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3 Best Mortar and Pestle Sets for Grinding Spices and Vibrant Pestos

We tested eight mortar and pestle sets made of granite, marble, wood, and stainless steel to find the one worth making room for in your kitchen

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Homemade pesto in a wooden mortar and pestle, surrounded by fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and lemon wedges.
We made a lot of pesto to test eight mortar and pestle sets made of granite, wood, stainless steel, and marble.
Photos: Jennifer Ford/Consumer Reports

Even with the convenience of blenders and food processors, there’s still something special about using a mortar and pestle in the kitchen. Grinding spices or other ingredients by hand brings out a freshness and vibrancy you simply don’t get from premade, store-bought options. I realized this the first time I made pesto from scratch: The flavor was so pungent and lively that I found myself wondering if I’d ever truly tasted fresh pesto before.

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But not all mortar and pestle sets are created equal. To find out which ones are actually worth buying, I tested eight products made of wood, marble, stainless steel, and granite—grinding whole peppercorns and crushing garlic, pine nuts, basil, and olive oil into a pesto sauce. I did not test glass mortar and pestle sets, as they are not ideal for grinding ingredients. What I found is that material and size make a big difference, and that none of the mortars (bowls) managed to keep all the ingredients inside.

Here are my top three picks—and a few that didn’t quite make the cut.

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Jennifer Ford

Jennifer Ford

Jennifer Ford is a journalist with over a decade of experience in service journalism. She has held editorial roles at Essence, Forbes, and Us Weekly, and currently covers beauty and personal care for Consumer Reports. With a special interest in health and longevity, she will gladly deep dive into these topics over a matcha latte (or two).

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