Choosing the best granite mortar and pestle is a crucial decision for your Thai cooking endeavors. Did you know this old school kitchen tool has been used for over 10,000 years and remains relatively unchanged?
Inside of a granite mortar is where much of the magic happens in Thai cuisine, thanks of course to its accompaniment, the pestle. Thai cooks still largely favor a granite mortar and pestle over a food processor because it extracts the maximum flavor from the ingredients you pound in it. I’m here to help you pick the best one.
Here’s a quick table of contents that summarizes the different sections on this page. Jump quickly to the bits you want to read!
Best Thai Granite Mortar and Pestle
When you search for “granite mortar and pestles” on Amazon, you’ll typically see the same few products being recommended, and with good reason. The best Thai granite mortar and pestles are:
ChefSofi Mortar and Pestle Set — Best Overall
Gorilla Grip Original Mortar and Pestle Set, Large Size — Best Value for Size
- Granite Mortar and Pestle by HiCoup — Nicest Looking
- Kitchendise Granite Mortar and Pestle Set — Most Innovative
Let’s get into the specifics of each granite mortar and pestle so you can choose the best one for your needs.
#1 ChefSofi Granite Mortar and Pestle Set
For the most well-rounded granite mortar and pestle that creates the best Thai curry pastes and bases for stir-fried dishes, my Thai partner agrees with me that ChefSofi’s product is number one.
Best Overall
For a start, the capacity is an ideal size for most small to medium kitchens. There is room for a full two cups, or 500 ml, which is more than enough to create several portions worth of curry paste in one go.
The 6.5-inch pestle is the perfect size for bashing up ingredients and extracting their essential oils, which is what drives the compelling flavors in Thai cuisine.
In terms of how easy it is to clean, the ChefSufi mortar comes up trumps. The granite is minimally porous, meaning that it doesn’t easily absorb the odours or oils from the ingredients you use in it.
An anti-scratch protector is a great practical addition that amplifies the utility of this mortar and pestle. Place the protector on your countertop and avoid scratches. It’s important to remember that grinding and bashing ingredients up is quite a violent process at times, so it’s great to so easily avoid damaging your countertops.
In terms of drawbacks, for me, the main two are that the mortar is not deep enough and that the pestle itself has an odd pointy shape which doesn’t work perfectly with the slope of the mortar. You can easily overcome the size issue by purchasing the extra large version, but be prepared for higher costs.
Overall though I give it two thumbs up as a well-rounded product with a good size, solid design, and useful extra features.
#2 Gorilla Grip Original Mortar and Pestle Set, Large Size
Best Value for Size
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I mentioned about the Chefsofi mortar that its size could be an issue. The Gorilla Grip set does not have this problem…it’s huge…like a gorilla you might say!! 😉
In contrast to the previous product, this mortar is over four inches deep, which provides more than enough room to bash up your ingredients without worrying about things spilling over the side. From bottom to top, it’s 7.1 inches and it has a superb four-cup capacity. I think you can understand why I recommend Gorilla Grip as the best value for its size.
I was also impressed by the specific texture of this mortar. It had a certain roughness to it that makes it perfect for both dry and wet ingredients. Whether you’re bashing up some dried red chilis for a som tam, some garlic for pad krapow, or miixng together ingredients for a fiery red curry paste, this will suit you.
The guarantee provided by Gorilla Grip is also an incredibly generous…10 years long! That is really a quite amazing length of time to guarantee any product, let alone one you’re likely to use quite aggressively by bashing things up in it.
In terms of cons, the instructions for seasoning the mortar are somewhat complicated and confusing. They should be much clearer. Also, I feel the pestle is a bit lightweight on this one, meaning you need to put in extra elbow grease when bashing up ingredients.
Overall, the Gorilla Grip pestle and mortar is by far the best value for its size on this list.
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#3 Granite Mortar and Pestle by HiCoup
Nicest Looking
When it comes to aesthetics, I think this is the best looking mortar and pestle you can buy. HiCoup have produced a thing of beauty, to be honest. I love the black pestle, the black rounded edges on the top of the mortar, and the cool vintage granite design which is reminiscent of an old Thai temple.
Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s probably wise to discuss some other features of HiCoup’s product, such as whether it’s any good! I’m happy to report that the quality is pretty good.
Stain-free granite makes for easy cleaning. The pestle is particularly good in this regard; nothing seems to stick to it.
This is quite a heavy-duty, sturdy mortar and feels like it’ll last a long time. For crushing, bashing, and all other actions needed to create good Thai food, it does a decent job.
A particular drawback of the HiCoup product is that it is rougher than the other mortars on this list. What happens, although not all the time, is that the pestle is not strong enough to cope with the roughness. Bits of it can break off and make their way into your food. That’s why I only really recommend this as the best looking one on the list.
Overall, it’s a good product, but the drawbacks mean that I would personally choose either the Gorilla Glue or ChefSofi mortars before choosing this specific model, despite its aesthetic appeal.
#4 Kitchendise Granite Mortar and Pestle Set
Summary and Features to Look Out For
Hopefully, this page has helped inform you of the best granite mortar and pestle. I think the three products I selected represent pretty much the main things to look out for when searching for a granite mortar and pestle, including:
- Non-porous granite
- Capacity
- Depth
- Pestle quality
- Visual Appeal
- Free Handy Extras
Please go and view my page on Thai cookware if you want more recommendations on essential products for cooking your favorite Thai dishes.
Granite Mortar and Pestle Uses in Thai Food
The uses of granite mortar and pestles in Thai food are as follows:
- Crushing garlic and chilis to extract their aroma and flavors, forming the basis for stir-fried dishes such as morning glory or pad krapow
- Combining dry and wet ingredients into curry pastes
- Crushing seeds and herbs to a pulp to add to dishes and infuse their flavors
- Releasing essential oils from aromatics like lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, a trio which forms the basis of many soups.
Is marble or granite better for mortar and pestles?
Granite is far better than marble for mortar and pestles because it produces better flavour. Thai cooks will have two types of mortar and pestle in their kitchens: a granite one for maximizing the taste of curry pastes and stir-fried dishes, and a wooden or clay one for lightly pounding salads.
Do you need to season a granite mortar and pestle?
Yes, you need to season granite mortar and pestle to remove any grit or residue from the stone material. It can actually be quite a complicated process, but all products on this page come with detailed instructions on how to seasons them.
Can you use a food processor instead of a mortar and pestle?
You can, but any Thai person will likely tell you a food processor is not an adequate replacement for a mortar and pestle. Thais know that their food is all about flavor amped up to mouth-tingling levels, and they don’t take shortcuts when it comes to this.