The 10 Best Molcajetes
This wiki has been updated 33 times since it was first published in March of 2017. Mesoamericans have used durable molcajetes with tejolotes to ground spices and prepare salsas and guacamole for centuries. We considered style, sturdiness, and authenticity when identifying the best models, so you can infuse your kitchen with the smells and flavors of Latin cuisine without worrying about your tools breaking. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Vasconia 5031764
2. Culinary Couture Set
3. Maxam HealthSmart 8-Inch
Editor's Notes
August 16, 2019:
A good molcajete needs to do a bit more than your standard mixing bowl, specifically allow you to mash rough ingredients enthusiastically without showing wear and tear. That's why we made sure to include several varieties made of heavy stone that can stand up to plenty of use, like the Maxam HealthSmart 8-Inch, the Culinary Couture Set, the Vasconia 5031764, and a few others. Paying homage to the traditions behind this tool was important, too, so we added The Latin Products Authentic, which is handmade from lava rock — just like the ones you'd find in markets in Mexico.
Having a good tejolote is also critical to making perfect guacamole, salsa, and the like. So we appreciate that the RSVP International Guac-2 has one that is broad and weighted heavily towards the bottom, meaning you can apply less force and it will still get the job done. The Imusa Mexi-2011M has a nicely curved tejolote that's comfortable to hold, as does the Vasconia 5031764.
The various needs and habits can vary from one molcajete user to the next, so in case you're buying some bowls for a commercial environment, we included the G.E.T Viva Mexico MOJ-803-BK, a dishwasher-friendly, break-resistant 12-pack that's great for a restaurant. The Winco PMSB-56 is also nearly impossible to shatter, making it good for a home with rowdy kids.
Special Honors
The Viva Terra Recycled Glass Made from reused materials, this molcajete is not only environmentally-friendly but also quite elegant. It's available in a medium and small size, the latter of which is partially transparent, putting your culinary creations on full display. Due to the materials however, this is only suitable for serving but not strong enough for grinding ingredients, which may be a deal breaker for many. vivaterra.com
4. G.E.T Viva Mexico MOJ-803-BK
5. RSVP International Guac-2
6. Imusa Mexi-2011M
7. The Latin Products Authentic
8. Ego Auxiliatus Grid Guacamole Bowl
9. Winco PMSB-56
10. La Mano Mexicana Pig KM-03
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.