How to take care of a wooden mortar and pestle?
How to maintain a wooden mortar and pestle?
I just got it, and understood I need to first oil it to seal/protect it from keeping the taste of what I grind, which makes sense.
But how to maintain it for long term? Wash it with water and maybe soap? Oil it again after sometime?
Best Answer
Note that a wooden mortar is first and foremost a wooden utensil and the same care instructions as for other wooden equipment apply.
So oiling it regularly with a food grade oil is a good idea. You can find Q/As on how to oil e.g. cutting boards here on the site.
For general cleaning, it depends on what you used it for.
Dry herbs and spices are easy: a quick wipe with a dry cloth should suffice in most cases. Wet preparations (think curry paste) are trickier, but a rinse with hot water is your first step. You will often find warnings about using dishwashing liquid and they have a point. Wood is prone to absorb whatever liquid it comes into contact with, and who wants the next preparation to taste like dishwater?
But your curry will also leave a taste. A common remedy for lingering smells is rice: grind it in your mortar and it should absorb it. Repeat until it remains neutral. Similar advice uses salt. And of course being diligent about oiling should reduce the absorption of liquids and flavors.
To be very honest, I would probably do two things:
- Reserve it for dry ingredients or at least roughly the same flavor profile - prevents that touch of garlic in your dessert - and live with the fact that it will develop a patina of past preparations.
- I might rarely even ignore the advice and use the tiniest bit of a non-scented dishwashing liquid for a very quick wipe followed by a good rinse off and probably oiling after it’s dry - but only if it’s absolutely necessary. Proceed at your own risk.
The absolute worst thing you could do is running it through your dishwasher or giving it a good long soak. Do “the opposite” and you should be fine.
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Quick Answer about "How to take care of a wooden mortar and pestle?"
Cleaning a wooden mortar and pestle set Rinse both pieces in warm water. Using a diluted dish liquid and warm water solution, wipe the mortar and pestle with the soft side of a sponge. Make sure all debris is wiped away before rinsing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and allow to dry before use.Does a wooden mortar and pestle need to be seasoned?
Before using, a new mortar and pestle needs to be seasoned, like a new cast iron pan needs to be seasoned. The actual process is different but they both need to be seasoned, or prepared, before they are used for the first time. I'm using the green marble mortar and pestle in these photos.Can you wash a wooden mortar and pestle?
Dampen a sponge with warm water, and add two or three drops of dish detergent. Wash the mortar and pestle thoroughly with the sponge to remove all traces of food particles or residue. Rinse the mortar and pestle thoroughly with warm water.How do you preserve a mortar and pestle?
Rinsing off Some of the GritYou simply run water over the mortar and pestle several times. You can also fill up your sink with water and submerge them in it, swapping out the water several times. You could also leave it soaking overnight, if desired. (Never use soap or soapy water.)How do you get the smell out of wood pestle and mortar?
Clean ceramic, glass, and metal (alloy, brass, iron) mortar and pestles with warm water and a rough scrub brush. For bamboo and wooden mortar and pestles, use a damp cloth to wipe them clean. Do not use soap to clean your mortar and pestle.How to take care of your Pestle
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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