Last Updated on August 3, 2023 by Share My Kitchen
This is one kitchen gadget we’re glad we have. Flavor Shaker has been around for a few years now and it was invented by Jamie Oliver to substitute the mortar and pestle.
We’ve had it for a couple of months and we’ve been using it quite often since then. In the same manner as the age-old device, this kitchen gadget crushes, grinds, and bruises the herbs and spices you put in it, releasing their aromas.
And being a shaker, it best of all, of course, mixes really well.
What is a Jamie Oliver Flavor Shaker?
On the whole, the Flavour Shaker is a mortar and pestle, but with quite a different shape. The “mortar” is the two-part shaker, made from durable, see-through plastic and the “pestle” is a heavy ceramic ball. You place your ingredients in, chuck the ball in, place the top on, and shake well. And it’s as easy as that.
Does The Flavor Shaker Work Well?
With these abilities, the Flavor Shaker gives you the opportunity in just a few seconds to create meat rubs for aromatics roasts and grills; marinades and sauces, or salad dressings, to name a few.
We really like it and think it is a very good idea – works pretty well, does everything Jamie Oliver promises it does, and it’s fun to work with, too.
Does The Flavor Shaker Really Replace The Mortar and Pestle?
The short answer is no, it doesn’t. At least for us. Among the pros are that it’s easier to use than a mortar and pestle, as just in a few seconds you can create and add flavor to all kinds of everyday dishes. Probably an even bigger advantage is that is easier to clean by hand or in a dishwasher (top shelf).
Jamie Oliver Flavor Shaker Vs Mortar and Pestle
However, compared with the mortar and pestle, there are a few aspects in which the Flavour Shaker gives way to it. First, its capacity is limited and if you need to crush and mix larger quantities, it is going to be either difficult or impossible.
Second, it can’t crush everything the mortar and pestle do with easiness. For example, put four or five garlic cloves in the Flavour Shaker and you have a little result in a form of cloves just bruised, or you need to add sea salt crystals and shake for ages in order to crush into fine particles.
We will keep using the mortar and pestle but will also use our Flavour Shaker, especially for when we just want to quickly add some flavor to a dish, or make a small quantity of a salad dressing. I think it’s what it does best.
