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 Post subject: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 4:33 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:21 pm
Posts: 35
Porcelain, ceramic, granite?


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:34 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:58 pm
Posts: 1206
My favorite type is the rough basalt used in the molcajete. The one drawback is the porosity of the material, which I sealed using a food-grade polyurethane. The rough surface grinds up most things much faster than smoother materials. I also keep a small wooden mortar & pestle for "bruising" spices, to release the flavors, though it is not good for fine grinding.

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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:19 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
I prefer unglazed porcelain -- particularly, my 1950's Emile Henri 1.5-qt capacity M&P. While some of the stone ones may be slightly better for grinding, porcelain is much easier to clean.

The important part is to get a BIG one if you're planning on doing serious Thai or Mexican cooking. The little ones are pretty much just good for peppercorns and garlic; if you want to make a serious adobo or curry paste, you need something which holds at least 2 cups, and preferably a quart.

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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:20 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
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Location: Portland, OR
Also ... marble and glass are terrible materials for an M&P.

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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 2:15 pm 
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Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:03 pm
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I like them to be heavy. Solid enough to work a Thai curry paste without my wondering if it will break.


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 5:51 pm 
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Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:45 pm
Posts: 1531
Location: Ottawa, ON
I really love my molcajete. I've had a few, and that is my favorite by far. I embraced the idea and didn't seal it; instead, on dishes flavours bleed into the next. Realistically though, I mostly make guac and salsa in it.


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:26 am 
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Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:52 am
Posts: 1140
Location: Kansas City
I had a molcajete at one time but can't remember what I did with it. I saw some very nice ones last week and would like another. How do you clean yours?

fitzie


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:48 am 
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Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:35 am
Posts: 2305
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
from a previous discussion :roll: ;)
http://cookaholics.org/search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=mortar+and+pestle&fid%5B%5D=15

It's still going strong though the grinding has created a lovely rough surface at the bottom... :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 8:25 am 
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Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:45 pm
Posts: 1531
Location: Ottawa, ON
fitzie wrote:
I had a molcajete at one time but can't remember what I did with it. I saw some very nice ones last week and would like another. How do you clean yours?


I used a dremel with a wire brush (well, went through two wire brushes actually...), then pressure washed it to drive everything out of the pores. No transfer at all of dust after that.


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 Post subject: Re: What is the best material for mortar and pestle?
PostPosted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:30 am 
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Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:52 am
Posts: 1140
Location: Kansas City
We have a couple of Dremels. Have to see what we have in the way of attachments. Thanks.

fitzie


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