Mortar and Pestle vs. Spice Grinder – The Ultimate Comparison Guide

If you are a foodie like myself, you probably know that grinding your own spices is infinitely better for the taste buds than using pre-ground herbs. That is because spices contain volatile aromatic compounds that dissipate over time, explaining why commercial pre-ground spices are nowhere nearly as flavorful as freshly-ground ones. With that said, should you use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder to prepare your fresh spices?

The best option between a mortar and pestle and a spice grinder comes down to preference. The mortar and pestle allow you more control over the final product, while an electric spice grinder is faster. Mortars and pestles are typically cheap, while electric spice grinders are more versatile.

Read on to learn more about these two types of spice grinders so you can choose one that best suits your unique needs. Let’s get started. 

Mortar and Pestle vs. Spice Grinder: An Overview

Before we get into the ins and outs of mortars & pestles versus spice grinders, it is crucial to note that both are, in fact, spice grinders. 

There are three types of spice grinders:

• Mortar and pestle
• Mechanical spice grinders
• Electric spice grinders

For clarity purposes, I will be pitting mortars & pestles against electric spice grinders. Nevertheless, we will also take a brief look at mechanical spice grinders so you can know what they are all about.

Mortar and Pestle

The mortar and pestle have been a staple kitchen tool in numerous cultures across the world for centuries. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, and it is undoubtedly true in the case of mortars and pestles.

It is believed that the first mortar and pestle was designed in the Stone Age to help early humans grind grains and crack nuts. Archeological findings indicate that mortars and pestles were being used in Egypt as far back as 1,500 B.C.

The fact that the mortar and pestle’s basic design, consisting of a thick, hard bowl (mortar) and a hand-held club-like tool (pestle), has withstood the test of time shows how effective that design is.

Mortars and pestles work so well because they allow you to control the ground level. You can pound your ingredients to the consistency of your liking. Moreover, mortars and pestles are excellent at crushing wet and oily spices – something that cannot be said for electric spice grinders.

The only drawback to mortars and pestles is that they require significant elbow grease and are time-consuming.

Mechanical Spice Grinders

Mechanical spice grinders are not too different from those antique manual coffee grinders. Like traditional coffee grinders, mechanical spice grinders come with a handle that you rotate to grind your ingredients.

Mechanical or manual spice grinders are an excellent alternative for people who find mortars and pestles too tiring but still need to feel they have some level of control over the grinding process.

Electric Spice Grinders

As with any modern invention, electric spice grinders are built for efficiency. These food processors are incredibly similar to electric coffee grinders. In fact, one can be used in place of the other.

Electric spice grinders come with tiny blades that cut spices into fine powder.

The benefits of electric spice grinders speak for themselves. For starters, you can pulverize your spices into powder in less than a minute. Moreover, they can handle large quantities at a time, making them excellent options for large-scale use. 

You also don’t need to worry about getting tired when using an electric spice grinder; press the “grind” button and let the machine do its work.

However, electric spice grinders have their drawbacks. They are more expensive than a standard mortar and pestle. They are also typically more difficult to clean. Finally, most electric spice grinders have a difficult time processing wet or oily spices.

Mortar and Pestle vs. Electric Spice Grinder: Which Is Better? 

As noted above, both of these tools have their inherent pros and cons. Therefore, the choice boils down to what attributes mean more to you.

If you are someone that loves being in control of every aspect of the cooking process, you might find the mortar and pestle to be more appealing. Mortars and pestles allow you to customize the final product’s texture to your liking. To some, that means everything, as the texture of your paste can significantly affect its palatability and flavor.

On the other hand, electric spice grinders do all the work for you, meaning you have to make do with the product they produce.

Mortars and pestles are also remarkably cheap compared to electric spice grinders. However, that depends on the materials used to make the tool. Nonetheless, electric spice grinders make up for their costly nature with efficiency; they use a fraction of the time required to grind spices into a pulp or powder using a mortar and pestle.

Where mortars and pestles truly shine against their competition is when it comes to grinding wet or oily spices. Electric spice grinders use blades to grind ingredients. As you can imagine, the slippery nature of wet or oily ingredients makes it hard for the blades to keep them in place.

With that said, I think electric spice grinders are the more suitable option for most people in today’s fast-paced world. They are fast, budget-friendly, and produce a consistently fine grind. What’s more, they are versatile, as you can use electric spice grinders to process just about anything. 

For example, you can even make nut butter using an electric spice grinder. Can the same be said for mortars and pestles? The answer is an emphatic no! Therefore, it makes more sense to have an electric spice grinder if you must choose one, as it is versatile and easier to use. 

Conclusion

Mortars and pestles have been a staple kitchen tool for millennia, and with good reason: they are great at what they do. Electric spice grinders are the modern version of mortars and pestles, meaning they can do everything the former does and more!

Therefore, from a cost-benefit standpoint, I would recommend choosing the spice grinder since it has more to offer. But, better yet, why not have both?

Sources

• USIP: The mortar and pestle from the renaissance to the present
• Grindily: Making Nut Butter in a Food Processor – The Complete Guide
• Washington Post: Spice Trade-Off: Mortar and Pestle, or Machine?
• Catsup and Mustard: Spice Grinder: A Must-Have Tool in Your Kitchen