dirty mortar

[Mithrea]

I just got through pounding some cloves and it made a nasty mess in/on my ceramic mortar/pestle. Any suggestions on how to clean it? I'm afraid to use soap.

[Drisel]

A paste of baking soda and viniger will work. and don't be afraid of getting it right in there with the dishes to wash. I do and it has always been fine. ;)

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Mithrea
Any suggestions on how to clean it? I'm afraid to use soap.

I'm curious why you can't use soap? I wash mine with dish soap & scrub it with a soft toothbrush & it seems to work. The vinegar & baking soda paste will remove odors too.

[Mithrea]

Well, it seems I'm noticing that my ceramic mortar is sort of porous and I'm afraid it will absorb the soap and make my preparations sudsy.

[kblackthorne]

Not if you let it dry first! :)

[Demeter]

Originally posted by Mithrea
Well, it seems I'm noticing that my ceramic mortar is sort of porous and I'm afraid it will absorb the soap and make my preparations sudsy.

If it's that porous, it may absorb oils and scents from things you grind up and mix them with other things, too. Maybe you might want to consider getting a less porous mortar. I've seen sone ones that are really great and not too expensive.

[kblackthorne]

I assumed she was refering to the fact that ceramic mortars & pestles are unglazed on the grinding-surfaces. (Glaze would quickly wear off anyway, so...)

Most will be slightly porous on the grinding-surfaces for the same reason. (Marble is a slightly porous rock, so when the polish is gone, it can soak things up, wood is extemely porous, etc...)

If this is all you're talking about by "porous", then as long as you don't leave it soaking, it should be fine.