Whether you’re making homemade pesto and guacamole, or grinding spices, you often find yourself needing a mortar and pestle. It didn’t occur to me that I needed it so I didn’t include on in the gift registry when I was getting married. Most spices come with a built-in grinder and for other touch-grinding jobs, I can always use a blender, right? And if it wasn’t going to be used as much, I couldn’t justify getting one that was only going to be taking up cabinet space. I finally gave in because there was no way to prepare basil pesto without one, and it’s simply awesome.
Well, now I know that there is a difference, and dishes that were prepared with a mortar and pestle taste better, bringing out the irresistible aromas of ingredients like basil or sea salt.
I landed on a mortar and pestle set from Le Creuset.
The stoneware mortar with a rough ceramic interior seemed ideal for consistent grinding action and easy maintenance.
What’s great about Le Creuset is the ample color options. Whichever kitchen style it is, you’re bound to find a color that suits your style. The mortar and pestle also come in 7 colors, more than most kitchen supplies brands offer.
The mortar is offered in 2 sizes; one (10 fl oz) that is small enough for grinding spices and the other (20 fl oz) for larger cooking needs like grinding basil or mashing avocados.
Both feature the same rough ceramic interior that is abrasive enough to withstand repeated grinding.
The interior is unglazed; however, I didn’t experience any food staining.
I specifically looked for mortars that are dishwasher safe because some mortars are so porous that you cannot use soap to clean them. I use the mortar and pestle to mince the garlic as well, so the ability to be cleaned with soap was a necessity.
The stoneware pestle is easy to hold and has a decent weight to it.
The pestle is also dishwasher safe and grinds everything easily and efficiently.
Have you ground spices like peppercorn, sesame seeds, or sea salt with the mortar and pestle?
The aroma gets maximized when I grind them just before I sprinkle them on the dishes, and everything tastes magnificent. I don’t buy pre-ground ones anymore.
I know traditional Italian basil pesto recipes call for a mortar and pestle to grind basil, and it indeed makes a huge difference. And mashing avocados has never been easier.
I hate having unnecessary kitchen gadgets, but I believe most household needs a mortar and pestle, especially if you enjoy homemade pesto or freshly-ground spices.
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Whether you’re making homemade pesto and guacamole, or grinding spices, you often find yourself needing a mortar and pestle. It didn’t occur to me that I needed it so I didn’t include on in the gift registry when I was getting married. Most spices come with a built-in grinder and for other touch-grinding jobs, I can always use a blender, right? And if it wasn’t going to be used as much, I couldn’t justify getting one that was only going to be taking up cabinet space. I finally gave in because there was no way to prepare basil pesto without one, and it’s simply awesome.
Well, now I know that there is a difference, and dishes that were prepared with a mortar and pestle taste better, bringing out the irresistible aromas of ingredients like basil or sea salt.
I landed on a mortar and pestle set from Le Creuset.
The stoneware mortar with a rough ceramic interior seemed ideal for consistent grinding action and easy maintenance.
What’s great about Le Creuset is the ample color options. Whichever kitchen style it is, you’re bound to find a color that suits your style. The mortar and pestle also come in 7 colors, more than most kitchen supplies brands offer.
The mortar is offered in 2 sizes; one (10 fl oz) that is small enough for grinding spices and the other (20 fl oz) for larger cooking needs like grinding basil or mashing avocados.
Both feature the same rough ceramic interior that is abrasive enough to withstand repeated grinding.
The interior is unglazed; however, I didn’t experience any food staining.
I specifically looked for mortars that are dishwasher safe because some mortars are so porous that you cannot use soap to clean them. I use the mortar and pestle to mince the garlic as well, so the ability to be cleaned with soap was a necessity.
The stoneware pestle is easy to hold and has a decent weight to it.
The pestle is also dishwasher safe and grinds everything easily and efficiently.
Have you ground spices like peppercorn, sesame seeds, or sea salt with the mortar and pestle?
The aroma gets maximized when I grind them just before I sprinkle them on the dishes, and everything tastes magnificent. I don’t buy pre-ground ones anymore.
I know traditional Italian basil pesto recipes call for a mortar and pestle to grind basil, and it indeed makes a huge difference. And mashing avocados has never been easier.
I hate having unnecessary kitchen gadgets, but I believe most household needs a mortar and pestle, especially if you enjoy homemade pesto or freshly-ground spices.