This is the most instructional video on seasoning on KZfaq. I just got my first M+P and was getting frustrated starting the process with rice. By using your method, I was able to get a nice smooth surface by grinding with water, especially on the high sides, and then finishing off with a single grind with the rice. Thanks for doing this video.

I learned from a Mexican friend that you should do one or two cycles of dry rice and then the wet. Worked well for me.

Brilliant- I just started using mine. No instructions that I had to season it first. Very much appreciate your video. Cheers mate!

i added about 3 tblspn of coarse celtic sea salt to about 3 tblspn of water and ran my pestel in my mortar (recieved today) for about 30 minutes today and reached an amazing result. id try adding some sea salt to the water, itll speed up the process. the slurry it made also polished the stone as i was wearing it down a lot better than just plain water and stone dust.

Thank you for this video!!! The instructions that came with my granite Mortar and Pestle did not help with smoothing, only cleaning... I was struggling with finding information on how to properly prepare it and this helped me so much! I'm so glad you took the time to make this!

Why am I watching this it's 3 in the morning and I have an exam tomorrow

tnx for the tips and advice...it really helpfull...Glad i didn't make some grey Guacamole

It's a good feeling when you know that you have learned something.

Mr. Porta, What came across in the video, loud and clear, is that your are a Gentleman, first and foremost. It is an added gift to learn about care and feeding of a M+P. Thanks for upping my flavor game in the kitchen. Do you have a recipe book you've written or suggest. Brand new to this culinary experience. Blessings and Peace for this fine video. My world is a little better having viewed it!

I'm so glad I found this video, I just ordered my mortor and pestle. Also, rock dust is a good soil conditioner and great for the garden, adding trace minerals. Consuming a little rock dust is nothing to worry about.

Bless you. I was so stumped on what to do after getting it and seeing how rough it was initially.

This is one of the best videos I've watch on preparing a mortar. I was very hesitant to by an unpolished mortar and pedistal but I am confident now I've made the best choice. This is a much better way of conditioning than beginning with dry rice. Thank you!

Many thanks for this video!! My granite mortar and pestle didn’t come with any prepping instructions, and the other videos I’ve found so far ONLY address the grinding rice technique. Your video is so much more thorough and clear!

Dude. Dude. Are you aware you have possibly the best instructional video for caring for a mortar and pestle? I can't thank you enough for this video. I hope you have a wonderful day!

I don't know why this is necessary except to remove large imperfections or extremely rough areas, because even when it is perfectly smooth it will continue to create stone dust whenever there is a gap between foods that allows stone-on-stone contact. I thought some roughness was desirable to chew up seeds more easily.

Excellent video. I bought one of these and it is exactly like yours before you treated it. Now I will get to work. Very good information, thank you. EDIT: Well, mine is great now but it took me about 4 hours total to do. I did it in 45 minute sessions over several days. Thanks again.

It is arguable whether making the surfaces perfectly smooth is helpful, as the rough surfaces that it comes with aids in grinding. Think of a mill stone, the grinding surfaces are not perfectly smooth like a polished granite countertop. Sure, bits of stone could break off but that would only happen if you are grinding it without anything in the bowl. The substance that is being ground acts as lubricant so that the stones do not make contact.

Thank you for this great video! I kept reading about "seasoning" using garlic, oil, etc, as if to add flavor to guac and passed on from one meal to the next. Because we cook with seasonings from all over the world, I didn't want to believe that was ALL I had to do to prepare my new mortar and pestle for first time use! Thanks again! I'm sure I am going to enjoy mine for years to come now.

When I polish stone in the tumbler I use Carbide Grit. This is the FAST first step to get the stones round. The use of Grit may help speed up this process. I enjoyed the session. Keep up the great work. I learned more about grinding from your words.

I googled mortar and pestle yesterday and today this video pops up well done AI...well done

I just got my first food mortar and pestle and this video helped me prepare it for use. A mortar is really useful and I really recommend having at least one. This video really helped me out as I am/was new to this. Appreciated indeed.

Very helpful video! My first M&P is arriving tomorrow, so I wanted to see what needs to be done, if anything. The slurry reminds me a lot of sharpening knives by hand. You never rinse the slurry off until you're done with the sharpening, as the slurry will naturally polish the edge. Of course, I take it to an extreme, going from 1,000 grit to 3,000 grit, to 8,000 grit, then raw hide treated with extra fine green jeweler's buffing compound (about 250,000 grit), then strop it on a high quality Italian leather strop. Principle seems the same, to be consistent/even with your wear pattern, and keep that slurry in play. Good stuff to know! Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I tried doing it with rice; and honestly, it just wasn’t working. The rice was getting all clumped up and wasn’t turning into a powder, so now that I know you can do it with just water- imma do that.

thank you so much for this tutorial! i bought this exact one today and i’m going to grind it down like that tomorrow, at first i wasn’t sure if i should work just one side of the pestle but i see now that doing both sides will be good

I use to find motars for $5 a few years ago and I never purchased a spare bc I never imagined that the price of these items would climb so much. Well I no longer have my old one and It had been seasoned for me. This video was perfect! Not only did it help me to tell the authentic vs the counterfeit it also showed me how to season easy and w perfection. Thank you so much for this upload.

Thanks for the awesome tips! I just got a nearly identical one for Christmas and it told me to put raw garlic and cumin in there! I'm grateful to you for posting what clearly appears to be the proper conditioning directions!

I had no idea I had to do this with my mortar and pestle. I was just looking up care instructions and I’m so glad I stumbled on here

Just took delivery on an identical one to grind dent corn into corn meal for some no-added-sugar cornbread. Dent corn is corn that ripens and dries on the cob still on the vine. Part of the carbohydrate turns to sugar in the drying process. the ear is then shucked. You can buy bulk dent corn as animal feed and it's just fine for humans, making wonderful corn bread. Just don't clean it by washing or it will quickly turn moldy and poisonous. Keep it dry until ready to use for baking. Stone grinding was used into the late 1930's when faster steel grinding took over, destroying the wheat germ and natural sweetness. the mortar and pestle will allow me to re-create the delicious old no-sugar cornbread I remember as a boy. ... Thanks for the video. I had already planed to do pretty much the same before finding and watching it. .

Wow! You are so informative! I first thought you might be in California, but saw something that had Florida in it. We live in upper FL. You have so much info here for anyone. Thanks so much for all your videos..

Love this thank youuuu. I have now watched 7 seasoning videos and none of them acknowledged the water first to smooth the surface of the inside. All the videos went straight to rice seasoning a new mortar. I have been doing it for 2 days now off and on. the rice is barely cracking and im still seeing grey powder. I started with water but none of the videos used it so I thought I was being too hard grinding without any rice/herbs; this is what happens when you use this tool without something to gring, you start grinding down the mortar which is supposedly wrong because none of the videos and tutorials showed this. so thanks and this is why people need to make videos sharing THEIR way of doing things so we can all learn new tricks about things we already know how to do.

I absolutely love the sound of a granite mortar and pestle

This is the most helpful tutorial I have seen for seasoning my new mortar and pestle. Thank you!

Спасибо большое за данное видео! Столько лет прошло, а оно продолжает помогать людям!) Здоровья и всех благ вам! 🫶🏻

mine came with instructions that said straight to the rice. no initial grinding. glad I found your video because I am still making some pretty grey water haha

Iiiiiiiiiiii didn't even know I had to do this with mine (also granite. Possibly the same brand in this video) since no papers came with it in the box. Maybe I missed something, but I honestly thought you just use it right out of the box. now I know better....and my pesto probably came with rock pieces in them. Whoops.

Someone told me about this method and I was questioning it. They shared this video and I was sold after I saw your Gators shirt! Go Gators!

Thank you. Very helpful. And the story of finding indentations where the first people used the stones for grinding made my day!!

Best M&P instructional video on KZfaq. Thanks

Hello Don, I tried it without water and it never worked . Then I did you water and like you said. I then primed it with garlic and other stuff. then I did the water again thing again. then today I put rice in and it turned into powder in no time. Great!

Cool ! Thank you ! I just got a granite mortar & pestle, so you helped me to understand, by example, how I am to season it ! Thanks Again !

I have a very similar mortar and pestle to yours. I was to nervous to use it due to it not being seasoned. I tested this for 10 mins to see how difficult it was, and boy howdy my arms are sore.

I treated myself to a really nice one for Christmas. Once I opened it up it was obvious I could t just used this for food as is. So since the spring I been using it to grind my egg shells for gardening as my conditioning. Maybe by next Christmas I will feel comfortable using it for food. :) Thanks for top with the rice.

I am sure this is the most accurate video on curing granite mortar and pestles! Thank you.

Best instructional video on KZfaq. Thanks Donald!

just got my Molcajete today. it's already paid for itself by directing me to your channel. Great stuff, thanks!

Excellent video, Donald. Thank you for being so thorough.

Thanks for this very good tutorial Donald, I just got mine today and am eager to condition the right way! And I appreciate your hard working hands, like patents and mine.

I just got one for my birthday, so will do what you advise. Thank you!

This is great. Thanx Donald. I had a small one of these many moons ago but I always wanted to make one out in the bush. I wonder how much new granite dust enters the rice flour.......Lol......... the only cure for grinded teeth is to use a pestle and mortar. Lol..........

thank you. Just picked up my first mortar and pestle this week.

Cool video man, thanks. I'm beginning to think the central nub is meant to be there. It creates a little thumping action even when you're rubbing.

Thank you. I was sitting here grinding rice per the conditioning instructions which came with my mortar and pestle and decided to do a youtube search on it. It quickly dawned on me that I should set aside the rice until this stone-on-stone method gives me a smoother surface. I did add some rock salt as someone suggested, because it made sense. Thanks again, smoother is obviously better. Is it possible to do any damage to the mortar, perhaps making the grooves worse by not being even with the grinding?

Appreciate the tutorial! I have the exact same one.

Oh my goodness, this was so helpful. I was just about to return my M&P because I thought it was defective, LOLOL...

THANK YOU THANK YOU! IM HERE APRIL 22ND 2020. Im so blessed to have found your video tutorial on how to prepare my MP for use. Now I'm off to look up some recipes for salsa! Also grinding techniques for spices:) 🤗🤗🙏

I followed your method, worked so great! Thanks a bunch. I really like your channel and I like the way you call us "my friends"! Plus I subscribed🐱

Hey Donald-- Next time you have a new mortar with ridges in the bowl, start by working them down using very rough sandpaper wrapped around a tennis ball or other ball that is a little smaller than the bowl. Once you've done this, you will have a much easier (and shorter) time water-truing the pestle against the bowl of the mortar.

Thanks for a great example. I can now confidently ready my new set.

thank you!! I am ready to use my new tool now.

Hi Donald. Thank you for your video. It was very helpful.

This was very helpful! Thank you very much for this video!

My Mortar turned out great. Thank you.

Oh man, very helpful! Thanks you, I'd only seen broke in m&p before i ordered mine

Just wondering how long does complete process take ? I bought one and get it today, but didn’t know about seasoning it so glad I found your video.

Thanks so much! I've been trying to smooth out my new M and P using the rice method. It was taking forever. I'm trying the water method. 👍

Just bought one, thank you kindly sir

Thanks for the tip. Am glad i researched in this now i can give my mum her Granit morter in good Condition for xmas

Great job! Thanks for showing the whole process.

Thanks! So glad I found this video before I grinded 2 bowlfuls of white rice via the product instructions!

Thanks for the useful video, from India.

Super helpful! I will be making a spice blend tomorrow, and now I know how

Thanks Donald. Very informative video on use and care

Is the idea that once this process is finished that you can grind the M+P together in water and the water will stay clear?

This is great! Greetings from southwest PA!

I love that specific form 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you for this video! My set didn't come with any instructions for seasoning - I'm sorta miffed about that but glad for your information. Thanks again.

Ty for ur time:) thought my wife bought me a screwed up set lol

Most excellent video! Thanks for sharing

What's the use of smooth mortar and pestle? The smoother they are, the less they grind

Just bought same one in vid i plan the weekend to break it in watching movies and work on my wrist action Ty

How long are we supposed to do this? It seems like I'm going to grind a hole in the mortar before the water clears.

Your last message is covered by pop up's. Could you please tell us what the 1st word is? (???te's nonporous quality). Thanks for a very helpful video.

Thanks for the thourough walk through. Cant wait to use mine.

Amazing tutorial, thank you

Yee I thought my mortar is defective and needed to be replaced but now I understand, awesome

Thank you air! That was very helpful

Very useful video, thank you!!!

I got a small mortar and pestle (all I could afford) that are made out of a very smooth stone. When I say smooth, I mean an almost glass finish. It's beautiful, but I worry that it's TOO smooth to grind effectively. Is this something I should be worried about and, if so, do you have any ideas what I should do to fix it?

You can use sand paper to get a great finish outside. 3000 grit can get you a smooth finish, 5000 and then 7000 will make the outside shine!

Does doing this smooth the surfaces? Because I need rough surfaces to grind my seeds, to make paste, etc. I have a marble mortar & pestle that is hard to work with because it’s so smooth..

Why should the mortary be smooth?

Thank you for the amazing video. After the seasoning is done, how do you recommend cleaning the p&m after each use? Thank you.

I am considering adding sand to the initial grind.

I just recently purchased my first molcajete made of granite and have been following your instructions and so far it's working very well. 😊 Do I need to continue to do the water grinding until the water is totally clear? It's been about an hour and it is quite clear but just slightly cloudy at this point. I also ground some rice and salt for a bit after the water method with little to no greyish cast. Thanks for any info you can provide.

Y'know. I've owned my granite M+P for a while now, and did not know that I was supposed to season it. I thought the ridges were intentional. Guess I know what I'm doing when I get home.

Wow!😳 very interesting! Thanks so much for sharing!

Very good... thanks! Do you have some favorite uses... recipes?

Hmmm in doing this and after many rounds in still getting grey water. Am I just going to have grey granite water no matter how long I do the water stage? I'm wondering if I'm just trying to get it smooth and when crushing avoid stone on stone grinding or should it go totally clear? Thx!

Thanks for the tip! I've seen the rice thing a lot, but was wondering if there was something else to do. The instructions don't say to season it (at least mine don't), but I will before using. It only says using water and a mild soap to wash it. Like you mentioned, I don't want chips of granite in my food!

Very helpful. Thanks.