How to Clean a Mortar and Pestle: Easy Steps for Any Material

It’s important to clean your mortar and pestle after each use to prevent stains and food contamination. How you clean it depends on the material it is made of: wash stone mortar and pestles with unscented dish soap and ceramic or wood mortar and pestles with just warm water. We spoke with cleaning specialist Alessandra Mendes to learn how to wash marble, granite, ceramic, metal, and wood mortar and pestles, as well as molcajetes, and how to remove stains. Keep reading to get these kitchen tools clean!

Washing a Pestle and Mortar

Clean marble and granite mortar and pestles with warm water and unscented dish soap. Rinse molcajetes and glass, metal, and ceramic mortar and pestles with warm water and scrub them with a firm brush. To remove stains, grind uncooked white rice into the mortar.

Section 1 of 6:

Cleaning Marble Mortar and Pestles

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1

Wipe the mortar and pestle with a paper towel. Remove any leftover food residue inside the mortar with a clean paper towel. Then, wipe the pestle to clean off any debris, too.
2
Wash the mortar and pestle with warm water and unscented dish soap . Wet a soft sponge or dishcloth with warm water and apply a squirt of unscented dish soap. Then, gently scrub the mortar and pestle to clean off any stubborn food residue. ^{[1]
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- Use an unscented dish soap to prevent the taste and smell of the soap from seeping into the marble.
- Note : Some mortar and pestle manufacturers don’t recommend using dish soap to clean marble mortar and pestles. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to clean your mortar and pestle safely.
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3
Rinse the mortar and pestle and pat it dry. Hold the mortar and pestle under warm running water to remove the soapy residue and any food debris you cleaned off. Then, wipe it with a clean kitchen towel and leave it to air dry on the cloth or a dish drying rack . ^{[2]
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- Flip the mortar and pestle over halfway through drying to ensure it dries completely before you put it away.

Section 2 of 6:

Cleaning Granite Mortar and Pestles

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1
Scrub the mortar and pestle with warm water and unscented dish soap . Rinse leftover food debris on the mortar and pestle with warm running water. Then, squirt a few drops of unscented dish soap onto a firm and abrasive scrub brush . Use it to remove any stubborn and stuck-on food residue. ^{[3]
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- It may take a bit of elbow grease to scrub and work out all of the residue on the mortar and pestle.
- Scented dish soaps can potentially seep into the granite and leave behind a soapy aftertaste. So, stick to using an unscented formula.
- Note : Some manufacturers advise against cleaning granite mortar and pestles with dish soap and recommend just using water. Consult the instructions that came with your tool for the best way to wash it.
2
Rinse the mortar and pestle and dry it with a clean towel. Hold the mortar and pestle under warm running water to remove the soap and any debris you scrubbed off. Then, wipe it with a clean kitchen towel before you put it away. ^{[4]
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- If the mortar and pestle feels damp after patting it dry, leave it to air dry on a clean towel. Just turn it over a few times as it dries.

Section 3 of 6:

Cleaning Molcajetes

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1
Scrub the molcajete with warm water and a firm brush . Hold the molcajete and tejolote (the pestle-like tool) under warm water to rinse off any food residue. Then, use a firm kitchen brush to scrub off stuck-on debris. ^{[5]
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- Molcajetes are traditional Mexican kitchen tools that work similarly to mortar and pestles. They’re typically made out of volcanic rock.
- Note : Volcanic rock is very porous, so many manufacturers don’t recommend cleaning molcajetes with dish soap. The soap can get trapped in the stone and leave behind an unpleasant taste. ^{[6]
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2
Rinse and dry the molcajete. Use warm water to rinse out the food residue you scrubbed off. Then, wipe the molcajete and tejolote with a clean kitchen towel. Lay it on its side on a clean cloth to air dry, making sure to rotate it about every 30 minutes so it dries completely. ^{[7]
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- Store your molcajete and tejolote once they’re both dry.

Section 4 of 6:

Cleaning Glass, Metal, and Ceramic Mortar and Pestles

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Place your mortar and pestle under warm running water. Mendes advises to continue rinsing the pieces until a majority of the food debris is removed.
2
Scrub the mortar and pestle with a brush or sponge. If any stubborn residue is on the mortar and pestle, Mendes asserts that “scrubbing…should do the trick.” Just use a new and unused scrub brush or abrasive sponge to lift off stubborn and set-in food debris.
- Keep the scrub brush or sponge you use on the mortar and pestle separate from the cleaning brushes you use on dishes. Using separate tools prevents you from contaminating your mortar and pestle.
- Note : Most experts don’t recommend using dish soap for glass, metal, and ceramic mortar and pestles, either. The soap can seep into the material and leave a soapy smell or taste. ^{[8]
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Rinse the mortar and pestle and pat it dry with a towel. Make sure to rinse your mortar and pestle thoroughly with warm water to remove all of the debris. Then, wipe the pieces dry with a clean kitchen towel. ^{[9]
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- Alternatively, set your mortar and pestle on a drying rack or clean towel to air dry. Rotate or flip the pieces over to ensure they dry completely.

Section 5 of 6:

Cleaning Wooden or Bamboo Mortar and Pestles

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Use a dry paper towel or scrub brush to wipe food debris off of your mortar and pestle. Just keep wiping until you remove most of the debris.
2
Wipe the mortar and pestle with a damp cloth. Mendes doesn’t recommend submerging a wood mortar and pestle in water. Instead, she says to “wipe [it] with a damp cloth” until no more food residue comes off.
- Ring out any excess water from the towel before wiping your mortar and pestle.
- If your mortar and pestle are very dirty, rinse out the cloth between wipes.
- Submerging wood mortar and pestles in water can damage the material and cause it to warp.
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Mendes advises setting your mortar and pestle on a drying rack or clean kitchen towel to air dry. Flip the pieces a couple of times to ensure they’re completely dry on all sides.
4
Apply a food-grade mineral oil . Mendes recommends wiping a wood mortar and pestle with mineral oil to “help keep it from drying out” and cracking. Just pour a small amount of oil onto a clean paper towel or cloth. Then, wipe the oil into your mortar and pestle.
- Food-grade mineral oil is odorless, tasteless, and will not spoil. ^{[10]
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- Make sure the mortar and pestle is completely dry before storing it.

Section 6 of 6:

Removing Stains and Smells from Mortar and Pestles

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Grind uncooked white rice into all types of mortar and pestles. Pour 2 tbsp (22 g) of uncooked rice into the mortar. Then, Mendes says to use your pestle to roughly grind the rice into the mortar until it becomes a dark color. The rice acts as an abrasive and gets into the small grooves of the mortar, lifting up stubborn debris and removing odors.
- Repeat this process until the rice stays white. Remove the old rice powder, add 2 tbsp (22 g) of uncooked rice, and grind it into a powder.
- Make sure your mortar and pestle are completely dry before grinding rice with them.
2
Wash mortar and pestles with unscented dish soap as an alternative. If using rice doesn’t get out the stains, clean the mortar and pestle with warm water, unscented dish soap, and a scrub brush or sponge. Using an unscented formula reduces the likelihood of leaving behind a soapy aftertaste or smell. ^{[11]
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- If you’re cleaning a wooden mortar and pestle, apply the soap onto a damp cloth. Then, wipe it into the mortar and pestle.
3
Dab marble mortar and pestles with lemon juice or white vinegar. For stubborn stains on marble, wet a dishcloth or cotton ball with lemon juice or white vinegar. Then, dab the cloth into the stain. Just keep wiping the spot until it is gone. ^{[12]
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- Warning : Do not soak marble mortar and pestles with acidic cleaners or leave them on for a long time. Acids can damage and even dissolve marble.
4
Rinse and dry the mortar and pestle after treating stains. Once the stain is gone, hold the mortar and pestle under warm water to rinse off the stain remover and any debris you removed. Then, pat the mortar and pestle dry with a towel or set it on a drying rack to air dry.
- Flip and rotate your mortar and pestle as it dries to ensure it’s completely dry before putting it away.

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Can I use olive oil if I don't have mineral oil?

Community Answer

Olive oil will turn rancid over time, but it's okay for a quick fix. It would be best to use food grade mineral oil.

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If you aren’t using your mortar and pestle for culinary purposes, feel free to wash it with dish soap. Rubbing alcohol and baking soda can also help remove stains.

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Different manufacturers may recommend other ways to clean your mortar and pestle. Always follow the cleaning instructions that come with your tool.

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Some mortar and pestles, like stainless steel and ceramic, may be dishwasher safe. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if yours is dishwasher safe. If yours didn’t come with instructions, err on the side of caution and hand wash your mortar and pestle.

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How to Clean a Mortar and Pestle: Easy Steps for Any Material

Washing a Pestle and Mortar

Steps

Cleaning Marble Mortar and Pestles

Cleaning Granite Mortar and Pestles

Cleaning Molcajetes

Cleaning Glass, Metal, and Ceramic Mortar and Pestles

Cleaning Wooden or Bamboo Mortar and Pestles

Removing Stains and Smells from Mortar and Pestles

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

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