Porcelain Mortars and Pestles For Sauces and Spice Blends

While you can use electric devices to grind spices, there's something much more personal about using a traditional mortar and pestle. The porcelain mortars and pestles at Williams Sonoma are specially designed to help you grind fresh ingredients and create flavorful sauces and spice blends. They can also be used for home bartending. Browse the collection of porcelain grinding tools to add this useful item to your kitchen gadget collection.

Mortar and Pestle Design Details

The mortars and pestles in this collection are crafted of durable porcelain with a glossy white exterior that looks great on any kitchen countertop. While they're small enough to stay out all the time without cluttering your cooking space, they can also easily be stored away in any cabinet. The bowl's base and interior are unglazed, which helps to keep the tool steady as you grind and provides extra resistance. The mortar's deep sides keep your herbs and spices contained as you work.

The pestle is moderately weighted to give you a little extra help when crushing firm ingredients like salt crystals or garlic cloves. It also features a flared rim for a comfortable and controlled grip. Once you've blended your ingredients, use the handy pour spout to transfer to a pot or pan, a jar for storage, or a ceramic mixing bowl, then place in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Using Your Porcelain Mortars and Pestles

The most common use for a porcelain pestle and mortar bowl is to crush herbs and spices to make pesto, curry paste, flavored salts or spice blends. If you're working with herbs, remove the leaves with a herb stripper or pair of kitchen scissors, then use the pestle to crush and extract the freshest flavor. You can also use a porcelain pestle to muddle herbs for cocktails, but to release juices from limes, a toothed muddler will work best.

Shop for porcelain mortars and pestles at Williams Sonoma to blend your own fresh spice mixes and sauces. These compact cooks' tools are incredibly versatile and look great on any kitchen countertop. By crushing, mixing and muddling ingredients at home, you'll unlock the freshest flavors and elevate your drinks and dishes.