The Best Mortar and Pestle Sets for Spices, Pesto, and Curry Pastes

The mortar and pestle is a timeless kitchen tool that has been used for centuries to grind spices, crush ingredients, and make sauces. In a recent review of 13 mortar and pestle sets, a team of testers evaluated the performance of each set in various tasks, including grinding peppercorns, making pesto, and crushing sesame seeds.

## Top Picks

The top picks from the review include the ChefSofi Extra Large 8 Inch 5 Cup-Capacity Mortar and Pestle Set, the Cilio by Frieling Goliath Natural Granite Mortar and Pestle Set, and the Masienda Molcajete.

## What to Look for in a Mortar and Pestle Set

When choosing a mortar and pestle set, there are several key factors to consider. A non-slip base or a heavy set is essential to keep the bowl steady during use. A spacious bowl with a minimum depth of four inches and a width of at least five inches is also crucial to prevent ingredients from spilling over. Textured materials such as unpolished granite and basalt are preferred over smooth ones, as they provide the necessary friction to grind ingredients. Finally, a pestle with grooved edges is necessary to create the friction needed to transform ingredients into powders, sauces, and pastes.

## The Best Mortar and Pestle Sets

### ChefSofi Extra Large 8 Inch 5 Cup-Capacity Mortar and Pestle Set

This set has been named the best mortar and pestle set for years due to its consistent performance in the tests. The granite bowl measures over seven inches wide and holds nearly five cups of ingredients, making it ideal for grinding spices and making pesto. The two pestles in the set offer a comfortable grip and grooved bottoms, making it simple to turn out creamy pesto. Weighing nearly 13 pounds, it's heavy enough to stay firmly in place during use.

| Material | Weight | Mortar diameter | Pestle dimensions | Care instructions | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Granite | 18.2 pounds | 7.75 inches | 8.5 x 2, 6.75 x 1.5 inches | Hand-wash |

### Cilio by Frieling Goliath Natural Granite Mortar and Pestle Set

This set offers plenty of room, with nearly five inches of depth. A smooth exterior and subtly grooved interior provided a comfortable grip that didn't dig into the hands while grinding. Its heavy base kept the 11-pound bowl stable throughout testing. During the peppercorn test, this set performed the fastest, crushing the spice into a coarse texture in under three minutes.

| Material | Weight | Mortar diameter | Pestle dimensions | Care instructions | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Granite | 11.02 pounds | 5.25 Inches | 5 x 1.5 inches | Hand-wash |

### Masienda Molcajete

This molcajete is ideal for preparing large batches of salsa or guacamole for a crowd. During the pesto test, the Masienda Molcajete performed well, with a depth of just over five inches and an interior width of 9.5 inches.

| Material | Weight | Mortar diameter | Pestle dimensions | Care instructions | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Granite | 20 pounds | 9.5 inches | | Hand-wash |

In conclusion, the best mortar and pestle sets for spices, pesto, and curry pastes are those that have non-slip bases, spacious bowls, and textured pestles. The top picks from the review include the ChefSofi Extra Large 8 Inch 5 Cup-Capacity Mortar and Pestle Set, the Cilio by Frieling Goliath Natural Granite Mortar and Pestle Set, and the Masienda Molcajete.