foto: TikTok/@athienlhea
Brilio.net - Stone mortars have long been a favorite choice in the kitchen, especially for people who like to make chili sauce or grind spices in the traditional way. One of the main reasons stone mortars are more often chosen is because of their extraordinary durability. Made from natural stone, this mortar can last for a very long time, even being passed down from generation to generation . In addition, the rough surface of the stone mortar makes food ingredients easier to smooth.
However, behind its advantages, stone mortars also have disadvantages that are often overlooked. One of the main problems is that stone mortars are easily affected by mold, especially if not properly maintained. The moisture left on the surface of the mortar after use and washing can be an ideal place for mold to grow. Mold not only makes the mortar look dirty, but can also cause an unpleasant odor and even potentially ruin the taste of the food being processed.
Well, if it has already become moldy, the mortar must be cleaned immediately in a special way. This method was once practiced directly by TikTok user @athienlhea in one of the uploaded videos. She admitted that the method used would make the mortar more sterile and safe to use.
As reported by BrilioFood from TikTok @athienlhea on Wednesday (11/12), dealing with moldy mortars cannot be done by washing them directly with soap. This is because soap residue can enter the pores of the mortar. This will certainly make the mortar even less sterile.
photo: TikTok/@athienlhea
Then to be safer, you can do several steps. First, soak the mortar in plain water or room temperature for about 1 hour. Make sure all parts of the mortar are completely submerged, okay?
photo: TikTok/@athienlhea
If so, lift and drain first. After that, wipe the stone mortar using a cloth until it is completely dry. Then, take a handful of rice and place it on the mortar. Then grind the rice first until smooth and spread it over the entire surface of the mortar.
photo: TikTok/@athienlhea
Next, throw away the rice that has been ground. After that, rinse with hot water to sterilize the mortar from the remaining rice. If so, drain again and dry the mortar before it is ready to be stored or reused to grind food ingredients.
photo: TikTok/@athienlhea
In addition to hot water, grinding rice in a mortar is also an important key to removing mold stains. Rice grains have a rough texture that can scrub the surface of the mortar well. When rice is ground in a mortar, these rice grains will erode and lift dirt, including mold that sticks to the surface of the mortar.
In addition, rice also has the ability to absorb moisture. By grinding rice in a mortar, the remaining water or moisture that may be a place for mold to grow will be absorbed by the rice, helping to keep the mortar dry.
Meanwhile, grinding rice is also effective in removing oil residue and odors that stick to the mortar after previous use. These oils and odors can be a medium for mold to grow, so removing them will also prevent mold growth.
(brl/jad)
