A Timeless Cooking Aid
People have used the mortar and pestle for thousands of years. You’ve seen these as a guest at other people’s houses. You’ve seen them on cooking shows. Maybe you’ve wondered whether it’s worth it to have a mortar and pestle. After all, they take up counter space, they’re heavy, and you may only use it once in awhile. But there’s some great benefits to having a mortar and pestle.
Bringing Out Flavor
The main asset of the mortar and pestle is in its motion. Grinding up herbs and spices with a mortar and pestle releases flavor in a way that chopping or slicing with a knife can’t. The comprehensive crushing releases all the oils, juices, and fibers of the plant. The little fragments made by your food processor or knife blade don’t quite offer the same aromatic quality. But the little stone implement is handy for another reason as well.
Quality Not Quantity
Usually, the ingredients you grind with a mortar and pestle are only needed in small amounts. It makes little sense to drag out a food processor for one small handful of herbs. That’s not the only advantage of the mortar and pestle over powered appliances like food processors and coffee bean grinders.
Staying Cool
As coffee aficionados know, overgrinding the beans heats them up, affecting their flavor. The same principle holds with spices or herbs in a food processor. You’ll never have this problem grinding ingredients in a mortar.
The Key To Quality
How do you choose a good mortar and pestle? First, choose a mortar with a slightly rough finish, which will help in the grinding of the ingredients. Avoid mortars with too smooth a finish. Stone is better—and sturdier—than wood. Make sure the pestle is long enough to comfortably reach the bottom of the mortar from above. A thick handle tapering to a thicker, rounded end will be the most effective.
The Payoff
Cooking is all about flavor, and there are few items more essential than a mortar and pestle for achieving that goal. This simple effective little tool is a great way to make your food taste better, and boost your cooking skills in the process. When you have people asking what smells so good, you’ll wonder why you took so long to get a mortar and pestle!
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