Advantages and disadvantages of mortar and pestle materials

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on selecting the appropriate mortar and pestle materials, specifically ceramic, glass, granite, marble, and stainless steel. Stainless steel is ruled out due to safety concerns regarding sparking with flammable chemicals. The consensus favors glass or ceramic for their non-reactivity and ease of cleaning, while granite and marble are deemed more decorative and less functional due to their susceptibility to corrosives. The conversation also highlights that for grinding extremely hard materials, a mortar and pestle may not be the best choice unless using specialized materials like diamond.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of material properties, specifically non-reactivity and porosity
  • Knowledge of cleaning and maintenance requirements for kitchen tools
  • Familiarity with the applications of mortar and pestle in food preparation
  • Awareness of safety considerations when using metal kitchen tools
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of ceramic and glass for kitchen use
  • Explore the advantages of using diamond mortar and pestle for specific applications
  • Investigate the impact of corrosive substances on various mortar and pestle materials
  • Learn about the cleaning techniques for maintaining non-porous kitchen tools
USEFUL FOR

Culinary enthusiasts, kitchenware buyers, and anyone interested in the functional properties of mortar and pestle materials for food preparation.

CosmicVoyager
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Greetings,

I am trying to decide what kind of mortar an pestle to buy. I see they come made of ceramic, glass, granite, marble, and stainless steel.

I have eliminated stainless steel because I read metal mortal and pestle can spark and ignite flammable chemicals.

Which of the others is the hardest? That is, which can grind the hardest materials and not be ground by the materials.

Which is least affected by corrosives, acids and bases?

Which is easiest to clean? Does not stain? Is least porous?

Any other properties to consider?

Thanks
 
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I don't think you will find a 'best' M&P from the list of materials in the OP. I would go with glass or ceramic, since they are the least affected/non reactive materials on your list. I think granite/marble pieces would be more decorative than functional and subject to attack by corrosives.

If you are trying to grind materials which are really hard, the M&P probably wouldn't be the way to go anyway, unless you used some exotic materials, like diamond. A diamond M&P, that would be a conversation piece.
 

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