The Many Uses of a Mortar and Pestle
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Posted On :
Dec-22-2011
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Article Word Count :
634
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The Mortar and Pestle has been used for centuries for a multitude of purposes, as this brief outline below describes, and remains a part of many modern day uses.
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A mortar and pestle is a tool with ancient historical roots and yet is as commonly used an instrument today as is the microwave, at least in some cultures.
A mortar and pestle is often used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances, which is a process called trituration. The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, sometimes round sometimes square at the end, and the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone, or, as is the case with the Ancient Greeks: brozed alloy. The substance to be ground, whether it’s food or medicine or plants or gems, is placed in the mortar and ground, crushed or mixed with the pestle.
Mortars and pestles were traditionally used in pharmacies to crush various ingredients prior to preparing a prescription for a patient. The mortar and pestle, along with the Rod of Asclepius, the Green Cross, and others, is one of the most pervasive symbols of pharmacology, along with the show globe.
For pharmaceutical use, the mortar and the head of the pestle are usually made of porcelain, while the handle of the pestle is made of wood. This is known as a Wedgwood mortar and pestle, and experts trace its origination to 1779.
Today the act of mixing ingredients or reducing the particle sizes is used in many different industries, including the drug market to grind up pills to speed up absorption when they are ingested, or in preparation for insufflation.
Quality pestle and mortar-making materials must be hard enough to crush the substance rather than simply ware it down. They cannot be too brittle either, or they will break during the pounding and grinding of whatever it is being ground. The material should also be cohesive, so that small bits of the mortar or pestle do not get mixed in with the ingredients.
Smooth and non-porous materials are chosen that will not absorb or trap the substances being ground. In food preparation, for example, a rough or absorbent material may cause the strong flavor of a past ingredient to be tasted in food prepared later. Also, the food particles left in the mortar and on the pestle may support the growth of microorganisms.
When dealing with medications, the previous prepared drugs may interact or mix, contaminating the currently used ingredients.
Mortars and Pestles are made of various materials. A rough ceramic mortar and pestle sets can be used to reduce substances to very fine powders, but stain easily and are brittle. Porcelain mortars are sometimes conditioned for use by grinding some sand to give them a rougher surface, which helps to reduce the particle size. Glass mortars and pestles are fragile, but stain-resistant and suitable for use with liquids. However, they do not grind as finely as the ceramic type.
Other materials used include marble, stone, wood, bamboo, iron, steel, brass and basalt. Mortar and pestle sets made from the wood of old grape vines have proved reliable for grinding salt and pepper at the dinner table. Uncooked rice is sometimes ground in mortars to clean them. This process must be repeated until the rice comes out completely white.
There are various methods for caring for mortars and pestles and they depend on the materials they are made from. Some stones, such as molcajete, need to be seasoned first before use. Metal mortars are kept lightly oiled. Porcelain and glass mortars and pestles are often cleaned with lemon juice and water.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_The Many Uses of a Mortar and Pestle_122794.aspx
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