5 Best Mortar and Pestles (2023 Guide)

Mortar and pestle sets help home cooks grind foods into powders, unlocking their full aromas and serving as a base for delicious pastes and sauces. So whether you’re making American, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Thai, or any other cuisine, a mortar and pestle is a valuable piece of cookware.

Our team examined the best mortar and pestle sets available. Here are our top picks. 

Top 5 Mortar and Pestles

• Best Mortar and Pestle Overall: ChefSofi Granite Mortar and Pestle Set
• Best Large Mortar and Pestle: Vasconia Mortar and Pestle
• Best Small Mortar and Pestle: Cole & Mason Mortar and Pestle
• Best Marble Mortar and Pestle: Greenco Mortar and Pestle Set
• Best Metal Mortar and Pestle: Bekith Mortar and Pestle Set

Best Mortar and Pestle Overall: ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a long pestle for reaching spices at the bottom of the mortar
✔ Features durable, stylish granite 
✔ Weighs 7 pounds, ensuring it won’t slip or slide around

✘ May be too heavy for some 
✘ Has sand particles that could affect food taste if not worked carefully 

Good for: This product would be a good choice if you want a larger mortar-and-pestle set that’s not oversized and has a stylish, durable design.

What Customers Are Saying

According to our buyer research, customers who left positive reviews for this mortar and pestle liked that it had a heavy design that didn’t slide around and that it was easy to use and clean. However, we found that some felt it was too large and bulky to fit their needs, and others were disappointed it needed to be seasoned to work properly. 

Best Large Mortar and Pestle: Vasconia Mortar and Pestle

Pros and Cons

✔ Can also double a serving dish to hold guacamole or sauce 
✔ Has a sizeable 4-cup capacity
✔ Weighs 7 pounds to stay in place

✘ Could be too heavy for amateur chefs or small recipes
✘ Will take up a lot of counter space

Good for: This mortar and pestle is good for experienced cooks or those who plan on grinding large quantities of ingredients and expect to use it regularly. 

What Customers Are Saying

Several customer reviews that we encountered indicated that this product was easy to season, could handle ingredients of all shapes and sizes, and had a thick, heavy-duty design. On the other hand, we learned that some others found it too shallow, while others complained that it chipped easily. 

Best Small Mortar and Pestle: Cole & Mason Mortar and Pestle

Pros and Cons

✔ Has an affordable price tag
✔ Has a rough interior that grinds quickly
✔ Features a stylish design that looks great on countertops

✘ Has a small mortar and limited capacity
✘ Not suitable for intense grinding

Good for: This set works best for those who plan on grinding ingredients sparingly but still want a beautiful, useful tool in their kitchen that’s ready to use when needed. 

What Customers Are Saying

Per our team’s research, Customers who were happy with this mortar and pestle liked that it was made with attractive and sturdy material. Others noted that it was heavy for its size and that it crushed ingredients quickly. However, we learned that some customers found this product too small, and some found its cleanup challenging. 

Best Marble Mortar and Pestle: Greenco Mortar and Pestle Set

Pros and Cons

✔ Pestle has a textured surface to create enough friction for breaking down ingredients
✔ Takes up minimal space
✔ Is made from stylish marble

✘ Must be hand-washed
✘ May be subject to chipping with heavy use

Good for: This mortar and pestle set is good for those looking for a medium-size capacity with an attractive design. It’s also ideal for customers who don’t want to take up too much space on a countertop or in a cabinet. 

What Customers Are Saying

Overall, we found that customers liked that this product was heavy enough not to slide around but still easy to move. They also gave several compliments to its marble design. However, we came across a few reviews where customers said this set was hard to clean, especially since it must be hand-washed. In addition, others claimed the inside was overly rough, making it unusable for delicate foods. 

Best Metal Mortar and Pestle: Bekith Mortar and Pestle Set

Pros and Cons

✔ Is mercury-free and made of food-grade 304 stainless steel
✔ Included lid can help keep ingredients from flying out while grinding
✔ Has a durable, steel design

✘ Is lightweight, which may mean it doesn’t stay in place as you crush and grind
✘ Pestle is short 

Good for: This set is good if you prefer a low-maintenance stainless steel mortar and pestle and are looking for a small set. 

What Customers Are Saying

According to our research, those who left positive reviews of this product liked its functional design, handy for grinding pills. Others liked that it had easy cleaning. However, other customers found this mortar and pestle difficult to grip and slid easily. Others disliked the smooth interior, saying that a textured surface would have improved grinding. 

Mortar and Pestle Buying Guide

Various mortar and pestle sets are available, and the best one for you will depend on what you plan to mash or grind with it. Here are some of the most important factors to consider as you choose a set:

Mortar Size

Smaller mortars are good for herbs and spices. However, if you plan on making guacamole, pesto, hummus, or salsa for large gatherings, you will need a larger mortar that can hold two or more cups of ingredients. 

Pestle Length

A longer pestle gives you more grip as you apply pressure to the ingredients in the mortar. It also easily reaches the ingredients at the bottom of the bowl. If you have large hands or a deep mortar, make sure the pestle is at least 6 inches long.

Material

Traditional mortars and pestles are made from stone, such as granite or marble. These durable materials often feature a textured finish to create more friction as you grind. Some modern mortars and pestles are made from metal, glass, or ceramic instead. While attractive-looking, they have a smooth surface that’s not as effective for grinding. 

Mortar Stability

Your mortar should stay firmly planted on your kitchen counter as you grind or mash ingredients. There are a few features you can look out for that ensure this, including a heavy bowl and a non-slip base.

The Best Foods To Make With a Mortar and Pestle

Mortars and pestles can pulverize whole spices and act as a spice grinder for various recipes. However, if you’re new to the mortar and pestle game, you may not be entirely sure what they’re capable of. Here are some common dishes you can make with a mortar and pestle. 

Pesto

Making pesto with a mortar and pestle will give the garlic and basil leaves a richer taste than finely chopping them and putting them together in a food processor. Pesto made from a mortar and pestle should be smashed together to release additional scents and juices. 

Guacamole

If you don’t have a molcajete, you can still make delicious guac in a mortar. Guacamole can be made in a mortar by grinding avocado, red onion, tomato, chilies, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. 

Hummus

Hummus made with a mortar and pestle will give it a thicker, fuller consistency than when it’s made by other methods such as a food processor. Mash together chickpeas with your ingredients of choice to create a delicious dip. 

Curry

No matter what type of curry paste you make, it will taste fresher and fuller when made in a mortar. However, curries typically have many ingredients, so you may want to grind them down individually or put them in a large mortar to ensure they don’t fall out. 

Dressing

Salad dressing made in a mortar will crush down ingredients to easily combine with the necessary liquid. Caesar dressing is a great option to make with a mortar and pestle, as you can grind the garlic and anchovies together first before adding egg yolk and oil. 

Chimichurri

Like pesto, chimichurri sauce benefits from being ground in a mortar as it fills out the flavor profile more than the ingredients being processed together. Chimichurri in a mortar gets crushed instead of chopped, which creates a better-blended dish.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mortar and Pestles

Do you need to season a mortar and pestle?

You should season a stone mortar and pestle set before your first use to prevent grit from breaking off from the stone and getting into your food. To do this, grind some raw white rice until it becomes a fine powder. After that, you can rinse the mortar and pestle with water, let them air dry, and use them to grind spices. 

How do you clean a mortar and pestle?

The best way to clean a traditional stone mortar and pestle set is with warm water. Don’t use soap; it can break down the stone’s surface. However, if you have a glass or metal mortar and pestle set, you may be able to clean it with soap or in the dishwasher. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure.

How long have mortars and pestles been around?

A mortar and pestle set is one of the oldest cooking tools that’s still in use today. While no one can be exactly sure when mortars and pestles were invented, evidence of their existence dates back to at least ancient Egypt and Greece. 

Are mortar and pestles good for grinding small items?

A mortar and pestle set is a valuable kitchen item for grinding foods of all sizes. Still, they work particularly well at grinding smaller food items and spices to create small batches of pastes, sauces, or curries you can add to complete a dish you’ve cooked. 

Is it better to use a mortar and pestle?

There are multiple ways to grind spices, but using a mortar and pestle creates a flavorful food dish with full aromas that can elevate your cooking. A mortar and pestle also works quickly and is simple for anyone to use. 

How We Selected the Best Mortar and Pestles

To provide our readers with the best mortar and pestle recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of mortar and pestle sets with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers. 

Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is critical to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

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Our Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

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