When it comes down to grinding the whole spices, mortar, and pestle vs grinder is always a matter of debate. We are sure your grandma loves mortar and pestle because it “preserves” the flavor, but what about convenience? So, if you have the same confusion, we are sharing the differences between both these devices!
Mortar and Pestle vs Grinder
Mortar And Pestle
This is a manual device for crushing the whole spices, but some people also use them for crushing the coffee bean. It is basically a combination of two tools that help crush and grind the ingredients into fine powders and pastes. The mortar is basically a bowl, and it’s generally made from ceramic, hardwood, or metal. However, some mortars are also designed with hard stone (granite is the most promising choice). On the other hand, the pestle is the club-shaped and blunt component that is used to pound and press the ingredients added to the mortar.
The pestle can be used in dry or wet form, depending on the ingredients and desired texture. Mortar and pestle has been around for centuries and were used for preparing herbal medicines. Currently, people use it to crush spices, make a mojito, and make pesto. For making mojito, sugar, mint leaves, and ice are gently crushed with the help of a pestle. It is available in various materials, but ceramic ones are the best choice. Honestly, these ceramic ones are fragile, but they work with a variety of spices. On the other hand, the wooden ones need frequent cleaning, given the porous nature.
As far as the stone mortar and pestles are concerned, they are the oldest ones and are high-strength, but they are likely to add fine particles to the ingredients mix. For the most part, it can be used with nearly every ingredient. What we like about mortar and pestle is that you can change the crushed food’s consistency just by changing your hand pressure. In case you want to make puree or paste, you can also add water to the mortar. Not to forget, it’s a sustainable choice since there is no electricity consumption there and it’s space-efficient as well.
Mortar and pestles are easiest to clean, and if you don’t drop them, they will last for years to come. Moreover, there is no noise involved, and you have better control. To summarize, it’s a promising choice for oily and wet stuff.
Grinder
The grinder is a more convenient choice for people who want to crush the spices or coffee beans without using too much power. To begin with, it cannot be used for every food product, which means it has some limitations. The grinders are perfect for crushing ingredients in smaller batches. However, you will need to be particular about the settings to make the final outcome is consistent and doesn’t vary only because you had to crush stuff in batches. The best part of using grinders is that they are convenient to use and have faster performance (it could easily crush the hard spices in around 30 seconds).
On top of everything, when you are crushing the spices, nothing will fly around because the powdered spices will stay in the jar unless you open it up. In addition, it’s a promising choice for making fine powders rather than grainy texture. Not to forget, you don’t have to worry about your arm because there is no intensive pressing and crushing involved – you only need to press a button. However, all these benefits come at a cost since these grinders can be expensive. So, once you get a grinder, don’t forget to clean it up properly.
It’s needless to say that grinders can simplify the grinding process, and it will be quick. The grinders are usually made in plastic and metal, but all of them work pretty fine. These grinders tend to have teeth in the upper chamber, and when it’s switched on, they twist and move to crush the ingredients. If you find some high-end grinders, you will be able to control the pressure, speed, and time according to the food ingredient. However, before you use them for dry ingredients, make sure that there is no moisture or water inside, or you’ll be left with a paste. All in all, be safe while using these because they are sharp!