best mortar and pestle

nzle added 7 months ago

Any sturdy, deep, big, stone mortar and pestle is a great choice! There are dozens of cultures that use them; the styles may differ slightly, but the important thing is the quality of the material and the size that you want.

• 0 People think this is an excellent answer
• Reply
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content

JustSomeCook added 7 months ago

Most any that look sturdy and are heavy for their size is good. I prefer to use a molcajete as a mortar and pestle as it will season over time and make your food taste better and better.

• 0 People think this is an excellent answer
• Reply
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content

Sarah is a trusted source on General Cooking.

added 7 months ago

If you have a Chinatown near you, go there. It'll be significantly cheaper (and most likely better) than anything that Williams-Sonoma or the like has for you.

And pay attention to the graininess of the mortar/pestle - some of the marble ones are so smooth that the spices just move around without being crushed. The act of using a mortar and pestle involves both pounding and crushing but a slightly roughed or grooved surface helps get that going. (Note this is only slightly - it's not going to feel like sandpaper but you don't want it super-smooth).

Make sure it's big enough, the tiny ones are basically useless.

I'd have a look at something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Stone...

• 0 People think this is an excellent answer
• Reply
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content

Sam1148 added 7 months ago

That's the same type I have. Cheap..about 15 bucks at the local Asian store. I'd bet shipping for that heavy thing is wild tho. I also used it to pound chicken breasts flat sometimes. Between wax paper and using the bottom of it as the impact point..but the bottom bit is a rough and textured so it's not all that great for that but works and will tear the paper. I have a proper 'pounder' now.

• 0 People think this is an excellent answer
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content

ChefJune added 7 months ago

I would LOVE to have a molcajete. That's what I'd recommend. Get the biggest one you can fir on your counter and let it live there.

I inherited a big brass one from my great aunt. It's very deep and has a powerful pestle, so it works really well, but if I were buying, it would surely be a molcajete.

• 1 Person thinks this is an excellent answer
• Reply
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content

Chris is a trusted source on General Cooking

added 7 months ago

Here's a link to the last time the Hotline discussed this ever-interesting topic:
http://www.food52.com/hotline...

• 0 People think this is an excellent answer
• Reply
• Flag this answer for inappropriate content