Hi! I’m Philip, and I’ve tested and reviewed the top mortar and pestles on the market this year on the following factors: performance, design and build quality, and value for money so you can find the right set for you.
By Siem
Mortar and pestles are great, simple devices that have been around forever. They are a very efficient way to grind herbs and spices, guacamole, curry paste, pesto, tomatoes, or anything else, and almost every family kitchen uses one to some degree.
Why a mortar and pestle is a must have for any kitchen
Some, like the one in my kitchen, are passed down through generations as a sort of family heirloom. It is has a large bowl, rich, blue stone marbling, and some wear and tear thanks to years of use. My mother is very fond of it, and she uses it almost every time she cooks – she says it has ‘magic healing properties’, and swears by it. While I doubt that, I cannot ignore the practicality of such a tool. Easy to clean, simple, fun to use, and a feeling that while grinding your herbs and spices, you’re suddenly a hunter gatherer, helping to cook the tribe’s mammoth tusk over a fire.
Look, i’m exaggerating a little, but the point still remains: mortar and pestles aren’t like any other modern kitchen appliance. There’s something traditional and rustic about them that holds a great deal of sway over avid home cooks who love to get stuck in.
What is the right mortar and pestle for you?
Mortar and pestle sets come in different shapes and sizes, although they usually retain the same core elements: a mortar bowl, and a pestle spice grinder. So, that’s what you’ll be getting. From there, you can consider your budget, desired material, and anything else that you might want your pestle and mortar to provide you with. Don’t worry if you’re still undecided, we’ll be going over a more detailed buying guide at after the list of the top pestle and mortars on the market in 2024. Without any more preamble, lets jump in:
The best overall
Aroma
This solid stone granite pestle and mortar is our choice for the best overall. Upon first use, it grinds up everything you throw at it perfectly into a smooth paste, and its short pestle is double sided, meaning that on both ends of the pestle there is a pestle head that grinds to different consistencies and smoothness. This makes the action really simple and easy, without sacrificing convenience.
The final great point about this pestle set is its storage lid, that prevents dust from gathering. It also doubles as a guard, incase you’re grinding something messy and liable to spill. Overall, this has everything you could look for in a mortar and pestle, and will last for years.
- Granite rock material
- Two heads of the pestle
- Storage/guard lid
- Easily cleaned
- Small mortar and pestle
- Pricey
The best budget option
Premier Housewares
This stoneware pestle and mortar set is great at grinding dry, or whole spices, and has a traditional, pottery-style finish that reminds me of ancient Rome! Out of all the models we tested, this was the best economicf option because it has great value for money, and will last a long time. It has a large pestle, that is double sided, and the base of the mortar is solid, so it is not likely to slip, and does a better job of grinding because of it.
- Double-headed pestle
- Spout on edge of mortar
- Traditional look
- Great budget option
- Likely to get stained easily
- Stoneware less durable
Best marble option
Velaze
This marble mortar and pestle crushes and grinds spices really well. Its large mortar allows you to mix more ingredients and its heavy-duty pestle is thick and durable. For its price, this is a really good option, as marble is very smooth and easily cleaned, while incredibly long-lasting as well. Overall, this is the best large marble set on the market this year.
- Larger mortar
- Great marble pestle size
- Durable and strong
- Much heavier
The best granite option
ZWILLING
This this the best granite mortar and pestle as its granite design is comfortable to use, and has a sleek design. The base has a stainless steel insert that adds strength and durability. Not that it needs it though, as granite is an excellent material for mortar and pestle tasks, given its rough edge inside the mortar, and on the heavy pestle. This is the largest bowl and pestle so far, and out of all the granite models we tested, this one provided the most effective grind of large quantities of spices, able to handle it with little spillage.
- Sleek design
- Steel base reinforcement
- Large bowl
- Pestle not double-sided
The best earthenware option
E-liu
This porcelain mortar with a wooden pestle is our choice for the best earthenware option because it has a great design, and a natural, unfinished edge of the mortar. In fact, the pestle actually is bamboo, meaning that the pestle is also comfortable to hold. The wide pestle head is great for smashing, and makes up for its smoother texture. This is also the best mortar and pestle made from porcelain because it comes with additional features, including a lid, and non-slip base.
- Great design
- Comfortable handle
- Non-slip base
- Wide pestle
- Porcelain is fragile
- Not dishwasher safe
The best metal option
Bekith
You can use a mortar and pestle that is metal more rigorously without damaging it. Also, this metal set comes with a translucent lid for easy viewing when grinding dry spices and guacamole. It has a long, wide-edged pestle for grinding, and a solid metal base with a soft flooring, so it doesn’t slip. This is a great metal set for your needs if you prefer the definitiveness of a metal option.
- Translucent lid
- Durable metal
- Easily cleaned
- Rustproof
- Metal gets scratched
- Not a natural feel
The best wooden option
Kaizen Casa
Made from beautiful dark wood, this pestle and mortar set worked best out of all the wooden sets we tested. Although it has a smaller size, it makes up for it with build quality, and the wood pestle is long and wide, able to crush things like guacamole incredibly well.
- Beautiful design
- Rustic feel
- Large pestle
- Small mortar
- Not dishwasher safe
The best plastic option
QANYEGN
Our final addition to the list, this plastic option is a great alternative to the traditional way. The bowl and the pestle are both made of food-grade, durable plastic that is just as good as stone mortars and pestles. It all depends on whether you prefer the stone, because this pestle and mortar is made for pesto and similar sauces, spices, guacamole, etc., and use it to crush whatever you want.
- Durable plastic
- Dishwasher safe
- Ergonomic pestle
- Bland appearance
- Smaller size
Top 8 at a glance:
- The best overall: Aroma
- The best budget: Premier Housewares
- The best marble: Velaze
- The best granite: ZWILLING
- The best earthenware: E-liu porcelain set
- The best metal: Bekith
- The best wooden: Kaizen Casa
- The best plastic: QANYEGN
Buying Guide: what to look out for?
That was our top 8 of the best mortar and pestle sets of 2024. If you are still undecided on what you’d like in a mortar and pestle, then don’t worry. Here, we’ll break it down in more detail:
What is your budget? Mortar and pestles are not expensive, but you should be aware of how much you intent to use it. Most are incredibly durable, but wear does appear inside of the mortar eventually, and it can impact the taste and texture of your ground spices. For this reason, your budget should be based on how much you plan to use it. If you are planning on using it the normal amount for any home cook, then every mortar and pestle on this list would be a great choice. That brings me to the next step:
What material would you like? As you have seen, mortar and pestles come in different types of material. They’re all great, but some are greater than others. If you want a mortar and pestle that is a great all rounder, then we recommend a stone granite, or marble one. Ceramic mortar and pestles are also good, but they tend to be fragile, and so can chip quickly. Furthermore, certain materials like white porcelain or plastic may stain over time when used to crush pesto and other bright, oily substances.
What other features would you like? Now that you’ve decided on a budget and material, you can look at those add-ons and details that make the purchase go from good to great: lid? Non-slip base? Colour/design? etc…
You should be more informed now on what a perfect first mortar and pestle looks like. If you’re still undecided, then any one of the additions to the list above tested great and would be great, so we recommend one of those great pestle and mortars.
Conclusion: the greatest mortar and pestle?
Overall, we thought that the greatest mortar and pestle was the granite Aroma, however, if large mortar and pestles are more your thing, then we think that the Velaze is a great option. To choose the best option for you, we recommend looking at the buying guide to find the right one for you!
Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, then visit kitchenarylabs.com to discover more amazing kitchen appliances that have been tested and reviewed by our staff.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
The best is the one that suits you best. We recommend the granite aroma for its excellent all-round quality.
They’re both great, however, granite provides a slightly courser material to crush the spices with. Marble is very solid, however it cannot crush the ingredients as well as the granite, as it is smoother.
We think that mortar and pestles are the best way of grinding spices, however, spice grinders are a modern alternative, although they lack the versatility of a mortar and pestle.