It can seem intimidating to first-time meat grinders since they lack the specialized equipment often used by butchers. So, can you grind meat in a food processor?
Of course, you can, is the correct response. Modern food processors use cutting-edge technology that allows them to handle a wide range of tasks, including the grinding of meat. You may achieve the perfect meat-grinding texture with the use of titanium-coated blades found in some food processors.
Let us have in-depth knowledge about grinding meat in a food processor.
Which cuts of meat can be ground in a blender or food processor?
The meat of every variety is ground in a food processor. However, making sure there are no bones or skin left on the meat before processing is essential. Some of the preferred meats for the food processor are listed below.
- Sirloin steak tips (to make juicy restaurant-style burgers)
- Turkey thighs without the skin and bones (to make juicy turkey burgers on the grill).
- Shrimp patty size (for the big ones)
- Cod fillets, skinless (to make cod cakes with lemon and basil).
- Tenderloin of pork (for use in Thai lettuce wraps).
- Beef ribs that have been deboned
- Chuck-eye roast steak without the bone
- Country-style pork ribs without the bone
How Can You Grind Meat In A Food Processor?
Step 1: To prepare meat for processing, cut it into bits and freeze it for a while.
Meat and poultry are easier to handle when cut into 1/2-inch pieces, and the results are chopped but not pulverized if they are partially frozen first. Place the beef in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, then place it in the freezer. Put in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until extremely solid and beginning to harden around the edges but still malleable.
Step 2: Make a paste out of some of the main ingredients by grinding it.
Some of the main ingredients are finely ground into a paste and used to bind the rest of the meal, which is ground to a chunkier texture, as in turkey burgers and prawn burgers (below). Since there’s no need for an egg or a bready binder, the natural flavors of the ingredients can really come through.
An eighth of the turkey called for in the recipe (three ounces out of the eleven and a half pounds) is used to make a paste that keeps the burgers moist.
When making shrimp patties, only a third of the total shrimp is used because the rest is needed for binding the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3: Mix and match different kinds of meat for a balanced flavor and fat content.
Making our Italian-style sausages required the use of a food processor. We used both salt pork and pig butt without the bone to do this. We were able to get a consistent level of fat, flavor, and greasiness by selecting our components and engineering the optimal formula.
Step 4: Force the meat down the feed tube with a substantial amount of force.
With no effort, a food processor can produce uniformly thin slices. But don’t be afraid to get a little heavy-handed to make sure your cuts are nice and even. Don’t be too gentle, otherwise, the slicing disc will knock the item over or pull it into the gap between the slicer and the food processor lid.
Step 5: To prevent the meat from drying out while cooking, add baking soda after you have ground it at home.
The tender meat was maintained throughout cooking when we soaked it in a baking soda and water solution for 15 minutes before frying. The meat’s pH will increase after adding baking soda, which will hinder the bonding of its proteins. (This is not limited to the meat that has been processed in a blender or a food processor.
Step 6: When grinding beef at home, you can use less panade.
Panade is a combination of bread and milk that is used to make ground meat softer. When you grind your meat at home, it will be more tender than the pre-ground beef you buy at the supermarket. While a panade is essential for binding and keeping foods like crab cakes and burgers soft, it can also mask the natural flavors of certain foods.
How To Grind Chicken In A Food Processor?
Here is how to prepare ground chicken at home:
- Chicken should be cut into 1-inch cubes and placed on a baking sheet lined with foil. The chicken should not touch in any way. Over-accuracy is not required.
- Put the baking pan in the freezer and chill the chicken for 20 minutes. As a result, the meat may be processed more efficiently.
- The chicken cubes can be processed in a food processor until the appropriate consistency is attained by working in batches. A coarser grind is preferred for beef tartar and other similar dishes. Place the ground chicken in a fresh bowl. How many batches you need to do this depends on how much meat you want to crush. Typically, I divide the 1–2 pound amount into 3 portions.
- Select the ground chicken to see whether any large chunks remain, and re-grind the ones you find.
- You can either put the ground chicken to use right away or put it in the freezer for later.
Tips to grind meat in a food processor
Below are some tips that will grind your meat in the food processor properly.
The Ratio of Meat to Fat.
The process works as well with beef, hog, lamb, chicken, and even fish. When you grind your meat, you can experiment with different cuts and combinations of meat that you wouldn’t find at the supermarket’s deli counter.
Do you want to prepare a burger with only ribeye? Or perhaps a unique filling for your homemade Asian dumplings, like prawns and pork? Or how about some organic chicken meat? Here’s your chance.
But there is one major proviso I must make: you must add some fat. To rephrase, most recipes would benefit greatly from the addition of fat. Lean meat can still be ground, but it’s difficult to prepare properly. Tough and flavorless after cooking, lean ground meat is the result of not having enough fat. A fat content of at least 20% is recommended for optimal results; this is roughly the same as a well-marbled piece of beef.
First, ice it.
It’s not clear why we have to put ice on it. This is because cold meat is more simple to grind than warm or room-temperature meat. Additionally, ice prevents the meat from becoming mushy by keeping its structure intact.
Keep the food processor’s capacity in mind.
It’s important to leave some area in the food processor for the frozen meat to shift about as it’s being ground. If you have a lot of meat to grind, do it in stages and store the ground beef in the fridge to keep it cold while you work on the next batch.
Food processor cleaning
The food processor should be cleaned after being used to grind raw meat in the same way that you would clean any other kitchen instrument or surface that had contact with raw meat. For best results, clean the food processor immediately after use to prevent bits of meat from being lodged in the crevices; if this is not possible, run water over the processor’s bowl and blade to loosen any lingering scraps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get the same results from a meat grinder with a food processor?
While a food processor can be used to get a coarser grind than what would be achieved with a meat grinder, the resulting mince will still contain some larger fragments.
How should beef ideally be ground?
Meat should be chopped into 1- to 2-inch chunks, placed in a single layer on a sheet pan or large plate, and chilled for about fifteen minutes to prevent spreading before being ground. If you have a 10-cup food processor, don’t try to grind more than half a pound at a time.
Should you be grinding your meat, and if so, why?
Meat that has been ground at home is less likely to have E. coli and has a better flavor than ground meat purchased from a grocery store.
Final Words
Home meat grinding is the surest way to convince yourself that you’re a master cook. Perhaps you have some leftover chicken parts that you want to use to make sausage, egg rolls, or gyoza, or perhaps you just want to make a burger from 100% ribeye. Meat that has been ground at home can be cheaper and its quality and origin can be more closely monitored.
The good news gets even better: you can get by without a meat grinder. Having a food processor at home allows you to ground fresh meat whenever the craving arises.
I hope that you now know, can you grind meat in a food processor.
