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🪨How to Season a Molcajete, Step by Step

A new volcanic-stone molcajete sheds grit and needs to be 'seasoned' before you use it: you soak and scrub it with water, grind raw rice until the dust comes out white, and finish with a garlic, cumin and salt paste that rests overnight. It takes about 30 minutes of elbow grease, and gives your salsas that mineral depth no blender can imitate.

Updated · 1 min read · By the MexGoodies team

A volcanic stone molcajete with its pestle, garlic cloves, uncooked rice and coarse salt, on a dark brown background.
In this guide ▾
  1. What you'll need
  2. The step-by-step
  3. Caring for it for life
  4. Where to buy an authentic molcajete?
  5. FAQ

What you'll need

It's all in your kitchen already:

  • 1-2 cups of raw rice (the cheap kind)
  • Water and a stiff brush (no soap)
  • 4 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of cumin and coarse salt (for the final paste)
of work, give or take
30 min
of raw rice
1 to 2 cups
of rest with garlic, cumin and salt
1 night
soap, ever
Zero

The step-by-step

The process is simple repetition until the stone runs clean:

  1. Step 1: Scrub with water

    Soak it for 1 hour, then scrub inside and out with a stiff brush. No soap.

  2. Step 2: Grind raw rice

    Grind a handful in circles against the walls. Toss the gray powder and repeat until it comes out white (3 to 5 times).

  3. Step 3: Garlic, cumin and salt paste

    Grind 4 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of cumin and coarse salt. Spread it inside and let it rest overnight.

  4. Step 4: Rinse and air dry

    Water only: never soap or the dishwasher. Let it dry completely before storing it.

Tap the infographic to see it larger or download it.

Caring for it for life

Never soap (the porous stone absorbs it): just hot water and a brush. No dishwasher. With use, the molcajete polishes itself and every salsa tastes better than the last. A well-kept molcajete becomes a family heirloom.

Where to buy an authentic molcajete?

Watch out for concrete fakes: a real molcajete is volcanic basalt, heavy for its size, with irregular pores. MexGoodies sells authentic molcajetes made in Mexico, shipped across the U.S. and Canada.

Volcanic stone (basalt)

The real thing

  • Heavy for its size
  • Irregular pores
  • Polishes itself with use
  • Lasts generations

Concrete imitation

Best avoided

  • Crumbles with use
  • Can shed residue

Everything in this guide, shipped to your door

Volcanic stone molcajete No. 7 (7 in) (opens in a new tab)Volcanic stone molcajete No. 8 (8 in) (opens in a new tab)Volcanic stone molcajete No. 9 (9 in) (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my molcajete is fully seasoned?

Grind a handful of rice: if the dust comes out white (no gray, no grit), it's ready. If it's cloudy, repeat the process.

Can I wash a molcajete with soap?

No. Volcanic stone is porous and holds onto soap (your salsa would taste like detergent). Hot water and a stiff brush are all you need.

Stone or concrete molcajete?

Always volcanic stone. Concrete ones crumble with use and can shed residue. Basalt lasts generations.

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