How To Care
for
Mortar & Pestle
Thank you for purchasing a mortar & pestle — this guide is here to help you care for it, so it stays beautiful for years to come.
-Before First Use-
-Cleaning After Each Use-
- Rinse promptly after use with warm water to prevent food from drying and hardening on the surface.
- Use a stiff brush, not a sponge, to get into the surface texture and grooves. A dedicated small scrub brush works best.
- Avoid harsh soap. A little mild soap is fine occasionally, but granite is still slightly porous and can absorb soap flavors over time. Water and scrubbing usually do the job.
- Skip the dishwasher. Heat and detergent aren't necessary and can dull the surface or leave residue in the pores over time.
- Dry completely with a towel and let it air dry fully before storing.
- Deep clean occasionally by grinding a bit of rice or coarse salt to lift out trapped residue, then rinse.
-Do's & Don'ts-
- Do season it with the rice-grinding method before first use.
- Do dry it thoroughly after every wash.
- Do use a stiff brush for cleaning instead of a sponge.
- Do use it for its intended purpose: grinding, crushing, and mashing (spices, herbs, pastes, guacamole, pesto).
- Do grind with real pressure and a mix of pounding and circular twisting motions — granite can handle it.
- Do let it air dry completely before storing.
- Do take advantage of its weight and stability; granite mortars generally don't slide around on the counter like lighter materials.
- Don't put it in the dishwasher.
- Don't use harsh soaps, bleach, or abrasive cleaners.
- Don't use it to crush extremely hard items like ice or bones (this can still chip the edges).
- Don't store it while still damp.
- Don't use metal utensils to scrape it out, as this can scratch the surface.
- Don't drop it or knock it against hard surfaces — granite is tough but not shatterproof.
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