Brilio.net - A stone mortar is a traditional kitchen tool used to grind spices, seasonings or other ingredients during the cooking process. This mortar is made from hard and durable natural stone, such as lava stone or granite.
Apart from its practical function in grinding materials, stone mortars also have high aesthetic and cultural value. Stone mortars are often decorated with carvings or traditional motifs, enhancing their appearance and giving a classic touch to the kitchen. Using a stone mortar can also provide a more authentic culinary experience and a distinctive taste.
Even though it has many advantages, this stone mortar tends to be more difficult to maintain than other types of mortar, you know. Not without reason, stone mortars have many pores on their surface. This makes it easy for food ingredients to enter and become trapped in these pores. Meanwhile, dishwashing soap alone can't make these spice stains disappear instantly, you know.
So, to clean stone mortars optimally , some people usually use rice or coconut dregs. So a certain amount of this material will be ground or crushed with a stone mortar until it changes color. After investigating, these two ingredients can attract traces of spices that stick to the surface of the stone mortar.
However, apart from salt and coconut dregs, there are actually other ingredients that are no less effective for removing spice marks from stone mortars, you know. Furthermore, this material was used by Instagram user @hi.pitaaa through one of the uploaded videos. Who would have thought, this trick of his could make a stone mortar so shiny and clean and more hygienic to use.
"The mortar and pestle have quite large pores, so when we wash them with soap alone without deep cleaning it is the same as transferring germs from the dishwashing sponge to the porous mortar," he explained.
Tricks for washing a stone mortar so that it is clean from traces of spices.
Reported by BrilioFood from the Instagram account @hi.pitaaa on Saturday (6/4), the first thing to do is soak the mortar in water for 2 hours. At this stage, you can simply use ordinary room temperature water. So, not hot water, huh.
photo: Instagram/@hi.pitaaa
After soaking, remove and dry the mortar. If so, add enough table salt. Then grind until the color turns brown. Then throw away the salt and rinse the mortar using hot water. After rinsing, soak the surface of the mortar in hot water so that all trapped germs and bacteria can be removed.
photo: Instagram/@hi.pitaaa
Once soaked, discard the water and dry the mortar. It's best to just dry it by airing it out so that the surface of the mortar remains hygienic and free of bacteria. After that, the mortar can be stored or used again for cooking.
photo: Instagram/@hi.pitaaa
This post about the stone mortar washing trick has been viewed more than 21 thousand times on Instagram. Who would have thought, many netizens would later feel helped by this trick. Through the comments column, they admitted that this trick was very useful to practice.
"Auto saved sis to clean my mortar," said Instagram @temeninbeberes.
"Soak in hot water...clean brush," said Instagram @cahya6646.
"Nice info," explained Instagram @rumahrahfa.
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Tips for caring for a stone mortar so that it lasts and doesn't get moldy.
Caring for your stone mortar properly can keep it durable and free from mold. Here are some tips that you can try.
1. Clean with water and soap.
After use, wash the mortar with water and mild soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals.
2. Dry with a dry cloth.
After washing, dry the mortar with a dry cloth to prevent mold growth due to moisture.
3. Avoid using detergent.
Detergents can damage the surface of the stone and cause damage to the mortar.
4. Use warm water to remove oil.
If using to grind spices or oily ingredients, soak the mortar in warm water to help remove the oil.
5. Don't leave it wet for a long time.
After washing, make sure to dry the mortar immediately. Don't leave it wet for a long time.
6. Grease with vegetable oil periodically.
To maintain the stone's natural moisture and prevent cracking, grease the mortar with vegetable oil periodically.
7. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.
Stone mortars are susceptible to extreme temperature changes. Avoid placing it near sources of extreme heat or cold.
8. Use a wet cloth when smoothing the material.
When smoothing the material in the mortar, use a damp cloth under the mortar to prevent scratches on the mortar surface.
9. Store in a dry and protected place.
Store the mortar in a dry place protected from moisture to prevent mold growth.