Mortar and Pestle vs. Blender: Which One Is Better for You?

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

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

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. 

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. 

Sources 

• Mortar and pestle – Wikipedia
• Zen Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster