How to Clean a Mortar and Pestle

Mortar and Pestle: Porous Stone Needs Special Care

A mortar and pestle — especially granite like the Priority Chef granite mortar and pestle — is a porous stone tool that absorbs flavors, oils, and pigments from the spices and herbs you grind. Cleaning it correctly preserves the stone and prevents flavor transfer between uses.

What You'll Need

• Stiff brush or toothbrush
• Warm water
• Uncooked white rice (for deep cleaning)
• Baking soda
• Mild dish soap (use sparingly)

The Golden Rule: Minimal Soap

Avoid using dish soap on a granite or stone mortar and pestle whenever possible. The porous stone absorbs soap, which can then transfer a soapy taste to your food. Water and a stiff brush handle most cleaning needs.

After Every Use: Basic Cleaning

1. Rinse with warm water immediately after use
2. Use a stiff brush to scrub the interior of the mortar and the pestle surface
3. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear
4. Air dry completely — stone takes longer to dry than metal or plastic

Deep Cleaning with Rice (Best Method)

The rice method is the traditional and most effective way to deep clean a mortar and pestle:

1. Add a small handful of uncooked white rice to the mortar
2. Grind the rice to a fine powder using the pestle
3. The rice acts as an abrasive, scrubbing the pores and absorbing oils and residue
4. Discard the rice (it will be discolored from absorbed residue)
5. Rinse with warm water and brush
6. Repeat with fresh rice until the ground rice comes out white and clean

Removing Strong Odors

For persistent odors from garlic, fish, or strong spices, grind a mixture of rice and coarse salt, then rinse. Alternatively, grind a small piece of lemon peel — the citrus oils neutralize strong odors effectively.

Removing Stains

For staining from turmeric or other strongly colored spices, make a paste with baking soda and water, apply to the stained area, let sit 15 minutes, scrub with a brush, and rinse thoroughly.

Seasoning a New Mortar and Pestle

New granite mortars and pestles should be seasoned before first use to remove stone dust and close the pores. Grind white rice 3–4 times until it comes out clean, then grind garlic and salt to season the stone.

Final Thoughts

The rice grinding method is the best way to clean a mortar and pestle — it's traditional, effective, and soap-free. Minimal water, a stiff brush, and the rice method keep stone mortars clean and flavor-neutral for years.