Mortar and pestle

Mortar and Pestle is a set of two simple tools used since the Stone Age to the present day to prepare ingredients or substances by crushing and grinding them into a fine paste or powder in the kitchen, laboratory, and pharmacy. The mortar (/ˈmɔːrtər/) is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, metal, ceramic, or hard stone, such as granite. The pestle (/ˈpɛsəl/, also US: /ˈpɛstəl/) is a heavy and blunt club-shaped object. The substance to be ground, which may be wet or dry, is placed in the mortar, where the pestle is pressed and rotated onto it until the desired texture is achieved.

History

Mortars and pestles have been used in cooking up to the present day; they are frequently also associated with the profession of pharmacy due to their historical use in preparing medicines. They can also be used in masonry and in other types of construction.

Uses

Mortars and pestles are used in cooking to crush and grind ingredients into a paste or powder. This includes spices, nuts, seeds, herbs, and other substances. They are also used in the laboratory for grinding solid chemicals and crushing into a fine powder for analysis. In the pharmacy, they are used to grind medical substances into a powder that can be swallowed or made into a liquid.

Materials

Mortars and pestles can be made from a variety of materials. These include wood, stone, ceramic, metal, and glass. The material chosen depends on the use. For example, a mortar and pestle used in cooking might be made of wood or ceramic, while one used in a laboratory might be made of glass or metal.

See Also

• Kitchen utensil
• Pharmacy
• Masonry

‎ Template:Masonry-stub

‎