Is Using a Mortar and Pestle Still Necessary in the Modern World?

These days, you can find a modernized, automatic version of many different things — dishwashers, blenders, you name it. Modern technology has made it easier to do lots of things in the kitchen, but this also means that some older tools have become obsolete. One example of this is the mortar and pestle — with newer and faster ways to prepare food, is there any need for a mortar and pestle? You’d be surprised by the answer.

MORTAR AND PESTLE: A KITCHEN STAPLE

To understand the importance of a mortar and pestle, we can draw comparisons to another classic kitchen tool — the knife. Kitchen knives are found in every kitchen, despite how simple they are. In fact, there are quite a few tools that can do the work of a knife which are fully automatic, so why do people still care about knives? The answer is that knives fulfill a particular purpose, and that’s to be a versatile tool for cutting, chopping, and more.

A mortar and pestle have their own role, too, albeit a more niche one. You see, a mortar and pestle are used to grind up spices and substances into smaller, finer particles that you can then use in your meals. Spices are a huge part of many different cuisines around the world, and they were even seen as some form of luxury back in the day.

But these days, you can find ground-up versions of most of the common spices at your local grocery store. Why bother? Well, a mortar and pestle can be more beneficial when you want to decide just how finely you want to grind up the spice. Just because you have to grind it up doesn’t mean it has to turn into ultra-fine dust. If you prefer bigger chunks rather than fine grains, you can do so by slowing down and taking it easy with the mortar and pestle.

THE ART OF COOKING

This next section of the article deals with a more personal aspect of cooking — the actual art of cooking itself. To many people, cooking is seen as a means to an end. You cook food in order to eat it, which is why you cook at all. But cooking in and of itself has meaning. Preparing the ingredients, cutting them up, cooking them, and serving them all form the basis of cooking. It’s like assembling a puzzle set bit by bit until you get the completed picture. While the goal of doing the puzzle is to assemble it, what makes it fun is the journey you had to go through to do it.

That’s why the mortar and pestle won’t be leaving the kitchen anytime soon. Many cooks and chefs have honed their skills in grinding spices and take pride in them. Other than the functional benefit of being able to choose how finely you grind your spices, there’s also a certain level of satisfaction that comes from grinding the herbs yourself. It’s also quite therapeutic, and grinding spices before making a meal can feel extremely rewarding when you do finish cooking the meal.