While you can buy pre-ground beef, pork, lamb or chicken, grinding it fresh yourself gives you control over the cut, fat content and fineness. But who wants to crank a clunky, manual meat grinder? Hauling out this single-use appliance that takes up storage space just for occasional batches of meat seems tedious.
By utilizing the sharp blades and brute mechanical force of your food processor, you can customize the texture of ground meat to your exact specifications in no time. Wondering, Can you grind meat in a food processor? We will show you how to pick the right cut of meat, prep and chill it properly, set up your processor, and grind batches to your ideal consistency without overworking the meat to a paste.
From meatballs, tacos and chili to stuffed peppers, lasagna or breakfast sausage, the possibilities for delicious dishes made with freshly ground meat are endless. Read on as we grind up answers to questions about the best way to harness your food processor for quality meat grinding in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Choosing a Food Processor
Pick a sturdy food processor with sharp, durable blades and enough power to grind meat smoothly, even if you’re looking to make pesto without a food processor. The bowl should have about an 8-10 cup capacity to handle larger meat batches. Mini choppers may overheat quickly or produce uneven textures. Also helpful is a meat grinding attachment to extrude uniformly shaped ground meat, providing versatility beyond just processing pesto.
Preparing the Meat
For even grind Meat In A Food Processor must be very cold. Freeze meat for 20-30 minutes until ice crystals start to form on the outer surface before placing in the processor. Partially frozen meat cuts more smoothly without gumming up machine parts.
Cut meat into 1-2 inch chunks first to make grinding faster in smaller batches. Remove any stringy membranes, sinew or silver skin ahead of time too. Lean ground beef, chicken and pork all work well for grinding.
Grinding the Meat
Goal |
Instructions |
Prep |
Trim meat chunks. Partially frozen. |
Grind |
Use small batches. Pulse/process 10 secs max. Scrape bowl. |
Don’t Overfill |
Fill the bowl 50% full to prevent overheating. |
Check Texture |
Cook a test patty before making the whole recipe. |
Handle Properly |
Chill meat sheets before tightly sealing/freezing. |
Start grinding in small batches using the metal s-blade, knife blade or grinder attachment. For a coarse grind, use short 1-2 second pulses, allowing the meat to resettle between pulses. For finer textures, pulse continuously for 5-10 seconds.
Watch meat closely so it doesn’t overprocess into a paste. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Don’t fill processor bowls more than halfway full when grinding. Processing large amounts causes friction that heats and toughens meat.
Let the machine fully stop between batches. Once finished, spread meat over a sheet pan to promptly refrigerate or freeze for safety.
Handy Tips
- Chilling all equipment helps meat grind better by preventing sticking.
- Mixing up meat types creates fuller-flavored blends like beef-pork sausage.
- Add seasonings after grinding to evenly distribute flavors
- Fry a test patty before bulk cooking for taste approval
Storing and Freezing
To retain freshness and texture, use freshly ground meat within 1-2 days. For longer storage, spread meat in a thin layer over a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then vacuum seal or wrap tightly with plastic wrap, foil or freezer bags before returning to the freezer. Properly sealed, frozen ground meat lasts 4-6 months.
With appropriate precautions and methods, a home food processor makes quick work of grinding all types of meat. Follow our guidelines for tailoring the texture to your exact recipe needs.
FAQs
Is a food processor good for grinding meat?
Yes, a food processor with sharp blades can grind all types of raw or cooked meat to your preferred texture.
Does a food processor work as a grinder?
A food processor effectively functions as a meat grinder when using short pulses for coarse meat or longer processing for finely minced meat.
Is there a way to grind meat without a grinder?
You can easily grind meat to order in a food processor instead of needing a specific meat grinder appliance.
Can I grind chicken in my food processor?
A food processor is perfect for quickly grinding chicken into minced or finely shredded meat for any recipe.
Conclusion
Using your food processor to grind meat at home lets you control the texture. Simply cut cold meat into small pieces and pulse in batches for a coarse grind. Or use longer pulses for finer minced meat. Watch closely so you don’t over-process into mush. Stop to scrape down the sides as needed so all gets evenly chopped by the sharp blades. Spread meat out on a baking sheet before freezing flat in a thin layer. Then store the homemade ground meat sealed airtight in bags to use for months without losing juiciness.
Grinding with your handy food processor makes easy work of preparing meat just how your recipe needs it. Use short pulses for chili meat crumbles and longer pulses for burger patties and meatloaf mix. Cleaning up is easy too compared to grinding by hand or hauling out a meat grinder appliance. Follow our simple steps to start enjoying the convenience and versatility of freshly ground meat tailored to your next tasty dinner made right in your own kitchen with tools you use all the time.
