Why You Should Consider Granite When Buying A Mortar And Pestle

When it comes to kitchen gadgets, a mortar and pestle is nothing fancy. It barely compares to that food processor that can slice, dice, and puree a food in seconds or the microwave that can heat up dinner in a pinch. But a mortar and pestle, which is essentially a small bowl and club, is quite ideal, per Britannica, for crushing, grinding, smashing, and pounding. It was first used for grinding grain way back when. Today, according to Food & Wine, it is used for creating spice blends in the privacy of your own kitchen, getting all those oils and aromatics out of smashed garlic for your favorite pesto, and so much more.  

In an interview with NPR's The Salt, professional chefs extolled the many virtues of this ancient tool. A chef from Pizzeria Mozza named Nancy Silverton told the outlet, "If I see a mortar and pestle, I know that I'm gonna get a good meal." And Jamie Oliver concurs. Oliver swears by the mortar and pestle, sharing if you use one you are going to get "mega, mega flavor" which means lots of tasty dishes. But if you are considering buying a mortar and pestle, you should purchase one made of granite, and here's why.

According to Food Network, if you are in the market for a mortar and pestle, those made of granite outperform all others. The food experts explain there are three different materials you can find this primitive tool made out of: granite, marble, and stainless steel. But the rough interior of the granite mortar and pestle makes it more "effective" than others. Per Food & Wine, this is because of the friction you are able to create in one of the unpolished variety. Additionally, Food & Wine further notes those mortar and pestles made out of granite are impermeable, meaning that smell and taste of garlic will not linger and permeate the next food item you use in it. 

But if you do buy a granite mortar and pestle, Food Network explains you will probably need to season it before you use it. This is done by grinding white rice with a little water into a powder. Why does it need to be seasoned? Masterclass shares that the rough nature of unpolished granite means there could be some gritty stone pieces you need to get rid of that you don't want going into the first foods you grind.