How to Cure a Molcajete, Mexican Mortar and Pestle, & Clean One Too

"Even in pre-Columbian Mexico, Molcajetes were fixtures in the culinary landscape of the ancient Mesoamerican peoples. And in the time since the Aztecs and the Maya, very little has changed about their design, use, or manufacture...However, in order to reap the benefits, you do need to cure your Molcajete. It’s similar to Carbon Steel in its initial need for seasoning, but much more like masa madre (sourdough starter) in its continuous development of flavor."

- Made In

Welcome to the kitchen. We're going to show you how to cure a molcajete, Mexican mortar and pestle, and where to find some easy molcajete recipes for you to try at home.

If you like this tutorial, check out how to make tortillas and tostadas, and beef and bean tostadas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Amazon links are not affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure.

"These go by so many different names in Latin America - from molote y tejolote to batán, molcajete, piedra y mano, and pilón - that it's hard to keep up.

- Sandra A. Gutierrez

Molcajete Recipes

The molcajete will come in handy for any recipe that uses whole spices but we've got some resources you'll appreciate when working with one:

• Homemade Salsa Molcajete Roja
• Salsa Verde en Molcajete
• Latinísimo: Home Recipes from the 21 Countries of Latin America
• Dining With the Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead
• The Latin American Cookbook
• Flavor + Us: Cooking for Everyone
• Cooking con Claudia

By all means, grind whatever you want to grind.

Stop by our shop to see more Family & Kids' Cooking Resources.

What is a Molcajete Used For?

As described in Latinísimo:

They are stone or wooden utensils used to process different kinds of food that have been used since pre-Columbian times and are still in use in modern kitchens today. For the most part, these are used to pound spice mixes and chiles, to puree sauces, to make pastes (such as moles or fufús), and to pulverize seeds.

- Sandra A. Gutierrez

How to Cure a Molcajete, Mexican Mortar and Pestle

We work with the Duplo x Made In molcajete. All of their equipment comes with handy little cards that include care and use instructions. Those small touches make it easy for us to care for the tools and equipment we love.

As Mariana Nuño Ruiz & Ian McEnroe point out in Dining with the Dead:

Curing a molcajete is a labor of love, and as everything that comes from love, it is worth it.

- Mariana Nuño Ruiz & Ian McEnroe

Equipment

• molcajete - there are many options out there but we like Made In's molcajete with the stable, slip-resistant cork bottom that protects surfaces
• tejolote - should come with your chosen molcajete
• scrub brush
• rice - we used a long-grain white rice but any white rice will work
• salt - kosher salt is recommended for curing your molcajete but use what you have on hand
• water

1. Clean the Molcajete With Water

How to clean a molcajete:

Wash your hands with soap and water. Use water and a scrub brush to wash the molcajete. This will remove stone dust. Let the inside of the molcajete dry.

And that's how you'll clean it anytime you use it. Okay, back to the tutorial.

2. Use the Tejolote to Grind Half of the Rice

Pour half of the rice into the molcajete. Use the tejolote, pestle, to grind the rice. Work your hand in a circular motion with the tejolote to grind the rice into the molcajete. The rice will likely turn gray from the stone dust.

Dump the rice into a separate bowl. Use a dry brush to remove any remaining rice powder.

3. Grind the Salt in the Mexican Mortar and Pestle

Pour the salt into the molcajete. Again, use a circular motion to grind the salt into the molcajete with the tejolote. Grind the salt for about 5 minutes, working it into the concave area of the molcajete.

Dump the salt into a separate container. Wash the Mexican mortar and pestle with water Let it dry.

4. Grind the Rest of the Rice

Pour the rest of the rice into the molcajete. Use the tejolote, pestle, to grind the rice. Work your hand in a circular motion with the tejolote to grind the rice into the molcajete.

5. Rinse the Molcajete and Tejolote

When the rice powder doesn't look gray, use water and a scrub brush to wash the molcajete and tejolote. Let it dry.

Your Mexican mortar and pestle is now ready to use! This one-time activity sets you up for a lifetime of success when working with your molcajete.

Free Food & Equipment Spanish - English Language Cards

Grab your free food and equipment Spanish - English Language Cards, complete with a sorting activity.

Kids can sort the cards into rows or columns using the heading cards: food and equipment. The colors of the cards provide a control of error so that kids can self-correct when completing this work independently.

These sorting cards also make excellent three-part cards for introducing new vocabulary. To use these as 3-part cards, simply print two copies of the printable and then cut the labels off the cards on one of the copies. Children can match the picture and then match the label as they show readiness.