A domestic grinder is the king of every kitchen. After the advancement in technology, electric machines are in the front for every work. Earlier people spent hours doing different tasks, but nowadays, everything is a click away. There was a beautiful time when all women used to grind spices in Pestle Mortar also known as Kundi Sota while sharing jokes and humming folk songs. Women’s efforts reflected in the taste of the food. Spices made with a stone pestle and rosewood or Sheesham wood mortar have no other match.
Now people have a shortage of time, and they want everything immediately. Therefore, the electric blender or instant paste has replaced the pestle mortar in your cooking space. Nowadays, convenience is above taste in people’s lives. But many people are re-introducing pestle and mortar in their kitchens. They have understood the importance of pestle mortar. If you are also one of them, this article will help you find the accurate Mortar (Kundi) and Pestle (Sota).
What is Pestle Mortar or Kundi Sota
This device helps to crush whole spices into the powder or mash. It contains a Mortar (Kundi) bowl and pestle (Sota) long instrument for grinding. You use both of them for muddling and bashing your stuff to get the product of your choice. Pestle and mortar are for those people who do not want to compromise with their taste.
There will be many kitchens where this grinding tool has either been completely replaced or lying somewhere in the corner. Some traditionalists still follow this old way of grinding and also promote Pestle & Mortar because of its benefits. It is influencing many people gradually.
The Science behind Pestle and Mortar
Spices are bundles of many chemical compounds, and when you crush them, their essential oils aromatize all the surroundings. The use of Pestle Mortar focuses on breaking the tissues of the plant’s spices and releasing the essential oils. But an electric machine is more focused on cutting or slicing whatever you’ve added to the jar. If you use an electric motor for long grinding of spices it can damage the nutritional content of your ingredients.
Heat produces while grinding in an electric mixer. This heat can cause a chemical reaction that can cause oxidative or enzyme rancidity. When you pulverize your spices for longer, it can destroy some of the enzymes in your ingredients. But pestle and mortar retain taste, texture, and aroma in your herbs. Even in Ayurveda and laboratories, it has a special place for grinding.
Which is the Best Pestle and Mortar
Here is the comparison between pestles and mortars made up of different materials.
Stone Pestle Mortar ( Best to Use )
In olden times, stone grinding bowls were the best choice for all households. There are many options available in the market nowadays. But if you want to choose the best one for your cooking space, you can go for stone pestle and mortar. Before using a brand new grinding bowl, you need to season it to avoid grits in your spices. The right method of seasoning the stone pestle mortar is explained well at the end of this article.
Granite Pestle Mortar (Best to Use )
This pestle and mortars are best to handle different types of ingredients. It is sturdy and can crush all spices. Granite does not have pores or voids on its surface. It is the reason it cannot trap dust in it. It also does not react with ingredients. So grinding the ingredients in granite pestle mortar is safe, easy, and best.
Metal or Metal Alloy Pestle Mortar ( Be careful with the reactive ingredients)
The instruments of cast iron to make ayurvedic medicines that need heat. These are also known as heated mortars (Tapta Khalid). But these can get rust when coming in contact with oxygen and water. Pestle and mortars of metal aluminum and metal alloy brass are reactive and cause harm to your ingredients.
Wood Pestle Mortar (For Visual appeal)
Wooden instruments are effortless to handle because they are not too heavy. But it has pores that can absorb the liquid or debris in its pores.
Marble Pestle Mortar ( Try to Avoid )
You should not go for a marble mortar grinding machine because it is fragile. It can erode while crushing your ingredients and add grits to your powder.
9 Super Benefits of Pestle Mortar Grinder Machine
A grinder is an essential gadget to get the powder form of your spices. Now an electric grinder is famous because of its fast results. But now, people are rediscovering the health benefits of granite vessels. They are slowly coming back to ancient methods.
Help in Digestion
The traditional way of mincing helps to get the right vibrant taste. You have different spices that help in treating various ailments of your digestive system. You get appropriate benefits when you grind spices traditionally. This device does not remove nutrients or essential components from your ingredients. Plant herbs have stiff structures that hold some essential oil beneficial for digestion. These oils come out when you press herbs slowly. But in electric grinding, enzyme rancidity can change the texture and flavor of your stuff. But mortar crushing can make your spices an immunity booster as well as enhance your digestion.
Retain Medicinal Value
This instrument is now inaccessible in your kitchen, but its use in Ayurveda and laboratories has still relevant. Electric grinders are not part of laboratories because they generate excess heat which is why it is not right to use them there. It helps to press herbs into a paste in Ayurveda too. Ayurveda says that this instrument helps to retain the medicinal value of herbs. Some necessary components destroy in a mixer grinder.
Retain Flavor
In this grinding vessel, you slowly crush the covering of your spices. It leads to the release of oils, aroma, or fragrance effectively. When you mince something in an electric grinder, you see some difference in the result. That’s because these grinders are focused only on cutting out the ingredients. Your single bashing in pestle mortar breaks down the skin of spices to release flavors. It is the reason why it retains the flavor better than an electric grinder.
No Excess Heat Production
No additional heat generation happens while crushing ingredients with the help of a pestle and mortar. That is why all the deep flavors or tastes remain intact. In a machine grinder, electrical energy has required to cut spices or other ingredients into smaller sizes. This heat may adversely affect the result by tampering with the quality or taste. This heat production destroys a significant portion of flavoring constituents and essential oils of spices.
Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Spices
Nutritional benefits are always a concern whenever you prepare something. During electric crushing, some adverse reactions may change the chemical and nutritional properties of your ingredients. These harmful reactions can result in a change in taste or color when grinding. Sometimes your chutney in a grinder gives you a bitter taste or unpleasant smell. It is due to chemical reactions that lead to rancidity.
Stimulate Appetite
The volatile oil is gradually released by grinding in an ancient device. It is the reason for the irresistible aroma. When this aroma comes out and reaches your brain, it stimulates the appetite. It is also great for digestion because of no nutrients loss.
Easy to Clean
This tool has a simple structure which is why you can easily wash it. But in electric grinders, its blades make it intricate. You may get scratches or cuts while cleaning it. You have to be extra careful when handling your electric machines.
Less Clamored
Electric grinding machines cause lots of noise while grinding. If you spend most of your time in the kitchen, then it can be hectic for you. But the thumping sound from this tool is not that irritating.
Best Exercise
Electric gadgets have become an integral part of our lives. There was a time when people used to take all the work from their bodies. Earlier, this physical labor used to provide us with some health benefits. But due to modernity, all the work has come to a standstill. Crushing, bashing, or muddling spices release volatile oils slowly and also lead to your arm movement. It can take care of your biceps too.
Tips to select the Right Pestle Mortar
It is necessary to have appropriate instruments for making paste or powder of different ingredients. In Ayurveda or culinary traditions, this instrument is a staple part of pressing herbs and spices into a smooth powder. When you choose one for your kitchen, its material and design should be your concern. Pestle should transfer all its energy to the components that you bash, not to the crushing bowl. So, it is necessary to choose the appropriate one. Some tips for you include:
Same Material
The material should always be your concern because it helps to retain the quality of your components. If you are buying granite mortar, then your pestle should be made of the same material. It is necessary to consider the stuff of pestle and mortar for appropriate benefits. It makes your grinding smooth or effortless. In this way, the crushing tool transfers energy to spices, not to the mortar.
The Hardness of the Stuff
You should always buy stuff that is well built. Hardness matters a lot in this case for better results. Low solidity can cause abrasion. These grits can get mixed in your spices or herbs.
Use Non-Reactive Material
Some materials can be reactive with your ingredients and can cause harm. These materials include Brass and Aluminum. Granite is the most appropriate option because it is non-reactive.
Proper Alignment
You should always focus on the shape for smooth crushing and muddling. Sometimes sharp turns cause alignment problems. It can lead to a collision. So, always focus on the aligned curvature for your pestle and mortars.
DIY Ideas to Clean Pestle and Mortar
Granite pestle and mortars have no tiny voids. It is the reason you can clean it with soap and water also. It does not absorb any liquid, so soap is secure to use. If you do not want to use soap, then use these DIY ideas for cleaning.
Vinegar and Baking Soda:
To prepare this cleaning solution, you require one spoonful of vinegar and half a spoon of baking soda. You can add a small quantity of dish soap to it. Now you have to mix it properly. After that, you have to apply this solution to your tools. When you use this cleaning solution, your mortar crushing machine will start to shine again.
Rice Water Washing:
This is the easy way to scrub your mortar bowl. You have to wash rice and strain the water that you have used for washing. Use this water for cleaning for five minutes. After this washing, dry your crushing tool. Now add some raw rice to the grinding vessel and press them for five minutes. At last use warm water to make it spotless.
How to Season your Pestle and Mortar?
Seasoning your grinding vessel is a necessary step before using it for crushing your stuff. In a stone vessel, you may get grits or tiny stones coming off from the surface. If you don’t want to taste rocks, you need to season them properly before using them. It helps to remove all the dirt from its surface and also enhance the taste of your spices.
To season your crushing bowl and pestle, you need to follow some simple steps. These steps include:
First Step: In this step, you need to clean your grinding equipment with water. It will help to remove the settled dirt from the surface. It will also remove little rocks easily. You have to repeat water cleaning many times.
Second Step: Now, use raw white rice and water in your second step. Don’t use brown rice because this won’t help you to spot dirt. When you use white rice, you will find gray color paste at the end. It happens because of the debris trapped on the surface.
Third Step: You will proceed with this step by bashing and muddling white rice. You have to make a mush by adding some water to it. You will find that this paste is not in white color. It looks grayish because of the presence of dirt in it.
Fourth Step: In this step, remove the paste and clean it with water. After this, you have to repeat white rice and water cleaning again. It will help to make it perfect for grinding.
The drawback of Mortar Grinding Machine
There are some drawbacks of a mortar grinding machine that you should consider. It will help you to select the right option for your spices or herbs:
Time Consuming
Nowadays, people have no time to die, so how to operate pestles and mortars. So they have replaced it with an electric mixer. But if you want the health benefits, you have to take five minutes out of your busy schedule and crush some fresh spices daily to season your curry.
Discoloration
In the case of wood or metal material, you can see discoloration on the upper layer. Wood absorbs liquid and, this is the reason it changes color. If you are operating a metal pestle and mortar, then it looks rusty because of moisture.
Abrasive Particles
Stone abrasive particles can be a problem because you can take them with your spices. So it is necessary to take care to check your grinding bowl and pestle properly before using.
Porous Material
Some pestles and mortars have voids that can absorb everything. It is the reason you should not buy a mortar grinder machine made up of a material having pores in it. They can trap scrap and dirt in their tiny pores. It can be unhealthy for you.
Conclusion
The traditional grinders can be tedious, but no blender can stand up with them for health benefits. If you have removed your Pestle Mortar grinding machine from your kitchen, shake off the dust and give it some space again in your kitchen. It will help to keep you healthy and decorate your corner like an antique piece too. It does not mean that you should not use your electric blender. You can operate them in emergency, but for regular use, you should go with an ancient way.
