How to Make a Mortar & Pestle

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By Lynne William
eHow Contributing Writer

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A mortar and pestle is a two-piece tool used to grind, crush, mash, pulverize and/or mix substances together. Traditionally used in pharmacies to crush ingredients to make prescriptions, the most common usage today is in the preparation of food. The mortar is simply a sturdy bowl. A pestle is a club-shaped implement of coordinating size to the mortar and has a smooth, rounded bottom. The rounded bottom enables the pestle to grind ingredients against the contoured sides of the mortar in addition to the bottom. In a pinch, you can make a homemade mortar and pestle out of ordinary items in a few easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Fist-size, smooth rock
Bleach
Boiling water
Plastic cling wrap
Heavy wooden bowl

Step 1

Wash the rock in hot water, paying attention to any nooks and crannies where dirt or other debris may be lodged.
Step 2

Pour bleach over the rock to disinfect. Leave the wet bleach on the rock for 10 minutes.
Step 3

Rinse the rock thoroughly with boiling water.
Step 4

Allow the rock to cool.
Step 5

Wrap the rock tightly in plastic cling wrap. This will prevent food particles from being ground into small cracks and pits in the rock's surface.
Step 6

Line a plastic bowl with additional plastic cling wrap. This step may be omitted if only dry ingredients are being crushed. Moist ingredients, such as garlic cloves, may leave odors behind when ground directly into the bowl.
Step 7

Use the plastic-covered rock as a pestle to crush your ingredients in the wooden bowl.
Step 8

Discard the used plastic wrap.