
Weight | 1 pound |
Pestle Length | 4-inch |
Material | Stainless steel |
FAQs
Q.Why do you need a mortar and pestle?
When selecting the model of tool to purchase, you need to know what you will be using it for. This device can help you do a lot of activities in the kitchen, thus making your cooking enjoyable. The masher will help you to;
- Smash fresh peeled ginger to use in Asian recipes.
- Crush whole dry chilies into flakes.
- Crush some flax seeds to release their benefits
- Crush lavender to use in baking
- Crush herbs and seeds to make herbal teas.
- Make fresh, homemade nut and jars of butter.
- Turn fresh garlic cloves into a paste.
- Crush some fresh basil, garlic and pine nuts together in the larger sized units.
- Grind your peppercorns and spices, including cinnamon sticks, coriander, and cloves.
- Take out cardamom seeds from their pods and then crush to use in cooking.
- Crushing sea salt to the fine texture of salt for your popcorns.
- Crush capers to use in homemade tartar sauce recipes
Q.What material should the mortar and pestle be made of?
The Stone, rock brass, iron, wood materials have both pros and cons. Wood is not dense as compared to stone and rock, but it can absorb tastes and aromas of food crushed with it. The channel between wood grains may entrap small pieces of food that can rot and cause serious health problems. Also, inadequate aeration after washing wooden Masher can lead to the growth of molds.
Marble is the best material that the mashed should be made of since it is hard but not brittle, takes years and years to corrode, smooth, and without crevices where food can get trapped. Also, it can be washed thoroughly after every use.
Q.What can be used instead of a mortar and pestle?
You can alternatively use a rolling pin since it can work in place of a Masher for ingredients such as onions, garlic, or fresh herbs and spices. Also, you can use a bowl and a small hammer because mortar is formed like a bowl, thus can make it a potential substitute. Besides, you can opt to use a blender or spice grinder.
Q.Does a marble mortar and pestle need to be seasoned?
Yes.A new Masher set requires seasoning to get rid of stone grit from the inside since the interior surface should be left coarse and unrefined.
Q.My wood mortar and pestle have a bit of a strange smell. Is that normal?
No, sadly, it is typically a sign of mold or mildew. Complementary from other materials, wood is exceptionally porous; hence when exposed to liquid or moisture, it tends to absorb it. Immediately you notice the smell, replace the tool because it is further than cleaning at that point.
Final Word
Selecting the most beautiful device on the market may not be an easy undertaking. However, having the correct information is one way of easing this process. You should make sure that you pick a material that will sustain the diverse kinds of items that you need to grind.
Though your personal preferences and budgetary restrictions may have an undeviating impact on the final decision, you have to choose the pestle and mortars that have positive features like having a large capacity, durability to increase flexibility when using.
We have researched the various products on the market and presented the best of them to you. Undoubtedly, we believe these products have the qualities that you would desire to get in a masher unit.
Last update on 2023-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API