How to Grind Pepper Using a Mortar and Pestle

Fresh pepper makes foods taste exotic. In order to have fresh pepper, you have to grind peppercorns. That is where a mortar and pestle come in handy. It's a small bowl with a grinding tool that's used to grind all kinds of spices. Follow these steps to learn how to grind pepper using a mortar and pestle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Add a small amount of peppercorns to the mortar. Don't overfill the mortar, as it will spill when you grind it. Keep the level of peppercorns low to assure that you grind them all.
2. Crack the peppercorns with the head of the mortar. Verify that all the peppercorns have been broken. Stir them up and crack the remaining seeds.
3. Crush the peppercorns with the pestle. Press them firmly against the side of the mortar while twisting. This will make finely ground pepper.
4. Stir up the peppercorns to make sure they are all finely ground. If there are a lot of peppercorns in the mortar, you will likely have many whole ones remaining.
5. Angle the pestle against the edge of the mortar to access the peppercorns that resist grinding. Drag the pestle evenly over the top of the peppercorns until they break and reduce to a fine powder.

Tips & Warnings

• A mortar and pestle is also convenient for grinding other spices, such as whole mustard seeds, cumin, coriander and several other spices.
• A mortar and pestle can also be used to grind medicine into powder for easier administration.