Can You Grind Meat In A Vitamix?

If you enjoy making homemade burgers and meatballs, you may have wondered if you can use a Vitamix blender to grind your own beef. With its powerful motor and sharp stainless steel blades, a Vitamix has the potential to chop, puree, and blend all kinds of tough ingredients.

But how well does it work for grinding meat? Can you really get the right texture for burgers and sausages by using this popular high-speed blender? Read on for the answers.

The Benefits of Grinding Your Own Meat

Grinding your own beef and other meats at home has some great advantages over buying pre-ground meat from the grocery store:

• More control over fat content – you can choose how much fat to include or exclude.
• Avoid preservatives and other additives commonly found in store-bought ground meats.
• Cost savings from buying whole cuts of meat when they are on sale.
• Customize coarseness and texture based on your recipe needs.
• Better food safety as you control the freshness and handling.

Can a Vitamix Really Grind Meat?

The Vitamix is an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance, but how does it fare at meat grinding compared to an actual meat grinder?

While it won’t give you quite the same texture you’d get from a commercial meat grinder, a Vitamix can definitely grind meat to the proper consistency needed for burgers, meatballs, sausages, and more.

The Vitamix blades can breakdown tough meat cuts into a minced texture. It may not produce a super fine ground beef, but should work great for most recipes.

Tips for Grinding Meat in a Vitamix

Follow these tips to get the best results when using your Vitamix to grind meat:

• Cut meat into 1-inch cubes before adding to the Vitamix.
• Use the tamper to press meat against the blades.
• Grind in batches – avoid overfilling the container.
• Pulse rather than run continuously for best texture.
• Chill meat before grinding to firm it up.
• Consider mixing meats like beef with pork or bacon fat for added moisture.

Step-by-Step Guide

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to grinding meat in a Vitamix:

1. Cut your meat into 1-inch cubes, trimming excess fat if desired.
2. Chill meat in freezer for about 30 minutes until firm but not frozen.
3. Working in batches, add cubed meat to your Vitamix container.
4. Lock the lid securely into place.
5. Start on low speed and use the tamper to press meat into the blades.
6. Once the meat gets moving, increase to variable speed 5-10.
7. Use short 5-10 second pulses to control texture.
8. Stop and scrape down sides as needed.
9. You’re done when meat is broken down into crumbles, with no large pieces remaining.
10. Remove ground meat and repeat with remaining batches.

Recipes to Try

Once you’ve mastered the Vitamix meat grinding method, try using your fresh homemade ground beef to make:

• Juicy burgers
• Meatballs or meatloaf
• Tacos, burritos, empanadas
• Lasagna, cottage pie, or bolognese
• Sausage for breakfast or dinner

Get creative with mixes of meats and seasonings too. Enjoy your homemade gourmet dishes!

Consider an Actual Meat Grinder

While the Vitamix can grind meat in a pinch, you may want to invest in an actual meat grinder if you plan to grind meat regularly. Dedicated meat grinders like the STX 3000 offer:

• Multiple grinding plates for finer or coarser textures
• Higher meat grinding capacity
• Easier to clean parts
• Safer hands-free operation
• More control over fat content

A quality meat grinder can save you time and effort while producing the best possible ground meat for your recipes.

Get Grinding!

Give your Vitamix a try at grinding up fresh, healthy, homemade meats. With the proper techniques, you can skip the supermarket and make deliciously affordable burgers, sausages, meatballs and more. Enjoy controlling the texture and ingredients in your favorite recipes. Get ready to grind!