What Is The UK’s Best Pestle and Mortar?
In this guide we’ll look at the best pestle and mortars.
We’ve compared size, ease of cleaning, material and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
Pestle and Mortar Reviews
Pestle and Mortar Buyer’s Guide
If you’re a fan of curries, spice rubs, herbal infusions, or just prefer freshly ground spices, then having a pestle and mortar is essential! But, with the array of pestle and mortar on the market, which one is best? Here’s how to choose:
Material
You’ll find pestle and mortar’s come in a range of materials; wood, granite, marble, ceramic, cast iron, even-tempered glass. Whilst many of these will get the job done, they won’t survive years of pounding and grinding. Instead, look for a pestle and mortar made from granite, or marble, for longevity and consistent results.
Size
It really does matter where pounding and grinding of herbs and spices are concerned. Too small, and you’ll find you don’t have enough room to grind everything you need to, and too large and it’ll be too heavy to lift! Look for the average size of around 16cm diameter, and around 6-10cm deep, so there’s plenty of room.
Dishwasher safe
Most pestle and mortars do not need to be cleaned in a dishwasher. Some ceramic sets may be washed in a dishwasher, though this is unnecessary, just wash as per below.
Ease of cleaning
Cleaning a pestle and mortar could not be easier, as all models will be similar in cleaning practices: where possible, remove as much of your tasty herbs and spices, wipe out with kitchen paper, then wash in hot and soapy water, rinse, and allow to air-dry.
FAQs
Pestle and mortar: Which is which?!
The pestle is the handle, and the mortar is the bowl. There’s an easy way to remember this; the pestle will nestle into the mortar. Or, if you’re into carpentry, then the mortar is like a mortar joint, with the pestle slotting into it.
How to use a pestle and mortar?
Place your mortar on a level worktop, place your whole herbs or spices into the bottom, then ‘stir’ the pestle around in a circular fashion to grind the ingredients against the walls of the mortar. For harder or larger ingredients, carefully ‘pound’ the pestle into the mortar to break the spices/nuts etc into smaller pieces. Then, ‘stir’ the pestle to grind into desired consistency.
Conclusion
If you love fresh spice mixes for your curries, or to rub into meat for a BBQ, or to scatter over your yoghurt, then having a reliable pestle and mortar is a great addition to your kitchen. That’s why we’d recommend the H&S Premium Pestle and Mortar set, made from granite, and with its ideal size, it’s the perfect companion to your herb and spice recipes.