Norpro White Marble Mortar and Pestle Set

Yes, it is recommended to season your marble mortar and pestle before using it for the first time. You can do this by grinding a small amount of white rice into a fine powder, discarding it, and repeating the process until the powder comes out clean to remove any residual stone dust from the manufacturing process.

No, hand washing is strongly recommended. Dishwashers can be too harsh for natural stone, potentially causing it to crack or dull over time, and the detergents can seep into the porous material.

The interior features an unpolished, slightly textured surface. This is intentional, as it provides the necessary friction to effectively crush herbs, spices, and nuts rather than just pushing them around.

Because marble is a natural, porous stone, it can absorb pigments and oils from highly pigmented ingredients like turmeric or saffron. If you want to keep the stone pristine, you may want to reserve this set for lighter-colored herbs and spices.

The mortar features a flat base, which provides good stability on most countertops. However, because it is made of solid stone, it is heavy enough to stay put during standard grinding tasks without sliding around.