Mortar And Pestle Set

It is used for grinding and may also be used for mixing or triturating. This tool is called mortar and pestle set. It is an apparatus popularly used in science laboratories, manufacturing industries and even at home. It derived its name from the Latin words “mortarium” and “pistillum” which means “product of pounding” and “pounder” respectively. 

Parts

• The mortar and pestle set consists of:
• Mortar -  a bowl-shaped container that looks like ancient cups

• Pestle – looks like a shorter version of a policeman’s club

      These two parts always go together hence called a set.  

Use

• The main use of the mortar and pestle is for size reduction and mixing. In size reduction it is used for:
• Grinding – particle size reduction through friction

• Crushing – squeezing particles in between to bodies
• Pulverizing – reduction to fine powder

In mixing, it is used to blend solid-solid substances, appropriately termed as trituration, or for solid-liquid substances. 

Types and Materials 

• The mortar and pestle set can be made of glass, marble, wood, stone, or clay. At home the most common type is the wood type. It is fondly used to ground ingredients such as black pepper and crush various leaves. In medicine however, it is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Mortar and pestle set is a primary apparatus used in extemporaneous compounding of drugs in community pharmacies.

A good mortar and pestle set must possess the following characteristics: 

• Non-absorbent - substances must not be absorbed when mixing or comminuting
• Non-porous – must not be permeable to fluids
• Hard – to withstand pressure in grinding and crushing
• Cohesive – to avoid mortar and pestle materials to contaminate ingredients

Excessively hard mortar and pestle sets however may wear out fast.  

The set may either be smooth or rough depending on function. For mixing, both the mortar and the pestle must be smooth for easy navigation of pestle. For size reduction, it must be rough to facilitate breakdown. One way to roughen porcelain mortar and pestles is to grind sand into it. 

A set made of glass is suitable for liquids as it does not stain. A marble mortar and pestle offers the advantage of being heavy thus facilitates in size reduction process. It offers weight in pounding and does not uncomfortably move on counter tops. A granite set is also well known for its hardness and durability.  

Proper use of the Mortar and Pestle Sets: 

• To effectively use the set for whatever purpose, it must be noted that only ample amounts of the ingredient must be placed inside the mortar to give space for movement. The pestle is pressed against the mortar in a circular motion preferably in an inward to outward direction. This is done while holding the mortar in the other hand firmly. The substance is then removed and the mortar and pestle set cleaned before putting in another ample amount of the substance. 

Other Uses: 

• Mortar and pestle set of granite composition contains potassium and other minerals which is mixed in the material pounded hence, beneficial to health.

So do away with knife when crushing spices or stirrers for blending powders, use this powerful tool designed for these various purposes.