Arthritis affects 54 million adults in the United States, more than 1 of 4. It's the leading cause of disability and one of the most common chronic conditions in the country.
Lighter and easier to use than traditional stone mortars and pestles, the Nesting Mortar + Pestle is a modern update to the centuries-old cooking tool, designed specifically to assist those with arthritis as well as anyone that loves to cook.
Designed with the theory of inertia, the pestle requires minimal effort due to small steel pellets in the interior that facilitate the user's actions.
Two nesting mortars allow the user to select the size required for their cooking needs from grinding small amounts of spices to larger amounts of herbs.
Research into arthritis, anthropometric data as well as a photographic study of hand movements provided insight into the form of the product.
Usability testing was conducted with various prototypes to validate the final concept.
Manufactured with high strength porcelain, the non-porous material stands up to acids and food stains. A silicone base on the bottom of the large mortar prevents it from slipping during use.
A pouring spout in the smaller mortar aids in removing the ground spices.
- James Beard