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The Best Mortar And Pestle

Last updated on September 14, 2021

We looked at the top 11 Mortar And Pestles and dug through the reviews from 89 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Mortar And Pestles.

Best Mortar And Pestle

Our Review Process

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If you like making herbaceous or garlic-infused sauces from scratch or enjoy the feeling of working with your hands in the kitchen, then a mortar and pestle is a must-have tool for you. A pestle is a small club-like gadget used to pound ingredients inside the mortar, which is a small bowl. Together, they are a useful duo that helps home cooks and chefs create delicious recipes.

In the kitchen, a mortar and pestle is used to mix wet or oily ingredients to make recipes such as guacamole, hummus and pesto. A mortar and pestle is also used for grinding spices down to a fine powder. However, the kitchen isn’t the only place where a mortar and pestle come in handy. They also have a special place in medicine. Traditionally, mortars and pestles were used in pharmacies to crush various medicines together to create a prescription.

Mortar and pestles can be made from several different ingredients, each lending specific benefits to the user. Ceramic ones are often found throughout Italy and Spain. They are used for grinding up ingredients and making liquid sauces. Marble mortar and pestles are great for grinding dry spices, but the inside is too slippery for crushing up herbs effectively. Granite mortar and pestles are most popular in Thailand and India. The irregular texture of the bowl makes it easier to grind ingredients. Wood ones are most popular in the Mediterranean. However, keep in mind that they absorb the flavors of the food pounded in them.

When on the hunt for a good mortar, be sure to find one that is hefty and durable. Feel the inside with your fingers. It’s important to have a little bit of roughness, but not so much that it is difficult to clean. Ones that are too smooth are very slippery and make it difficult to crush ingredients. Look for a tall, rounded shape to keep ingredients from falling out. Opt for pestles that are broad with a gently rounded base. This keeps ingredients from slipping out underneath it.

Our Picks For The Top Mortar And Pestles

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

ChefSofi Enhanced Performance Unpolished Heavy Granite Mortar & Pestle

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

ChefSofi

Enhanced Performance Mortar And Pestle Set

This mortar and pestle set provides just the right amount of friction for grinding through ingredients. We like that it remains stable while pounding and is easy to clean.

Overall Take

Durable and Heavy OptionThis mortar and pestle set is made from sturdy unpolished granite.

Pros
" Easy to clean with a simple rinse."
Cons
"The pestle is too short."
 Easy to Clean

Cooler Kitchen EZ-Grip Silicone & Porcelain Mortar & Pestle

Cooler Kitchen

EZ-Grip Porcelain Mortar & Pestle

This mortar and pestle set has an anti-slip design, so it doesn’t move around while grinding ingredients. It can be put in the dishwasher to clean.

Overall Take

Dishwasher-SafeThis mortar and pestle set is easy to clean and maintain.

Pros
" Silicone grip makes pestle easy to hold. Both parts can go in the dishwasher. Bottom bowl features a silicone ring so it stays put when in use."
Cons
"The bottom bursts open when used with harder items like ginger."
 Stylish Pick

Sagler Marble Grey Mortar & Pestle

Sagler

Marble Grey Mortar & Pestle

Crush your herbs and spices in this stylish mortar and pestle set. It's constructed from marble, and although you'll have to hand clean it, you'll find the set washes up with little effort. The set has a capacity of 3 ounces.

Overall Take

Gorgeous Marble SetThis attractive mortar and pestle set is made out of a white marble with elegant gray accents.

Pros
" The easy to clean and attractive design makes this set a must-have for any kitchen."
 Great for Guacamole

UMIEN Granite Molcajete Natural Stone Avocado Mortar & Pestle

UMIEN

Granite Molcajete Mortar & Pestle

Construction from a natural granite, this mortar and pestle are a must-have item for your kitchen. You'll be able to grind spices to use in your salsa, as well as crush pills to make them easier to swallow. As an added bonus, this set comes with a handy avocado tool.

Overall Take

Avocado Tool IncludedIn addition to using this mortar and pestle set to grind up your herbs, it also works well to crush pills for easier consumption.

Pros
" The unit has been equipped with three stable feet, which makes it stable and sturdy on all surfaces. The good news is that the pestle is highly durable since it has been made from granite material."
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18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the mortar and pestles available to purchase.
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Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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89

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Kitchen Gadget Reviews, The Breslin, wd-50, Alterestimate, BestReviews.

19,028

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Mortar And Pestles and also dug through the reviews from 89 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Mortar And Pestles.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Sagler Marble Grey Mortar & Pestle

Our Expert Score

0.0
1 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.4
1,337 user reviews

Our Take

Crush your herbs and spices in this stylish mortar and pestle set. It's constructed from marble, and although you'll have to hand clean it, you'll find the set washes up with little effort. The set has a capacity of 3 ounces.

What other experts liked

The easy to clean and attractive design makes this set a must-have for any kitchen.
- Alterestimate

What to Look For

  • For home cooks and professionals alike, the material your mortar and pestle is made from is of the utmost importance. The kind you need will depend on how you primarily plan on using it in the kitchen. The ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set is made out of unpolished heavy granite. The set is durable and heavy, and will not slip during use. Other models have a double stainless steel construction. Look for a functional design and a non-skid base to keep it in place. The Cooler Kitchen Silicone & Porcelain Mortar and Pestle is made out of apothecary-grade porcelain, which means that it’s easy to clean and doesn’t absorb any flavors or odors. The Sagler Marble Grey Mortar & Pestle is constructed from solid white marble with gray accents. It has an unpolished and natural rough interior.
  • As with any kitchen tool, easy cleanup is a major buying factor. After all, if you’ve been working in the kitchen all day, having to scrub the gadgets you used isn’t going to be a lot of fun. When buying your mortar and pestle, opt for one that is designed to be cleaned without too much scrubbing. The ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set can be washed with just warm water. It does not need any soap to be cleaned. Stainless steel models are low maintenance and easy to clean. Some even have a mortar that comes with a lid that can be used while pounding ingredients to lessen any splatters and spills on the counter. The Cooler Kitchen Silicone & Porcelain Mortar and Pestle can be placed in the dishwasher, so it is very easy to keep clean. The Sagler Marble Grey Mortar & Pestle can be cleaned simply by wiping it down with a damp cloth. There is no need for scrubbing or soap.

Mortar And Pestle Rankings

More to Explore

The mortar and pestle has been around for thousands of years. There is evidence that people in 35,000 BC used this helpful tool. Commonly used in ancient Egypt as both medical and culinary tools, mortars and pestles were also used by other civilizations including the ancient Greeks. In the 14th century, mortars and pestles were commonly made using bronze. While it was a popular choice, the bronze eventually turned green or dark brown and was no longer suitable for use. As a result, sometimes the tools were also made from wood or stone. In the 16th century, mortars and pestles were decorated with beautiful handles, knobs and spouts.

More to explore