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Comparing a mortar and pestle with a blender is like comparing apples and oranges. Even though they can be used for the same purposes, the two tools are fundamentally different. The first is as ancient as time, and the second is a relatively recent boon from the technological revolution.
A mortar and pestle set is better for you when crushing spices, whereas a blender is more suitable for making smoothies. A mortar and pestle is a set of tools used to grind and crush ingredients, and a blender is an electric machine with spinning blades used to mix and pureé ingredients.
This article compares a mortar and pestle with a blender to determine which one is better for you. By the end of this post, you may find reasons to get both of them. There are certain things that a mortar and pestle are better at than a blender, and vice versa.
Mortar and Pestle vs. Blender: Pros and Cons
As mentioned, this comparison is apples and oranges, as these kitchen tools are designed for different tasks. Nonetheless, there are some pros and cons of both to consider when deciding which is best:
Mortar and Pestle Pros
- Cheap and durable; one can last for generations
- Allows you to preserve the natural moisture and aroma of things you grind
- Gives you more control over how you want to grind ingredients
- Requires little storage place and maintenance
- Allows you to have complete control over how fine you want to crush the ingredients
Mortar and Pestle Cons
- It’s manual and can be tiring
- It takes more time to grind things
- Not suited for grinding very large quantities
- Needs to be cleaned very well from residue
- 【Pure Natural Marble】Made of marble, this mortar and pestle set features a textured interior for improved friction when grinding and crushing. The polished surface of the jam pestle on the outer wall is smooth and beautiful, adding a decorative touch to both the kitchen and the table.It is lighter compared to a grinder of the same size made from granite!
- 【Unique existence】 Due to the change of the natural color of marble, each mortar and pestle is unique, (please allow a slight difference in the color ). The large mortar and pestle set is hand-grinded and polished, please allow dimensional errors. Product size is 5.5in x 2.83in x 2.7in.
- 【Easy to Clean】❤Please note: Due to its natural marble composition, there may be some powder initially. To fix this, grind 1/3 cup of uncooked rice in a mortar and pestle, then rinse and allow to air dry. After each use, simply rinse the pestle and mortar setthoroughly with a sponge and warm water - no odors will remain.
- 【Versatile】This robust marble mortar and pestle set is ideal for grinding dry and wet ingredients. It easily handles tasks like making homemade guacamole, pesto, and salsa, as well as easily crushing garlic, pepper, ginger, nuts, herbs, spices, and more. It allows you to fully enjoy the joy of handcrafted gourmet cooking.
- 【Product Includes】1x mortar, 1x pestle, exquisite and safe gift packaging. The packaging box contains foam padding to protect the marble mortar and pestle set. If you have any questions before or after your purchase, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to providing you with satisfactory solutions.
Blender Pros
- It’s fast and efficient
- It’s used for many things, not just grinding
- Comes with different gadgets for various uses
- Can easily grind and crush large quantities
Blender Cons
- Too noisy sometimes
- Not suitable for ingredients that need fine grinding or lose their aroma easily
- Fast blades can heat the ingredients
- Needs maintenance from time to time
- Variable Speed Control: Ten variable speeds allow you to refine every texture with culinary precision, from the smoothest purées to the heartiest soups
- Pulse Feature: Layer coarse chops over smooth purées for heartier recipes, such as chunky salsas or thick vegetable soups
- Low-Profile 64-ounce Container: Perfect for family meals and entertaining, while fitting comfortably under most kitchen cabinets
- Hardened Stainless-Steel Blades: Our aircraft-grade stainless steel blades are designed to handle the toughest ingredients, so from the first blend to the last, you get the same quality results
- Self-Cleaning: With a drop of dish soap and warm water, your Vitamix machine can clean itself in 30 to 60 seconds.
When To Use Mortar and Pestle
Mortar and pestle are often used by chefs and people who like to preserve the natural aroma of the ingredients. With a blender, the speed causes the ingredients to heat up, which is undesirable if you’re a meticulous chef. Heating some ingredients can completely transform them.
Mortar and pestle also allow you to control how you want to crush or grind your ingredients. Sometimes, you just need to crush the ingredients very little. Other times, you need to grind them into a super-fine powder.
With a blender, you have little control over how you use it because the blade does everything automatically, and you just have to abide by what you get.
Also, a mortar and pestle set is an excellent tool to have in the house. It dates back to the stone age when the most advanced technology in the world was a simple wheel or a needle, and it’s still as effective today at doing its job.
When To Use a Blender
Every house should have at least one blender. At my home, we have two, just in case one fails. I really don’t want to go to the kitchen one day to make a smoothie or a protein shake and have my blender fail midway.
You can pretty much use a blender for anything you want. For me, a blender’s primary purpose is to make smoothies, protein shakes, and sauces. You can also use a blender to crush spices and whatnot, but that’s not my thing. Personally, I prefer to use mortar and pestle for that task.
Is It Better To Use Mortar and Pestle?
It is better to use a mortar and pestle when you want to avoid heating the ingredients. Many chefs like to use mortar and pestle over a blender for this reason, as this allows them to preserve the moisture and natural aroma of the ingredients.
I also think using mortar and pestle is good for the mind. (This is an argument you likely didn’t see coming!) I prefer to use mortar and pestle as often as possible specifically because it’s manual and takes time and effort to prepare ingredients with it.
It puts my mind into a ZEN state of mind, which I consider very therapeutic. I’m an anxious person by nature. So, anything that helps me get away from my mind and be aware of my body and surroundings is good for me.
Can You Use a Food Processor Instead of a Mortar and Pestle?
A food processor, just like a blender, is a super powerful electronic machine that can be used to replace everything a mortar and pestle does. Still, that doesn’t mean it will do better than a mortar and pestle.
You can use a food processor instead of a mortar and pestle. If you want to save time or grind/crush large amounts of ingredients that would take forever with a mortar and pestle and you’re in a hurry, then using a food processor or a blender is the better option.
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with a 1000-peak-watt motor, this Ninja food processor effortlessly handles tough ingredients, ensuring smooth and consistent results every time.
- AUTO-IQ TECHNOLOGY: Features 4 Auto-iQ intelligent preset programs that take the guesswork out of food prep, providing one-touch control for chopping, slicing, pureeing, and dough making.
- LARGE CAPACITY: The 9-cup bowl is perfect for large batches, making it ideal for family meals, entertaining, or weekly meal prep, saving you time and effort in the kitchen.
- PRECISION BLADES: Includes stainless steel precision blades designed for optimal performance, ensuring even chopping, slicing, and pureeing of all your ingredients.
- DOUGH BLADE INCLUDED: Comes with a specialized dough blade that makes mixing dough for bread, pizza, and pastries a breeze, delivering professional-quality results at home.
By the way, here’s how you can make nut butter with a food processor.
Is the Blender Good for Grinding?
A blender is good for grinding anything you want; it’s especially good at wet grinding. With its powerful motor, a blender can grind almost any edible ingredient with the click of a button. The blender is the go-to tool when you want to mix and grind wet ingredients.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. It’s not really about a mortar and pestle vs. a blender and which one will win the battle; it’s more like when to use one instead of the other.
A blender can save you a lot of time and energy. Still, it can make your spices and other ingredients lose some desirable qualities. And you can’t use a mortar and pestle to make a smoothie.
You may want to get both of them and experiment with how and when to use each.
