Granite Vs Porcelain Mortar and Pestle - Cole & Mason Review

[@porkulate]

A few years ago - after searching for some time online and in various brick and mortar stores - I finally located a handmade mortar and pestle set to purchase from a Thai food and kitchen utensils and cookware supply store here in the USA. It is hand carved out of a SOLID BLOCK of grey granite. I already had two smaller ones made out of marble which were pretty to look at but way too small, unstable and light and just didn't hold the ingredients very well. The one that I ultimately purchased weighs TWENTY FIVE POUNDS, with a thick heavy base and bowl and which has a 6 cup capacity. It is nine inches across in diameter on the outside edges and a bit smaller on the inside edges of the bowl. This baby is a HEAVY MONSTER and it is IDEAL for just about any reasonable task that you can envision for a mortar and pestle. Also, the pestle is eight inches long and packs a punch of its own with its ample weight which is helpful when you have a lot of ingredients to be ground up. I paid seventy US dollars for this 'BRUTE' plus shipping, but it was and continues to be worth every penny of the price.So if you are looking around, look at what Thailand has to offer on line. You will not be disappointed.

[@oddlytimbotwillison6296]

I'm looking for my first mortar and pestle - these tips helped me out. Thank you sir.

[@anngranquist1828]

An addition -- not all medications can be crushed. Some pills have a special coating to release slowly so that work over a longer time period I'm an ICU RN and have taken care of patients that cut their pills and ended up nearly dying. (For example -- blood pressure meds that are supposed to slowly dissolve and last 24 hours ,, if crushed - they can drop someone's blood pressure suddenly to a non survivable level) Be sure you check with your pharmacist to see if pills can be crushed....

[@Selfsufficientme]

Good advice :)

[@QueenBee-tk3mq]

Ann Granquist wow I had no idea about this. That’s very interesting. I break my melatonin into 4s, is that bad? When I was little I remember my parents used to crush my antibiotics because I couldn’t swallow pills.

[@projectixj9868]

Great tip Ann. I happened upon this video and read your comment (as it was on the top). I had no idea grinding meds could be dangerous. Much appreciated.

[@wwsuwannee7993]

60 bucks is cheap for a good tool that will last generations. Good Info, thanks Mark.

[@sandyg3772]

I wanted a mortar and pestle since childhood, and just got my first one about a year ago. Now I have a collection of them around my house. One of my most favorite is my alabaster one, but I don't use it for crushing anything. I just love the look and feel of it. Great video. Thanks for explaining the features offered by the simplest of tools.

[@mio.giardino]

I got my 18-10 stainless steel one when I left work to have my first baby. The shop that was attached to the facility designed & made it beautifully; they loved the change from making parts. The chunk of metal was $300 CA at the time. I was SO glad I asked for it as I've gotten a lot of use from it and it satisfied my need that it not be breakable and I'd be able to clean it perfectly.

[@DianeHasHopeInChrist]

Thanks, Mark. I am looking to get a mortar/pestle to make "wet masala" and a different one for dry masala & curry powder. You are awesome!

[@PermacultureHaven]

Yes, absolutely agree with you Mark! With love our granite one, too. Cheers!

[@kellylynch3775]

Thank you for the comparisons. Very good points you made. I'll choose granite!

[@IronDruids]

Woah lol. Not who I expected to see when looking for homemade mortar and pestle on youtube. I had no idea you made this kind of video!

[@onionring1531]

I ordered a Cole & Mason recently and it arrived with a broken pestle. So now thanks to an excellent faulty item policy from the seller, I have two mortars and 1 1/2 pestles.

[@sai-yq9zu]

Can u please do a demo on the granite one for both dry and wet grinding and show. Very useful video. Thank you

[@ysmeine8]

Thank you. I was considering getting one in the future. I do have a molcajete made from volcanic rock for making salsa. It isn't ideal for everything. I use my bar muddler and a mug or bowl for a temporary fix. Just yesterday I needed to use it. I do agree that the bowl should be more narrow and tall.

[@luciq1007]

Thank you for this!! I'm used to a molcajete (Mexican version) for food and whatnot, but I was looking into one for natural beauty products I'm making (eye serums, hair serums, etc.) And this helped me choose a porcelain one for that specific need, since I'm grinding up some things to infuse with the oil serums before bottling. Ty for the fair review!!

[@ezraana1]

Hi...I bought me a ceramic Mortar & Pestic little one to make salsa, but now Im worried about how it leaves a powdery dust like inside the little pot and I don't want that in my salsa. Can this be cured like the molcajete? And how?

[@margaritabelyanina4715]

Thanks for a great presentation! I have couple of questions about granite mortar: 1. If I ground vitamins for my kid (doctor said it’s ok to crush them), the texture is quite “sandy”, there is no coat. But is there any danger that bits or pieces of granite itself can get in?? 2. Do I need to wash the mortar every time after the vitamins crush (if I use it only for vitamins)? Thank you so much in anyway!!

[@paddlepower888]

Thanks. While grinding some cardamom and coriander for a soup, I first tried my electric coffee grinder (the kind that flings the beans around making big and small chunks), then a really small porcelain mortar and pestle that can work a quarter teaspoon at a time and spills some due to a very shallow mortar. I finally turned to my 9.5 lb Vasconia granite M/P and had a grand time with the spices! I agree that a deep and massive mortar makes it all work!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks for sharing your own experience and use of a nice heavy mortar & pestle Jeffrey! Cheers mate :)

[@TheKnowledgeThurst]

I have a great Joseph and Joseph Porcelain mortar with a spherical tip works super well

[@anotherfeat1647]

I've stumbled across you in the wild, an oldie too. Feel like I've found a rare Self Sufficient Me gem.

[@billybareblu]

Great presentation. Thanks for posting. I've been on the fence about purchasing that Cole and Mason version, and you really helped me make the decision.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Ok great - glad the vid helped! :)

[@phoenixpinkmyn5535]

Thank you for this! I am actually using mine for fine powders (silica, talc, iron, gypsum etc), so your tip about porcelain being better if you were grinding up medication was just the kind of info I was looking for.

[@ambycakes]

I found a medium sized granite one at an OP shop a while back, and I use it all of the time to grind up salsas and whole spices!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Nice find! I love the weight and can't wait to try a salsa in mine... Cheers :)

[@dianaperez6369]

What is an OP shop?

[@justmadeit2]

@@dianaperez6369 A thrift store or charity shop

[@markcarey8426]

Great review. I bought my first one yday. Small, granite, 70mm across, 40 deep. Half price 22$ nz. Am curing it now. Grind grind. God, never realised you had to do that. Taking ages. Thinking maybe I'd be better off with a bigger one. Had to put a sheet of newspaper under it bc the rice was flying everywhere.

[@myk1200s]

just curious i own the Cole & Mason AS WELL JUST RECEIVED IT .I'M HEARING THAT THEY NEED TO BE CONDITIONED BEFORE USE ANY SUGGESTIONS?...THANKS

[@AMERSIDD]

Why are you wearing the all seing eye?

[@gorillazombies189]

U can read minds I was googling mortar and pestle like two days ago. I could not pick but now I can.👍🏻!!

[@waynethebarber1095]

I just got an Imusa 8 inch mochajete only $19.00 on Amazon. Its granite and I ground it in with water. About 4 times to get all the silica all out. Now I am ready to make salsa and guacamole.

[@surfnyolly]

This was sooo helpful! I’ve watched a ton of videos and this by far was the best! Thank you for making this so simple!!

[@anthonyd2923]

Thank you mate! Ive never owned one of these. Youre video convinced me to go with the Granite one. Just ordered it from Amazon. it says 5.5 inches though and only 4 kilos. Hope its big enough, G'day !!

[@AlwaysBelieve777]

"Now I don't want to make anyone suck any eggs" 😄 That cracked me up!

[@randrowe9660]

How do you condition it and how do you clean it? Great video.

[@BeautyFromDecay]

I have a couple of sets in different sizes, I do agree about the bigger one being a advantage over the small, there's more room to get a good grind on. I just don't have the room in the smaller set to get the pestle really moving, but that one's great for crushing small items. I have one set that is exclusively for grinding medication, pain killers and what not when my elderly pets had been sick.

[@Marcello.Lextra]

The best advices I got about mortars!

[@kellybearden5697]

Thank you sir, that is most helpful for a first time buyer/user

[@DrBrainTickler]

Very informative video and you answered my questions all of them. Very thorough. Thank you much. Subscribed and now I'm going to go check out what else you've made.

[@五月爸爸在澳洲]

I just got my Cole&Mason Pestle & Mortar today. And I realize that if the granite dust is harmful when you grind you food.I mean when you grind up something with granite pestle , it maybe a little bit dust coming out even we can not see it. What do you think ? Is it a concern we should think of ? I would like to use it to grind my coffee beans. Thanks

[@misstweetypie1]

Eating rock dust was an issue with ancient civilizations, after grinding grains, there is rock dust and slowly, over years, eating food ground with rocks would wear your teeth down. But grinding your coffee grains should be fine, especially if you send it through a filter. I know this comment is super late, but I’m more replying for any future people :) you probably won’t eat enough of it for it to be harmful.

[@TruthAndLight4995]

Did you season your granite set?

[@elvinadhludhlu5380]

After watching your vid about these 2 products, I wanted to get myself the granite one, but they are expensive. Fortunately found a cast iron one, that after seasoning, works like a charm. I ground dry rice in it and managed to get it into fine sugar consistency. Its heavy but manageble.

[@ezraana1]

Hi Elvina, after you season it , it did'nt leave that powdery stuff from the ceramic? Cause I was worried about that powder of the ceramic getting into my salsa.

[@elvinadhludhlu5380]

@@ezraana1 Hello, Ann. The cast iron didn't leave any residue, after grinding rice in it a few times as recommended. I also keep a fine but firm brush on hand to help clean it out. Hope this helps.

[@jecriggs]

Thanks for another informative and useful VLOG, SSM. I don't own a mortar and pestle yet but it's been on my wish list for a long while now. I have been making do with an old wooden pestle and a deep ceramic soup bowl if I really need to grind something down, but it's a long process that produces mediocre results. What's your opinion on marble and quartz as materials for a mortar and pestle?

[@omarkhokhar5308]

Where can you buy the black pestle and mortar from?

[@WR3ND]

I find a coffee grinder (which isn't used for coffee) generally works very well, but I just can't rough crunch harder things down in it as well nor as quickly, even things like dried chilies.

[@WR3ND]

Also when getting down into powders, due to its high RPMs, the coffee grinder will heat things up too much with friction and can cause it to stick together or to the grinder and lump up, making harder bits and making it more difficult to keep the grinder clean. If I grind down a few really hot chilies in it to a powder, it will taint other things I grind in it for quite a while afterward.

[@50shadesofgreen]

great review of your Granite and Porcelain Mortar and Pestles

[@sandra02148]

Nice, I love my mortar and pestle

[@Ray-ku1sj]

You did a good job on this video, informative and well presented. Keep up the good work. Ray

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks for taking the time to give feedback Ray! Cheers :)

[@cbrooke16]

Awesome comparison!

[@laurieparis2203]

Agree with every one of your points, as that's been my experience, too! 🌱

[@ghettocountry8678]

what are the measurements of the black one trying to purchase one and the last one i got was a 3 by 2 nothing to make anything big with. It's just way to small.

[@christopherj5780]

Hi from new england, wish i could just fly over to Australia visit for a while pick your mind... love watching ya mate eh

[@gasguzzler69]

we have a tiny one, 7 cm inside gannet . but it was free, a m8 got a bigger one. as you say bigger is easier and better, mrs and kids use it to grind up fresh (from the garden) and dry herbs.

[@revelation777a3]

Love your cat! Great video.

[@candygirl7586]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@deborahmeijer9697]

Hey mark, Do you know how the ones called where you grind with a wheel ?? One with the handles on the sides of the wheel and the bowl is a long oval shape. I have been searching on google but i can't find the name for them 😓 I found 1 vid on KZbin and found a couple that are close but don't have the handles on the grinding stone.

[@youyoo3408]

It might be called trough grinding stones ot metate.

[@deborahmeijer9697]

@@youyoo3408 sadly a matate is not exactly what i was looking for. The one i mean had a round grinding stone that you roll in a small "dich"

[@youyoo3408]

@@deborahmeijer9697 ok ty, this is a nice website about the main topic, maybe they cobsidered it: www.lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2014junegrindingstonespage1.htm

[@youyoo3408]

@@deborahmeijer9697 Maybe this, its round: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4jFiqhvja2Ehtk

[@deborahmeijer9697]

@@youyoo3408 they are beautiful but not what i was searching for. You use the stone as a wheel. It stands up straicht and you have a long botom where you "drive" the wheel over. I found a vid on them (sadly no indication what they are named) i'l try if i can find it again.

[@musicidol951]

Mark why did my lemon seed grow 2 sprouts? Can I cut one of them?cheers ;)

[@the_midnight_blues]

I can see how the granite m&p would do a better job at releasing the essential oils from fresh herbs and spices. But my biggest concern of using a granite m&p is getting rock dust in my food. Any thoughts on that?

[@Selfsufficientme]

Oh, yeah, I suppose I can see how rock dust could be a little disconcerting but I think you might be looking into it a little too deeply, to be honest. The amount of dust created during a mix (particularly since you're typically grinding something between the rock surfaces) would be minimal and if anything give you some micro mineral nutrients in your food rather than anything bad. If you grind the mortar and pestle together (without food) you will create a small amount of dust of course due to rock on rock. Some people deliberately wear them in by grinding them together before use or grinding uncooked rice. I'd expect that a worn-in mortar wouldn't produce very much dust at all during normal usage. Don't worry about it. All the best :)

[@chongseitmooi2593]

P&m is very ideal cooking tool when there s no electricity supply or to save electricity bill n is very fun to use it as a traditional cooking method 🍄🥜🌶🍜🍛🥘this is a must have in the olday cooking 🎑🎐🎐n granite one become very expensive now.. Very easy to maintain wash n dry👏👌👍

[@karenhobbs3218]

I'd like to know how you got the cole and mason grinder for only $60 AUD

[@BK-vh3do]

I never knew the difference very informative

[@kindpanda1075]

What size is that one?

[@henridelagardere4584]

My granite mortar and pestle are at least 80 years old. 60/80 = 0.75 per year. That's not a bad deal.

[@skiddleskaddle175]

What about a brass mortal and pestle

[@juliemix4806]

This was a great review. I was in the store yesterday looking at each of these and was almost persuaded by price alone to get the porcelain one. Then I thought that maybe I should do some research first, which led me here. I see that this is a relatively recent up-load of yours. How did I miiss it? Love your channel. Cheers.

[@ninarichie9738]

What are the size of those mortar

[@ninarichie9738]

Is it 5inch

[@Selfsufficientme]

Correct yes 5 inch :)

[@fexummuk]

what about Marble from Aldi! :)

[@dictare]

I had a marble one. It worked well except it was too small. Both mortar and pestle were pre-roughened. The pestle broke in half while grinding. I epoxied the two halves together.

[@gagansharmaDevelopYourself]

Is there need to conditioning from inside the granite mortal.

[@youyoo3408]

An option to grinding pills is to put them in an ounce or two of water and let them dissolve with some occasional stiring.

[@lisacastano1064]

You might want to make another pestle from wood that has a wider bottom it makes it easier to grind some things lol and check Asian markets for better prices on them. And if you can't afford granite stoneware or wood both work better than porcelain. You can get a stoneware one that's crosshatched and can be used as a grater as well.

[@i_love_flowers3746]

What about a clay mortar?

[@Selfsufficientme]

I haven't tried one but I would love to get a clay Thai mortar and pestle to give it go one day yes. Cheers :)

[@marieharding1290]

I got my mortar and pestle from the op shop. It's a granite one, and from memory I think I only paid about $10 for it. Bargain!

[@oliviahill4235]

You should get a Mexican one, they're are made out of volcanic stone. It's call molcajete.

[@Ucceah]

a molcajete is quite a different tool from a granite mortar! the bowl-shape is more suited to make decent amounts of sauces and pastes, and the coarse porousity helps to grind up fibrous and tough ingredients easily. granite mortars are deeper, and much smoother and harder, and ideal to pound and grind smaller quantities of anything hard into fine powder. being non-porous, it's also much easier to clean and get unwanted aromas out of it.

[@critterscritters8516]

Cuda FX There are different size molcajetes for different occasions. They are not just used to make salsa, sauce and paste. Some are small enough (and not as porous) to grind spices and pills into fine powder and it's much more easier to grind in a small molcajete than it is with a marble or granite mortal and pestal. They are relatively easy to clean, disinfect, and get the smells out when you know how to properly take care of them. Just goes to show how little you know about a molcajete.

[@cameronbartlett856]

Not gonna lie, that accent caught me off guard in the beginning

[@teesha123]

As an aussie, whenever i hear an aussie on youtube it startles me! hahaha

[@jenniferprescott8655]

Love my granit, love it

[@jasonward6723]

why are you saying it backwards? ive never heard anyone say motar and pestle normally its pestle and motar sounds alien to my ear maybe its cos your in australia its all upside down lol

[@illiteratebeef]

That opening 😅

[@angiem1095]

So if they wear in over time...that means you are eating pulverized granite stone with your food.

[@kingmufasa8929]

South Africa sells wooden ones, shining with shoe polish😆😂

[@thefaeryman]

those must be molded, otherwise the labor would be intense

[@dictare]

I wonder if it's done by CNC?

[@Papillon_2010]

They are chiseled and polished

[@ItsTeezoUBZ]

Use it to crush your pills to snort. lol jk

[@BubblewrapHighway]

6:27

[@nebegdj5954]

hi father its nice video keep going up and up .i have in my home the granit mortar and one in copper and father mike i want to advise you a bout the cookawre try to use the healthy like the granite or clay pots you can find it in indian stores because your health is our health we want you evry time healthy we love you and care a bout you .its your friend or you can say your sun djelloul from algeria i say to you father because my father died with prostat cancer and i respect you because you are more older than me pleas read my comments good bay

[@Dzloof1]

LOLLLLLLLL