It’s not enough to make excellent food; you must also care for your kitchen appliances to ensure their long-term viability. Because you use these instruments regularly, you may already know how to do simple things like polish a knife or shine an aluminium pan.
But what about the less often used kitchen utensils, such as a mortar and pestle? No, I haven’t figured it out yet. We’ll show you how to clean a mortar and pestle the right way if you’re not ready.
Mortar and Pestle: How Do You Clean Them?
Pestle and mortar can be fashioned from a variety of materials. Cleaning a Mortar and Pestle set made of different materials necessitates a different approach than you might expect. Unfortunately, there is no way to clean them using the same system.
Knowing the ingredients of your pestle and mortar is the first step to cleaning it properly…
Pestle and mortar material can be divided into rocks, glass, and wood. As a starting point, let’s look at how to clean a stone pestle and mortar set properly.
For a mortar and pestle made of stone (marble, granite)
To clean a Handheld Grinder made of marble, granite, or any other stone material, follow these instructions:
Step1: Make sure your mortar and pestle are submerged in warm water
Put them under a warm water faucet and run the pestle and mortar through the motions to clean them. Coldwater is suitable for stone mortar and pestle cleaning, but warm water is preferred.
Use your hands to clean the pestle and mortar rather than a scourer because fabrication is unsuitable for granite mortar and pestle upkeep.
Use a kitchen towel to completely dry the marble mortar and pestle after cleaning them with water. Hang them up to dry naturally.
Step 2: Two spoons of uncooked white rice should be added to the pestle and mortar once they have dried thoroughly
Gently pound the rice with a pestle until it goes from white to brown. Remove the dirty rice and continue the process until the rice is still white.
Step 3: Repeat the rinsing of the pestle and mortar.
Repeat the rinsing process with warm water until no more dirt or debris remains on the tools. Allow them to air dry on a drying rack for a few hours at room temperature. For marble mortar and pestle care, check whether there is any moisture remaining in the mortar and pestle before putting them away in the closet.
For a mortar and pestle made of glass, metal, or ceramic
Here are some helpful cleaning guidelines if your mortar and pestle are glass, metal, or ceramic.
Step 1: Pestle and mortar should be cleaned with warm water before use
Under a warm faucet, wash both instruments. To eliminate more oversized items, you can use your hands.
Step 2: Cleaning the pestle and mortar with a new scrub brush
Using an old brush, you may wind up with residue and a foul smell on your instruments. Because of this, you should only use a separate scrub brush to clean the pestle and mortar.
Remove any food residue from your mortar and pestle with your hands and a new scrape, and then wash them both in a gentle dishwasher.
Step 3: Remove all dirt and soap from the mortar, until no more bubbles are visible
Before placing them back in the drawer, allow them to dry thoroughly on a drying rack.
Mortar and pestle made out of a wood
Wooden mortar and pestle upkeep necessitate a more meticulous approach because of the material’s dedication. Using a high-quality wooden pestle and mortar necessitates the following procedures to avoid damaging your priceless kitchenware:
Step 1:
Dry towel paper is used to wipe away any existing debris.
Running wood stuff underwater is not advised compared to the other two ways. Using a cloth to remove the debris will take more time and work, but you’ll see that skipping the phase where you use water will save you time and effort in the long run.
Step 2:
Wipe each of your tools with a damp cloth after using a dry towel to begin the cleaning process.
The wood will shine, and the invisible particles in the mortar and pestle will be removed with a touch of dampness, but not too much. Avoid using too much water or forgetting to drain the cloth since too much water might cause the wood to mold.
Step 3:
Using gloves, put 1-2 drops of mineral oil on the pestle and mortar before letting them dry. Gently rub the equipment with your hands.
However, the oil strengthens and shines the wood without altering its color or taste in the slightest.
Step 4:
Allow the wooden pestle and mortar to dry. For a natural drying process, turn them over on a drying rack. Make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting them back in the drawer.
Conclusion
That’s all we have to say about adequately cleaning a mortar and pestle. Your pestle and mortar will last longer if you wash them properly, which can vary depending on the substance.
