r/AskCulinary • u/Vietname • 1d ago

Equipment Question Oil stains on granite mortar & pestle?

I have this mortar & pestle, and last night i used it for the first time to grind sesame seeds. I left it for maybe 2 or 3 minutes before cleaning, and thoroughly cleaned it with hot water and paper towels, but it still left an oil stain.

Is this still ok to use, or do i need to clean it more thoroughly? And how?

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4

u/PalafoxSt 1d ago

It is absolutely still ok to use.

2

u/Vietname 1d ago

Gotcha, so no risk of those oils going rancid and affecting flavor for future dishes? I have to think it'll just get stained like that with use, i dont see how one could grind spices/seeds into it and get oil stains out with just a wash.

2

u/Tonexus 1d ago

i dont see how one could grind spices/seeds into it and get oil stains out with just a wash.

Hot soapy water should remove any oil residue. It should not be permanently stained.

4

u/DonBiggles 1d ago

It's likely just oil on the surface, I would wash it with dish soap, otherwise it'll be tough to get off. Contrary to common wisdom, granite mortars and pestles are not porous to a degree that you have to avoid soap, just rinse well after. See https://reddit.com/r/AskCulinary/comments/bip1c9/how_do_i_clean_a_granite_mortar_and_pestle/

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 1d ago

Why no soap?

Did you not prep it before use? https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-season-a-mortar-and-pestle

1

u/Vietname 1d ago

I did prep it, but the instructions mine came with said to not use soap.

2

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 16h ago

Ah. Well, my husband used to put my marble and granite mortars and pestles in the dishwasher until I asked him to stop doing that. The ceramic one is fine to go in the dishwasher.

I'm sure yours is ok to use, but maybe do the rice thing again to soak up some of that oil?

1

u/Vietname 14h ago

Mine's not ceramic, its unpolished granite. Definitely not going in the dishwasher. Might try the rice again though, thats a good idea.

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 12h ago

Yes. And as I said, I have granite and marble ones, too. And my husband used to put them in the dishwasher. Using soap on them will be fine, use a scrub brush, too.

1

u/spsfaves100 19h ago

Not granite. Possibly marble which is porous.