Looking to find a good mortar (EU)

[miggus]

Hi guys, it's been 9 years since the last thread, so let's make a new one.

I'm looking for a mortar that will spark joy and perform well. The one I have is nothing but frustrating. It's pestle is thin and pointy, and stuff just jumps left and right from it and nothing gets grabbed. I see there is a lot of no-name offerings out there, which doesn't say much to me.

Ideally, it would be suited both for crushing spices as for making pastes. Price is not so much an issue, I want to buy one good one that will last and close the topic. Any recommendations for specific products or how I can get one that will do it's job nicely? Vendors should be in Europe.

 

[boblob]

r a mortar t

? a mortar?

 

[Neutri]

Yeah you use it to grind spices

 

[miggus]

OK, well, I gave this one a shot (no pun intended):

https://www.messerspezialist.de/cole-and-mason-moerser.html

I hope the fact that it is 40€ and from a well-known knife vendor will mean it's good. Description is funny already.

Oh and I didn't know how fancy some mortars are:

That is cute, I admit it.

Skeppshult is always a safe bet, but I decided to go for something stainless... for once.

 

[Neutri]

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to the different materials?

 

[miggus]

Well, cast iron is very aesthetic (to me, at least) but it can rust. Stone won't.

 

[noj]

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to the different materials?

I like granite. The natural texture (unpolished) aids grinding of spices and foods. The material doesn't rust/corrode. The downside is it's brittle. Larger ones are heavy. I like the weight for stability, or making curry pastes.

 

[Neutri]

Yeah I have one in granite. But I didn't look at other possibilities. Thought maybe there was some meta mortar

 

[Lars]

Get the biggest one you can get/afford/have room for.

 

[jaydee]

I like granite. The natural texture (unpolished) aids grinding of spices and foods.

+1
Never understood these light ceramic and metal ones. Tried it and they just don't work for spices and such. Rather take a hammer or my big wooden "dough roller".

Bought mine ~20y ago. From a Jamie Oliver series of kitchen tools. 40€. Yeah could have got a cheaper one at the asian store but it is perfect i have to say.

You want a big one for pastes with oil and for the jumping coriander seeds.
I think your choice is looking good.

 

[Jeezy]

I bought the Jamie Oliver granite mortar (20cm) a few years ago and it's awesome. Really heavy as it should be. 70€ nowadays but i think it's still worth it
Amazon link

 

[Rainman890]

I'm also looking for the same thing... Hard to know what's good and not.

Here is an interesting selection from Germany : https://www.idealo.de/preisvergleich/MainSearchProductCategory.html?q=granit+Mörser+20cm

 

[Jovidah]

I've been struggling with this search myself... especially since my main complaint about my current one is that I wished it was larger, but almost everything is of similar size.

 

[noj]

I've been struggling with this search myself... especially since my main complaint about my current one is that I wished it was larger, but almost everything is of similar size.

The one pictured is 15 lbs. Out of stock from where I got it (US tho).

 

[e30Birdy]

I went cheapo route and picked up one from Ikea for like 20 euro. It is made from marble and has nice heft to it but works great. It is called Ädelsten

 

[demcav]

Look for a Milton Brook 6 mortar & pestle. They are unglazed but nonporous, so they have a certain amount of "grit" to the mortar and pestle's surface. Originally made for the pharmaceutical industry, they are very easy to clean and are stain resistant. I suggest the size "6" because it is large enough (8 1/2 inches across x 4 1/2 high, and holds about a quart) to grind and/or crush virtually anything I have the strength and patience for. Expect to pay about $85 but they are worth every penny. Mine is about 15 years old and was produced in England.

https://www.amazon.com/Milton-Unglazed-Mortar-Pestle-Diameter/dp/B00509XTQS?th=1