Spice mortars: what are and how to choose them?

All sorts of kitchen accessories greatly facilitate the process of cooking your favorite dishes. In modern kitchen it is impossible to do without a high-quality and reliable spice mortar. Such products are made from a variety of materials. How to choose a mortar, tell you right now.

A quality mortar with pestle for spices is sure to come in handy in any modern kitchen. Hostesses are sometimes cooked several times a day, and almost no dish is complete without spices. Many use a mortar daily for chopping pepper and other spices. Of course, you can buy ground pepper in the nearest store, but its flavor is not comparable to freshly ground. Therefore, the one who is a true connoisseur of spices, grinds them independently using a mortar.

Mankind has long used mortars with pestles for the preparation of various powders. Previously, people made special powders that were used as natural body paints. Later they began to use similar equipment for the manufacture of various drugs. And then Mortar began to be used for the preparation of various pastes from nuts, grinding herbs and roots.

To date, almost all over the world use this kitchen accessory, which is a necessary attribute of any kitchen. Each country has its own characteristics and preferences regarding this product. For example, the Japanese prefer to use wood products, in other Asian countries prefer mortars made of granite.

In India, with the help of a mortar, various seasonings are prepared, grinding spices into powder. Mexicans use a mortar to make rice, corn or beans. Whatever you say, and the mortar is needed by everyone who loves and knows how to cook.

Thanks to the mortar, you can appreciate the true aroma and taste of all kinds of seasonings. Real connoisseurs of spices assure that freshly ground seasonings help to reveal the natural taste of products, improve and enhance the quality of the finished dish. In addition, thanks to a reliable and convenient product, hummus, various nut sauces, powdered sugar and even almond flour can be easily prepared.

Today you can find a mortar, which is made of a variety of materials. It may be porcelain, marble, wood, granite or stone mortar. Each product has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. To make the right choice and purchase a quality product, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the advantages of each material.

The kitchen accessories made of wood are in great demand. Our grandmothers also used mortars made of natural wood, and before this accessory was in every kitchen. Today, various manufacturers produce not just high-quality, but also original, stylish woodwork, which can serve as kitchen interior decoration.

Primarily such products attract with the environmental friendliness, ease and reasonable price. Preference should be given to items that are made. from hardwood. Then the accessory will last longer. In addition, pay attention to the fact that the most durable are those options in which the fibers are arranged across.

The main disadvantage of a wooden product is that this mortar will absorb odors. If you used an accessory, for example, for grinding pepper or garlic, then the aroma will be present in other spices. In addition, like any wood product, such a mortar is unstable to moisture.

A mortar with a pestle made of cast iron is another popular and highly demanded option, which different strength and durability. Great for grinding all kinds of herbs and spices. If we talk about the minuses, such bowls can become rusty.

The ceramic kitchen accessory attracts many not only with its aesthetic lookbut also other benefits. Such a mortar perfectly does not absorb odors and it is easy to care for her. The ceramic product can be safely used for fragrant spices, as well as for grinding nuts or making powdered sugar. As for the shortcomings, Such a product is easy to break if handled carelessly.

Porcelain product is especially appreciated by lovers of natural coffee. In such a bowl, you can easily grind coffee beans and various spices. This accessory looks very attractive. Porcelain is resistant to moisture, lends itself well to polishing and is durable when properly used. Using such a mortar, it is worth remembering that porcelain is still fragile material and the product can be easily broken.

Stone products are considered to be one of the most practical, reliable and durable options. Such bowls for grinding spices attract with their beauty and versatility. Often for the manufacture of this kitchen accessory use granite, onyx or carnelian.

The inner part of the products is perfectly smooth, thanks to which it will be possible to grind any spices in a very high quality. Stone mortars are absolutely not afraid of moisture and do not absorb odors.

Reliable, durable and practical mortar made of marble, also proved itself only on the positive side. The product is durable and durable. As a material for the manufacture of such products using pink, gray, white or black marble.

Product is great fits not only for spices or herbs, but also for nuts. The accessory does not absorb smells at all.

A metal product, for example, from stainless steel attracts many by the fact that the surface of the accessory does not absorb moisture, fats and smells at all. Such a product can withstand temperature differences, is durable and practical. In metal models, it is easy and convenient to grind even hard nuts.

Also on sale are mortars made of brass, but they are more capricious in terms of care.

On sale there are models of various forms. Before you make the final choice, you should decide for exactly what purposes you plan to use the product. Some ingredients you will just grind, and for others you will need a shock force. That is, you have to grind the product by breaking.

If you need a bowl exclusively for grinding herbs, spices, then it is better to give preference to a product with a flat or semi-circular bottom. The base of such bowls, as a rule, is cylindrical.

To grind hard seeds or nuts, will need to apply force and active shock movements. For this process, the best mortar is high and narrow.

Of course, everyone wants to choose for themselves the option that best manifests itself during operation. First you need to pay attention to material strength. The walls of the bowl must be thick and firm in order to withstand even strong pestle blows. In addition, the plasticity of the material is very important. Shocks and friction should not deform the inside of the bowl, otherwise this product will not last for a long time.

It is very important that the material from which the mortar is made did not enter into a chemical reaction with any ingredients. In addition, the bowl should be stable, should not slide on the table.

When choosing a mortar, remember that Ceramics, in spite of their fragility, make it possible to grind seasonings very finely and accurately. Wooden bowls are stronger, but they absorb odors and are not suitable for making sauces with lemon or garlic. Mortars made of natural stone occupy a leading position, but on condition that if you choose products of really high quality.

Pestle should be easily and comfortably in your hand. You should not choose options with a short handle, otherwise in the process of work you will be uncomfortable. The tip of the product must be rounded.

If you use the selected model, observing all the rules, then it will undoubtedly last a long time. Before you start cooking the spice mix, you should carefully prepare the bowl. It must be cleaned of dust, following all the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Many complain that the first grinding of spices turns out to be heterogeneous and you have to grind everything again. To avoid this problem, it is worth remembering a simple rule - do not fill the bowl more than one-third. This rule will help you easily achieve the desired result and grind all the ingredients into a powder of a uniform consistency.

When grinding, be sure to hold the bowl with one hand so that it does not slide on the table. Small seeds can be crushed by the method of grinding, and larger ones should be pre-divided into small particles with light shock movements. If you prepare the spice mix in advance, then it should be stored in a clean, dry glass container with an airtight lid.

After each use, the bowl must be cleaned. If you grind dry spices, it is enough to clean the inside of the mortar with a dry and clean cloth. If it was spicy herbs or seeds that produce juice, tar, then the cloth should be lightly moistened beforehand.

If the smell remains, ordinary rice will help to correct the situation. A small amount of rice should be ground in a mortar, then clean it with a clean rag and there will be no smell. Do not wash such kitchen accessories using chemical detergents.. Besides, do not use kitchen utensils for grinding medicines.

You can learn more about how to make a mortar and pestle for grinding spices and seasonings.