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Page Contents:
-Wooden Pestle
-Porcelain Mortars & Pestles
-Ceramic, Stoneware
-Marble
-Glass
-Wood
-Bamboo
-Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel
-Brass
-Lava Mortar & Wood Chopper Combo
-Lava Molcajete
-Seasoning Instructions for Molcajete
Related Pages:
-Spice Utensils
-Coffee Mills
-Grain Mills
-Fantes.com Main Page
You're in control of the grind with a mortar and pestle set. It is your
manual food processor, able to grind just about any type of food that will
fit in the bottom of the mortar. And because of the minimal friction, aromas
don't burn off in the grinding, like they do with a food processor or
electric grinder.
How to use it...
To be in control, be gentle but firm; whatever you do, don't beat down on
it. Place the food in the mortar (bowl), use some downward pressure over the
food with the pestle (pounder), and turn it in a circular motion around the
mortar. The pestle will catch the food and grind it. You'll get used to it
pretty quickly.
Whether it's to grind some peppercorns, or your coffee beans, or
avocadoes for guacamole, a mortar and pestle set can be a handy non-electric
kitchen tool.
- Choose the least absorbent materials when you
need purity in what you crush.
- Choose the most absorbent when you want the
flavor to carry on to the next batch that you grind.
- Choose the size based on the size and quantity
of the ingredients
– Marble is very hard and a favorite
for all around use. It has medium resistance to the absorption of odors and
moisture, depending, to a great extent, on the density of the stone used to
fashion it.
– Porcelain is the least likely to stain
and it does well with foods that contain moisture. Can be easily cleaned and
is dishwasher safe.
– Vitrified Ceramic is fired to a
temperature where all the molecules in the clay completely fuse together
thus forming a fully sealed non porous solid. The finish of the piece may be
safely left matt for better grip and to aid grinding
– Stoneware (ceramic) unit use ridges
for better grip. Wash well and dry thoroughly to reduce staining and
absorption of flavor by the unglazed interior. A stiff nylon-bristle brush
helps clean between the ridges.
– Wood is best when used with the same
flavored food, since it does absorb. We don't recommend using it with moist
food.
– Iron is great with harder ingredients.
If you don't use it too often, keep it lightly oiled. (Food grade
mineral oil is tasteless, odorless, and
doesn't go rancid.) With proper care, this set will last a long, long time.
– Lava Stone, in the form of the
molcajete, is great for all types of tasks, especially in preparing large
quantities. The stone needs to be seasoned before
first use, to stabilize its surface.
– Granite, like lava, will also absorb
to some degree, based on the density of the stone used to fashion it, and it
may also, as a result, trap food in its pores. Usually quite hard, and good
for larger and harder ingredients.
Notes of interest:
 - The Japanese call it a suribachi (also a volcanic
bowl at Iwo Jima) and suricogi (wood pestle).
- The Mexicans call it a molcajete (seasoning bowl) and tejolote
(from stone doll) for the pestle. It seems they originated the design, over
5,000 years ago, while the mortar and pestle appeared in Europe a mere 500
or so years ago.
- If using your mortar & pestle as a pill crusher, we recommend
porcelain (or glass, brass, or stainless steel) when used for more than one
type of pill, because of their ease of cleaning without leaving residues.
Wood is the least desirable material for pill crushing, because it is highly
absorbent. |
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Wood Pestle $5.99
#121092
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7-1/8" long,
Tapers from 3/4" to 1-1/8",
Natural hardwood
Japan |
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Porcelain Mortar & Pestle, 2.5" $3.99
#12617
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2-3/4" outside top diameter,
1-1/2" high,
2-3/4" long pestle,
White porcelain
China |
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Black & White Porcelain Mortar & Pestle,
3.5" $4.99
#6722
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3-5/8" diameter,
2-7/8" high,
4" long pestle,
Porcelain with black exterior glaze
China |
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Porcelain Mortar & Pestle $14.99
#12613
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4.5" wide,
2.25" high,
5" long pestle,
Inside of mortar and tip of pestle are unglazed
China |
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Grate Salsa Maker Porcelain Mortar &
Pestle $34.99
#9197
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7-1/2" wide,
3-1/2" high,
6" top inside diameter,
3-1/2" long pestle,
White vitrified porcelain,
3 non-slip rubberized feet,
Dishwasher safe,
Mortar & pestle both have grinding grooves
China |
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American Masala Mortar & Pestle, Saffron
Orange $49.99
#2715
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3.5" high,
6" wide,
6.5" at spout,
7.5" long pestle,
3.5" wide pestle base,
Porcelain,
Glazed decal on pestle,
Glazed exterior of mortar
England
Includes Sambhaar recipe adapted from American Masala: 125 New
Classics From My Home Kitchen, by Suvir Saran with Raquel Pelzel.
Pestle is wider than most to help keep ingredients under the pestle. |
| American Masala Mortar & Pestle, Cardamon
Green $49.99
#2708
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3.5" high,
6" wide,
6.5" at spout,
7.5" long pestle,
3.5" wide pestle base,
Porcelain,
Glazed decal on pestle,
Glazed exterior of mortar
England
Includes Sambhaar recipe adapted from American Masala: 125 New
Classics From My Home Kitchen, by Suvir Saran with Raquel Pelzel.
Pestle is wider than most to help keep ingredients under the pestle. |
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Ceramic Suribachi With Wooden Pestle
$12.99
#120885
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6" top diameter,
2-1/2" high,
Brown ceramic glazed exterior,
Wood pestle is 7-1/8" long,
1-1/8" diameter
China
Great for wet and dry foods when you want to mash without turning it
into powder (and without using too much force). |
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Green Stoneware Suribachi, 9" $32.99
#17655
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9" wide,
3-5/8" high,
3" deep,
4" diameter foot,
Glazed stoneware with unglazed bowl,
10" long wood pestle
Japan
Great for wet and dry foods when you want to mash without turning it
into powder (and without using too much force). |
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LeCreuset 10 Oz Stoneware Mortar &
Pestle, Caribbean Blue $24.99
#122286
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2-3/4" high,
4-5/8" wide,
5-1/4" long pestle,
Resists chipping or staining,
Will not absorb flavors,
Dishwasher safe
Thailand |
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LeCreuset 10 Oz Stoneware Mortar &
Pestle, Cerise $24.99
#1254
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2-3/4" high,
4-5/8" wide,
5-1/4" long pestle,
Resists chipping or staining,
Will not absorb flavors,
Dishwasher safe
Thailand |
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Soapstone Mortar & Pestle $34.99
#1247
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Approximate measures:
5" high,
3-1/4" deep,
4-3/4" wide inside,
6" wide outside,
5" long pestle,
Natural soapstone
India |
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White Marble Mortar & Pestle, 4" $12.99
#12091
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4" wide, 4" high,
Bowl is 3" wide, 2" deep,
Pestle is 5" long
Taiwan |
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Mocha Marble Mortar & Pestle $15.99
#12144
Temporarily unavailable
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4" high,
3-3/4" wide,
5" long pestle,
Natural marble
China |
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Marble Close-Fit Mortar & Pestle $12.99
#16150
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4" high overall,
Mortar is 2" high, 4" wide
Taiwan |
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Glass Mortar & Pestle, 11 Oz $19.99
#12077
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3-3/4" high,
4-1/4" diameter,
3-1/2" inside diameter,
4-1/2" long pestle,
Ground interior and pestle head
China |
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Glass Mortar & Pestle, 32 Oz $24.99
#12080
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5" high,
5-1/2" diameter top,
3-1/2" deep,
Ground interior,
Pedestal base,
7-1/4" long pestle,
Partially ground,
Hand made glass,
Dishwasher safe
China |
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Rainbow Wood Octagonal Mortar & Pestle,
3.5" $11.99
#7047
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3-1/2" diameter top,
2-1/4" high,
3-3/4" long pestle,
Laminated hand-dyed wood
Thailand |
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Palm Wood Mortar & Pestle $12.99
#5961
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4.75" wide, 4 high,
Bowl is 3.5" wide, 2.5" deep,
Pestle is 5.75" long
Philippines |
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Wooden Mortar & Pestle, 5" $15.99
#1940
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5" wide,
3-3/4" inside diameter,
5-3/8" high,
3-3/8" deep,
Natural interior,
Lacquered exterior,
8" long pestle,
Made out of a single piece of wood
Italy
Slight imperfections, such as knots, are normal |
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Wooden Mortar & Pestle, 6.5" $29.99
#1942
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6-1/2" wide,
4.5" inside diameter,
8.5" high, 4" deep,
Natural interior,
Lacquered exterior,
9" long pestle,
Made out of a single piece of wood
Italy
Slight imperfections, such as knots, are normal |
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Bamboo Mortar & Pestle, 3" $9.99
#120840
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3" wide top,
3-3/8" high,
5" long pestle
China |
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Iron Mortar & Pestle $39.99
#6417
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6" wide, 7" with lip,
3-7/8" high,
Pestle is 7" long with chromed steel end tip,
Cast iron,
Keep dry or lightly oiled
China |
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Steel Alloy Mortar & Pestle $8.99
#5530
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3" top diameter,
2-3/4" high,
6-1/4" long pestle,
Thick steel alloy,
Dry thoroughly after washing
India |
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Stainless Steel Mortar & Pestle $24.99
#7440
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3-1/2" tall,
4" round top,
5-1/2" pestle,
Rubberized base,
18/8 brushed stainless steel
China |
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3.25" Brass Mortar & Pestle $19.99
#5524
Currently unavailable |
3-3/8" tall,
3-1/4" round top,
7-1/4" pestle,
Heavy solid brass
India |
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Mortar & Pestle and Mezzaluna Combo
$49.99
#2291
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4-1/4" high,
6" x 2" deep mortar,
5-1/4" long pestle,
Mortar & pestle of lava rock,
5-1/2" x 3/4" deep chopping bowl,
5" wide mezzaluna handle,
Bowl and handle of beechwood,
Rubber feet on both sides protect counter,
Storage for blade and pestle inside mortar bowl,
Hand wash in warm, soapy water
China |
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Molcajete, 8.5" $59.99
#4027
Temporarily unavailable
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8-1/2" wide, 5" high overall,
7" wide, 2" deep inside,
4" long pestle
Made from lava stone by hand,
Each piece a bit different,
Requires seasoning before use (see instructions below)
Seasoning the Molcajete:
 Before first use,
be sure to season the molcajete. This will seal the surface.
First clean off loose
surface materials using a stiff brush under running water. Let it dry
completely.
Grind some uncooked
rice into the bowl, clean the powder off, and repeat the process until
the powdered rice comes out white.
To clean after use,
just brush things off, or you can wash with a brush and water only (to
prevent absorption of soaps). Allow to completely dry before using. |
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