Is It Safe To Use Granite Mortar And Pestle?

If you are looking for a mortar and pestle that is dense, coarse, and can easily grind or mash food to a fine smooth, Granite is an excellent choice.

There are still unanswered questions as to whether or not the M&P is a good choice for preparing food or even safe.

I will be looking at whether or not it is safe to use your mortar and pestle to prepare food, and how to season them.

So, are Granite Mortar and Pestle Safe? You need to season it the first time to make it safe for food, but the answer is yes.

You wouldn’t want the stones to come in contact with your food, so the essence of cleaning must not be neglected.

Cleaning them for the first time is not sufficient. 

Remember, you will be using them for a long time, so make sure to wash them properly with warm water and a sponge, and don’t forget to rinse them.

 To prevent them from getting musty, air dries them.

Let’s dive straight into why you need to season a new mortar and pestle.

Granite Mortar And Pestle

Is It Possible To Season A Granite Mortar And Pestle?

It is possible to season a new granite mortar and pestle to remove small differences from the mortar. The only way you can close up these small patches is to season them.

Granite by nature is porous so if you don’t look for a way to close these porous surfaces, tiny grits of stones may find their way into your food, especially when you are using them for the first time.

When you cure a mortar and pestle, it is important to prepare the surface so that it is free from grits.

It will make them safe enough to be used for grinding and ensure that you get all of the benefits from grinding.

How Can I Season A Granite Mortar And Pestle?

Now that you know why it is important to cure a new granite mortar and pestle, it is time for you to learn how to do it yourself.

There are some key points that you need to pay attention to complete the process. Shall We?

Step 1:

rinsing the M&P with clean flowing water is the first step to curing a mortar and a pestle. Rinsing your m&p helps remove some of the stones from the mortar.

You will have to do this many times to take a large amount of the grits out.

The other thing I would like to say is that you shouldn’t use soapy water. Now that you have accomplished this task, you can proceed to step 2.

Step 2:

Once you have given your mortar and pestle a quick flush with water, the next step is to pour a small amount of rice into the mortar.

A small amount of white rice is all you need to get the job done.

Step 3:

This is where you will need to concentrate on your work. You don’t want to rush it and have rice flying around the place, so be careful while you are there.

The first thing to do is grab the pestle with one hand and use the other hand to support the mortar.

As you walk your way through the curing process, this will give you some degree of stability. After you have the support, the next thing to do is to start grinding.

As long as you are grinding the rice around the mortar with your pestle, you should be able to add a little bit of water to your uncooked rice.

You will need to do this process, again and again, to make sure that the powdered rice seals the spaces.

Step 4:

After grinding the rice in your mortar and successfully turning them into powder, you might want to give your mortar and pestle a good rinse.

Step 5:

This step is optional but I like to do it to make sure that my mortar and pestle are safe for grinding. I like to use garlic and salt for this process.

I haven’t given pepper a try, but I’m pretty sure it’s ok. I’ve read that some people do use pepper, but I haven’t given it a try yet.

Put all of the ingredients in your mortar and then use your pestle and mortar to grind them into a paste. Before you rinse and dry, leave this for a couple of hours.

How Can I Crush Things Using A Granite Mortar And Pestle?

If you are new to the whole mortar and pestle thing, you might be wondering how to grind things efficiently without having your stuff flying all over the kitchen.

You’re not the only one in this. I used to be like you, but I learned how to properly use them. There are two approaches I normally use when grinding with M&P.

The bashing and muddling techniques are called it. The muddling helps take things to a smooth finish. When making pasta or herbs in general, this method is very important.

Most people are familiar with the bashing technique in most food channels. Bashing makes it easier to break down an item into smaller pieces.

Bashing and muddling is a skill that requires constant practice to perfect. If you are just starting, don’t be in a hurry, be gentle, and you will be good at it.

Some Tips

  • If you want to grind things with your m & p, make sure you add your ingredients one at a time. They may fly all over the place if you add them once and bash them all together.
  • It is a good idea to cover the mortar with your palm spread halfway around it. This will make sure that what you’re grinding doesn’t fly all over your kitchen.
  • You should keep a folded towel underneath your mortar if you live in a quiet neighborhood. It will give you a good base for grinding and will help minimize the noise.

Cleaning

It is no longer a myth that one shouldn’t wash a granite mortar and pestle with soap because of how porous the surface is. The best way to clean a granite m&p is not known.

The best way to clean a granite mortar and a pestle are to rinse it with clean water and then grind the rice with salt on it.

This will help remove the remnants and keep your mortar sparkling. Once you have finished grinding, you should give it a good rinse.

FAQs

How To Care For A Granite Mortar And Pestle?

When it comes to caring for your M&P, the easiest thing to do is give them a quick wash with clean water after every use.

It isn’t enough to wash them alone, they need to be stored properly so that they can be used again. It is best to store them in a place where they are not likely to get cracked or hit.

I found out that keeping them in the lower cabinet is the best. You would not want to put them somewhere else when you know how heavy they are.

Granite Or Marble Mortar And Pestle: Which Is Better? 

One thing I can say is that both are great if you want them to do something for you. The only thing I dislike about granite is that it is harder to clean than marble.

Cleaning marble feels easy. Granite’s coarseness is something you would love. This claim can be made if you have ever ground something on granite.

Granite Mortar And Pestle

Which Mortar And Pestle Does Gordon Ramsay Use?

The exact brand of mortar and pestle the award-winning Scottish chef uses for grounding, but what I can say is that Gordon Ramsay loves using granite mortar and pestle a lot.

If you want to be like him, it is wise to get yourself a set of nice granite mortar and pestles from Amazon.

Conclusion

Once they are well cured or the season before use, any mortar and pestle can be made safe. The only way to remove the dust from these mortars is by seasoning an M&P.

If you stop by to get a mortar and a pestle for your next recipe, make sure to season them thoroughly and then wash them after every use with clean water and a bit of dried rice.

The only thing you need to know is how to make your mortar and pestle safe for cooking. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions regarding this topic.

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