Since ancient Stone Age, mortar and pestle tools have been utilized as an efficient means to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing or grinding them into fine paste or powder form.
Stone mortar and pestle sets are essential kitchen tools, used for pulverizing herbs and spices, grinding garlic cloves, and creating fresh salsas. If you plan on using your granite mortar and pestle in multiple recipes, make sure you season it beforehand for maximum efficiency.
1. Rinse
Granite is an abrasion-proof material used to effectively grind spices and herbs, durable enough to withstand long term use in any kitchen environment. But just like any stone kitchen tool, granite may become stained over time.
An effective cleaning routine can keep your mortar and pestle in great shape. Start by thoroughly rinsing it under running water to remove any debris clinging to its surface; or soak it for several minutes in warm water prior to scrubbing it clean.
Once your mortar and pestle are clean, seasoning is an important step to keeping food fresh while preventing contaminants such as dirt from contaminating your recipe. This process helps ensure a successful outcome!
White rice and water can be used to season a granite mortar and pestle, providing enough surface area coverage without flying away too rapidly. Use just enough to coat the bottom of your mortar but no more!
Next, pour one tablespoon of water onto your rice. Grind it up until it becomes powder and dump out. Rinse with more water to get rid of any remnants.
This process may seem time consuming and tiresome, but it will leave your mortar and pestle looking brand new again! Although this step may require up to five repeats of this procedure, if followed properly it should be simple and painless.
Once your granite mortar and pestle has been properly prepared for use again, it’s ready for action! For added convenience, there are pre-seasoned units available as well.
But some of the granite models we tested required seasoning before we could use them for the first time, which typically involved grinding white rice with water to a powder, then mixing in garlic cloves and other flavorful seasonings to help flush out any loose stones that might have collected within its porous surfaces. This process helped remove any potential obstructions.
Using a granite mortar and pestle on a regular basis is especially essential to avoid getting any grit stuck to your food, or staining your dishes with any leftover stone fragments or dirt particles that remain behind.
2. Grind
The mortar and pestle are an ancient tool, dating back to the Stone Age. Since its invention, its history includes being used for grinding spices into pastes as well as producing sauces, salsa, or guacamole.
There are various kinds of mortar and pestles, from ceramic, stone, wood, and metal models to choose from. Find one that best meets your needs before seasoning it properly before use.
Granite is an exceptionally hard and strong material that can withstand repeated pounding and grinding to extract maximum flavor from spices and herbs. Plus, being nonporous means, they won’t absorb into its surface surface!
To prepare your granite mortar and pestle, start by clearing away any debris from within its bowl by rubbing with a clean cloth or sponge.
Once the residue is cleared away, pour a small handful of white rice into a mortar, and mix it with water until you achieve a fine powder consistency. Repeat this process until no dirt remains within your rice mixture.
Once finished, rinse your mortar and pestle with water before drying them off.
Alternately, garlic and salt can also help eliminate smells and stains by grinding them into a paste and leaving to sit between 30 minutes to 24 hours before rinsing and drying it off.
If you want to create a strong paste, try grinding dry ingredients in small batches until a thick and glossy paste forms that holds together well. With some practice and trial and error, this should become possible.
Add some drops of olive oil for an easy way to achieve a smooth paste, or simply crush some cloves of garlic, add salt and peppercorns, then combine in the food processor.
No matter your cooking needs, having a mortar and pestle in the kitchen should be an invaluable resource. Simply adding one will improve meal prep while making a significant impactful difference to its flavor profile.
3. Dry
To ensure the longest possible lifespan for your mortar and pestle, it is crucial to dry it out prior to use; this process is known as “seasoning.”
A granite mortar and pestle is an invaluable addition to any kitchen, as it allows users to grind, crush, pound or otherwise process ingredients into fine powders or pastes for preparation of spices, herbs, nuts or seeds.
A great mortar and pestle set should be constructed of coarse unpolished stone that creates enough friction to evenly disintegrate all kinds of ingredients, making it a versatile cooking tool suitable for pulverizing dried spices like peppercorns and coriander seeds, or hand crushing fresh herbs.
Start by placing an entire bulb of garlic cloves in a mortar and season them with salt, then crush into a paste using your mortar’s pestle and mortar. Continue this process until all the garlic has been ground into powder, and rinse out afterwards.
Another use for a granite mortar and pestle is to grind rice, an essential step in traditional Asian cuisine that’s made simple by this kitchen tool.
Grind the rice for five to eight minutes in a mortar until it has turned into a fine powder. Pour a small amount of water into the mortar, combine, and continue grinding the mixture into fine powder if any visible grit remains visible in your rice; scrape away and repeat.
Granite mortar and pestle sets can also be used to convert pistachios and walnuts into nut butter, following a similar process as traditional nut butter but adding liquid for thickening purposes.
Granite mortar and pestle sets are an invaluable investment for any home chef, and you have the option of purchasing either a large, sturdy model for everyday use or something smaller that fits easily in a drawer or pantry.
No matter which granite mortar and pestle is your preference, it’s essential that you follow proper seasoning and care instructions for optimal performance over the years. As soon as you first use your granite mortar and pestle it is recommended that you rinse and dry it before grinding as this helps remove any residue that may remain from prior uses.
4. Clean
If you want to maximize the use of your granite mortar and pestle, learning proper care in cleaning will ensure it lasts as long as possible.
As the first step of cleaning a stone mortar and pestle, water should be used to thoroughly rinse it to remove any food debris that has accumulated over time. Next, scrub the surface using soft bristle brush/sponge and soap solution until surface becomes clean; rinse to get rid of any soap residue before refitting back into its storage spot.
Once your mortar and pestle are clean, seasoning is an essential step. Seasoning helps fill any small cracks or fissures in the stone while creating a protective coating to make grinding spices and herbs easier and prevent any flavours or odours from seeping into it – making cleanup simpler!
Granite mortar and pestle sets are an excellent way to prepare various ingredients, such as seeds, herbs, and spices. Unlike wooden and glass mortar and pestles, a granite mortar and pestle are durable enough to stand up to the pressure associated with grinding ingredients.
No matter the material of your mortar and pestle, such as glass, ceramic, metal, or another, follow these steps to keep it looking its best. With glass or ceramic mortar and pestles you simply rinse under warm water before giving it a scrub with either a sponge or scrub brush for maximum cleanliness.
Stone mortar and pestles should be cleaned using soap or a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice for the best results, although be sure to thoroughly rinse your mortar and pestle after use to not damage the stone material with too much soap residue.
If your mortar and pestle is made of wood, soap should never be used on it. Doing so could strip away essential natural oils that help it retain its aged look; furthermore, soap may leave behind an unwanted soapy residue that eats into its fibers and weakens them over time.
Wood mortar and pestles may not be as porous as granite or marble ones, but you should still avoid using soap on it. Their porous nature allows ingredients from your ingredients to transfer their flavors onto the wooden material itself – so avoid using it when handling wet or raw ingredients.