Are Granite Mortar and Pestle Safe? [How to Season It]

Granite mortar and pestle is an excellent way to blend spices and create delicious ingredients. To add to your food, you can make guacamole, pesto, hummus, and various pastes. 

Are you thinking of purchasing a granite mortar and pestle for your kitchen? It is natural to doubt its safety, especially because we use it to make food to eat. Don’t worry; we are here to put these questions to rest! 

Are granite mortar and pestles safe?

Yes, a granite mortar and pestle is absolutely safe to use! One thing you must remember is to season it before you start blending. Granite is porous and contains a significant amount of grit. So, seasoning your Mortar and Pestle is vital to ensure that your food does encounter any stones. Once you’ve seasoned it, please maintain it by rinsing it after every use.

Therefore, granite mortar and pestle are safe for blending spices and making pastes as long as you look after them. If you’re wondering, “How do I season a granite Mortar and Pestle?” and “How can I effectively clean my Mortar and Pestle?” we’re here for you.

We’ve curated this article to answer precisely these questions and help you understand more about a granite Mortar and Pestle’s safety! 

Why Should You Use a Granite Mortar and Pestle?

As mentioned above, granite mortar and pestle are great to use if you’ve seasoned them correctly. 

“But why should I go for a granite Mortar and Pestle?”

If you’re not convinced yet, we’ve enlisted some reasons that could change your mind. Please continue reading to find out what they are!

Strength – Granite Mortar and Pestles are very heavy and bulky. This makes them sturdy, robust and challenging to break. Working granite Mortar and Pestles are more reliable than many other Mortar and Pestles made of weaker material. 

Texture – Granite has a relatively rough texture. This texture will offer more friction which helps in blending the spices better.

No acidic corrosion – A plus point of using a granite Mortar and Pestle is that it doesn’t rust when acidic substances come in contact with its surface. 

Resistant to Water – The surface of granite doesn’t absorb water. This feature preserves the quality of the Mortar and Pestle and prevents it from becoming musty.

Simple to Use – Granite Mortar and Pestles are also easy to use and clean. 

Seasoning A Granite Mortar and Pestle: Stepwise Guide!

It is crucial to season your granite mortar and pestle. Seasoning your Mortar and Pestle protects the food you grind. The granite surface is porous, making them susceptible to accumulating grit. So, you must remove this grit to ensure it doesn’t infiltrate your food when you crush it.

Seasoning your granite Mortar and Pestle is not a tough job. We have created a stepwise guide for you to follow to make it easier for you. So, let’s get rid of grit!

Step #1: Wash with water

Firstly, wash and rinse your Mortar and Pestle with water. There is nothing special about this. All you need to do is get any dust, stones, or residue that may be present. We recommend rinsing the Mortar and Pestle more than once for thorough cleaning. This step itself can get rid of a significant part of the grit.

Please remember only to use warm water to rinse the Mortar and Pestle. Using a soap water solution can alter the taste of your crushing ingredients. It is natural for people to wash things with soap, but it is a definite no-no here.

Step #2: Add rice grains to the mortar

Once you’ve thoroughly washed your mortar and pestle, it is time to bring in the rice! Pour some uncooked rice into the mortar. You can use about a handful of rice grains. The next step is crushing them, so it is best not to fill it too much.

Step #3: Next, Crush!

Now, it is time to grind the rice grains in the mortar. You can take this a little slow as you might create a mess with the rice grains falling out.

It is essential to crush your rice grains at least twice. This way, you can ensure the crushed rice covers the granite’s porous surface. You can add water to help your rice cross the mortar, but this is only based on personal preference.

Once you’ve done your best grinding job, you can move on to the next step! 

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Step #4: Time to rinse!

After crushing the rice in the mortar, it is time to repeat step 1. Rinse your mortar and pestle with water. Wash off the powdered rice from the surface.

Step #5: Finally, the seasoning

Now to the last step, seasoning! You don’t have to do this, but why not get the best results? 

Create a paste to be more confident about your Mortar and Pestle being safe for grinding. Generally, people like to use salt, garlic, and sometimes pepper. Once you’ve ground these ingredients to create a paste, let it sit in the mortar for a few hours. 

You can then rinse the paste and let it dry for the best results!

How to Grind with a Mortar and Pestle?

If you’ve just purchased a mortar and pestle for your kitchen, you’d probably want to know the best way to grind your ingredients. Read how you can achieve the top result while crushing in your Mortar and Pestle!

Two methods are generally advised to crush ingredients: Muddling and Bashing. You can either use one or both to grind as per your requirement.

Method #1: Muddling

Muddling is the way to go when you want a gentler way to crush your ingredients. With this, you can get a fine-textured result with a smooth consistency. 

You can use muddling to make herbs or pasta to get a smoother finish.

Method #2: Bashing

Next is bashing. If this method is familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve seen it on cooking shows. Bashing is done to crush relatively big pieces into smaller particles.

When grinding ingredients such as peppercorn, you must employ both these methods. Chefs like to bash peppercorn first and then muddle it to finish. 

It is okay not to get grinding right the first time. It takes everyone a considerable amount of practice to do it correctly. Just be patient and hang in there! Over time, you’ll understand how to reach the desired consistency through these methods.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a granite mortar and pestle good?

Yes, granite mortar and pestles are great. They are among the best choices for Mortar and Pestles on the market. They are robust, sturdy, water-resistant, and durable. 

The only downside of granite Mortar and Pestles is that they have porous surfaces that can accumulate grit. So, as long as you do a good job seasoning it, Mortar and Pestles are excellent! 

What material should a mortar and pestle be made of?

Mortar and pestles come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Choosing the best option that suits you can be pretty challenging at times. In our experience, granite and marble Mortar and Pestles do a remarkable job. They are strong enough to grind your ingredients finely and are highly durable. 

Can I wash my granite mortar and pestle in a dishwasher?

Yes, you can wash your granite mortar and pestle in a dishwasher. However, it is best if you don’t. If you expose your granite Mortar and Pestle to soap, water, and high temperatures, there is a good chance of damage. So, please try to rinse it with water after each use simply. 

Please remember to wash your Mortar and Pestle after every use to maintain their quality and durability.

Granite vs marble mortar and pestle: Which one is better?

The answer depends on your requirement. Both granite and marble mortar and pestles are great. Once you’ve figured out what you need, it will be easy to pick. Granite and marble mortar and pestles can efficiently grind your ingredients to perfection. 

For example, granite is sturdier and tougher. However, cleaning marble is a lot easier. These both are excellent choices, especially when compared to wooden mortar and pestle.

Conclusion

We’ve reached the end of this post! We hope this article helped you understand how excellent granite mortar and pestle can be. Granite Mortar and Pestle is durable and sturdy. It has a rough and coarse texture giving you the best grinding results.

The only part you must pay attention to is seasoning the Mortar and Pestle. While it is a simple process, it is crucial. After all, who wants grit contaminating their flavourful blends? You only need to wash it thoroughly, crush rice in the mortar, and let it dry. Please air dry your Mortar and Pestle, or it could become musty.

So, if you were on the fence about purchasing a granite Mortar and Pestle for your kitchen, we say go for it! You can make some delicious blends and pastes to take your dishes to another level.

Thanks for reading; see you again soon!