Motar & Pestle residue after grinding

Kkuba on 03/07/2015 - 14:36
Last edited 03/07/2015 - 14:38

So recently, my SO bought a mortar and pestle for the kitchen. From memory, she bought it from a homewares shop like 'House' said it was slightly diiscounted, but RRP was $90. I don't know much about these, but I assume this is not a bargain basement version.

It is a marbled grey colour, where it is predominantly grey with some white specks.

I have used it on a couple of occasions, once to grind up some salt, and another to grind up some white sugar. Both times the finished product went from pure white, to a distinct grey.

Is this normal?

I discarded the salt, as I was a bit wary, but I tried to use the sugar in a cocktail, and I could see dark specks floating in my drink, and it seemed to have a powdery texture.

I know it will not cause harm, but it doesn't look appealing, and seemingly gives an undesirable texture. What am i doing wrong? I tried to be very gentle and patient with the grinding method the second time, this did not help.

Thanks guys!

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 03/07/2015 - 14:53
    +3

    You might need to grind it with some salt first since it's new to get rid of any loose bits that might be left from the cutting and manufacturing process.

    • Kkuba on 03/07/2015 - 18:58

      Yes, I thought about this too.

      I started with salt, rinsed it and just started grinding with water and rinsing every 10 seconds as the water turned grey. Repeated for 5 minutes, no change, water still turns grey after 10 seconds.

      I did notice that the pestle on the grinding end is no longer symmetrical, one side looks to be worn down. But not sure if it was like this in the first place.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2015 - 19:33
    +1

    Yes it's normal. The colour is powdered rock from grinding them out. Don't be gentle with it - push the salt up the sides, push the salt all around. Do the salt a few times, and/or wash, and it soon comes clean. I think the last time I did it, it took about 4 lots of salt to show no grey.

    After close inspection I'm convinced a LOT of these come from the very same place. The ones Aldi get regularly for less than $15 are exactly the same as $60/$90 ones I've seen in several homeware stores in shopping Centres - and a couple of stand-alone kitchenware stores - only in a different box. I know because I always paid very close attention to get the best possible item I could for my wife. (For example many had a pit in the bottom, which I knew would trap and prevent some spice from being ground properly.) Anyway, I could tell several things about them were exactly the same.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2015 - 19:36

    Oh - watch the pestle. (Don't drop it, or let it roll off the bench.) They often have faults in the rock - if you weren't paying attention at purchase - causing them to break in halves/pieces if you drop them.

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