Can a Vitamix blender grind meat? Yes. This is a much-asked question in the natural foods community. The truth is that it can grind meat, but there are considerations to keep in mind before grinding up your own chicken breasts or pork loin to delicately craft a cheeseburger in a cup.
About Vitamix
Vitamix is a brand of blending appliances that have been around for decades. The company was founded in 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio, and is still headquartered there today. The products are sold through the company’s website, on Amazon, and at retail locations like Macy’s and Bed Bath & Beyond.
The Vitamix machines are known for their premium quality and high price tags, with models costing anywhere from $150 to more than $1,000.
Vitamix sells several different types of blenders, including personal-sized smoothie makers (called “S-Series”) and full-size machines (“Ascent” series). The company also offers various accessories for its blenders, such as food containers and travel cups.
Can Vitamix Blender Grind Meat?
Yes, you can. However, it will require a little bit of elbow grease.
Vitamix blenders are not designed for meat grinding. They do not have a dedicated meat grinder attachment and do not include one in their sales package.
Key Differences Between Meat Grinder And Vitamix
Functionality
Meat grinders are designed to fulfill a single function, which is cutting and grinding meat. The product will also come with an attachment to help you make sausages. If you get a more advanced option, it might allow you to do a little more in the kitchen such as mixing sauces or making dips. If a grinder is your primary concern, then you can purchase one that comes with these additional functions to save some money.
On the other hand, a blender can do multiple tasks that you would otherwise need separate appliances for. With lower-end blenders, you will still be limited in terms of what tasks you can accomplish. However, if you find a high-end option like Vitamix, there will be no limit to what it can do for you in the kitchen.
Power
A meat grinder is a power hog, plain and simple. Its motor may not be that powerful in comparison to the motor of a Vitamix blender; however, its gears are very strong. This makes the machine very efficient at grinding through large amounts of meat in short periods of time. This performance comes at a price though – you will have to pay dearly for your electricity bills every month!
On the other hand, you won’t be able to grind large amounts of meat with a Vitamix blender owing to its smaller gears and less powerful motor, but you can use it for longer periods of time without worrying about your energy bills!
Maintenance and cleaning
Meat grinders are easier to clean as they have fewer parts. You only need to wash the grinder plates, auger, pusher, feed tube, and the tray or pan that holds the meat. In addition, there are dishwasher-safe parts in both hand-crank and electric meat grinders.
Vitamix blenders have more parts that require cleaning. You will have to wash the container, lid, base, pitcher blades and tamper which takes a lot of time unless you have a self-cleaning blender. Nonetheless, you can put some parts of both appliances in a dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Appearance and design
Meat grinders are usually made with stainless steel construction which is durable and long-lasting. They also come in different sizes depending on your needs whether big or small family. In addition, they can be used for other tasks such as mincing vegetables and nuts.
On the other hand, Vitamix blenders are made using heavy-duty plastic material which is durable but not as strong as stainless steel. In addition, they come in different colors depending on your kitchen décor while their pitchers are made using Tritan copolyester plastic material which is BPA-free and shatterproof.
Extras and accessories
A meat grinder comes with a few additional parts like three cutting plates, a kibbe attachment, a sausage horn, a food pusher, and a storage tray with a lid.
On the other hand, a Vitamix blender comes with extra items like a tamper, measuring cup, cleaning brush, cookbook, instruction manual, DVD guide, and storage case for the blades.
5 Easy Steps To Grind Meat With Vitamix
Step 1: Cut the meat
Use a sharp knife to cut the meat into 1-inch cubes. The smaller the pieces, the more easily they’ll grind in your machine.
Step 2: Put the meat in freeze
Put the meat in a resealable plastic freezer bag and place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to one hour. You want it to be very cold, but not frozen solid. If it’s frozen solid, you may have a hard time grinding it in your Vitamix because it will clump together and won’t process evenly.
Step 3: Put the meat in the blender’s container
Insert your Vitamix tamper through the lid and use it to press down on the meat as you turn on your machine. Use either a high or variable speed setting depending on your model of Vitamix (some models won’t operate at high speed without liquid). Increase speed gradually until you reach maximum speed or high setting, then pulse several times or until you achieve desired consistency. If you want smaller chunks, pulse longer; for larger chunks, pulse fewer times. Don’t hold it down on high for too long because this may cause your machine to overheat. For safety reasons, if your Vitamix overheats,
Step 4: Add a small amount of liquid when blending
If you aren’t grinding chicken or pork, add in a small amount of liquid while blending, such as water or broth, to get the mixture moving around easier in the container. Avoid making it too soupy by adding too much liquid. If you’re using a dryer cut of beef, try adding in just a tablespoon or two of water since leaner meats are more difficult to grind
Step 5: Add salt and pepper if you like
Add salt, pepper, and other spices that you want to add to the dish. Start blending on medium-high speed for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Benefits Of Using Vitamix Blenders To Grind Meat
Suitable for all cuts of meat
The high-performance motor and blades used in the Vitamix blenders allow them to grind all kinds of meat. Cuts of beef, chicken, pork or even seafood can be ground easily using this device. You can even use it to mince certain types of fish fillets. This is a great benefit for those who want to prepare a wide variety of dishes using ground meat. For example, you can make burgers, tacos or sausages using ground beef; or make some chicken soup using minced chicken breast.
Minimal prep time
The Vitamix blenders are designed to feature a minimal prep time. With models like the Vitamix 5200, there is no need to cut up the ingredients beforehand. The machine itself will do that for you. As such, you can save time and just throw the ingredients into the blender container. Within a short time, you can have your ground meat ready for use in your recipe.
Fast process
Another benefit offered by the Vitamix blenders is that they offer a fast grinding process. The powerful motors and blades used in these blenders allow them to grind meat quickly and efficiently. The time taken to grind different types of meat will vary depending on the type of meat you are using. However, a general rule of thumb is to expect the process to be completed in about 10 minutes. If you are using one of the more powerful models, then it is possible for them to be completed in 5 minutes.
High efficiency
The blender is equipped with a 1.8 horse power motor, which is considered one of the most powerful motors on the market today. Therefore, the device has a high grinding speed and can grind all types of meat, including chicken bones and beef bones. You only need to put the ingredients in the blender, select a suitable mode to use and then wait for a few minutes.
Easy to operate
In addition to being a powerful blender in terms of capacity, Vitamix also has a compact and easy-to-use design. The blender has many different modes and you just need to press the button corresponding to the mode you want to use. The machine will grind automatically according to your chosen mode.
Healthier grinding
The fact that you can grind your own meat at home simply with the aid of a blender is amazing. Not only does it save you the cost of buying a grinder, but it also saves you money on buying processed and packaged meat. You are sure of what goes into your food and you can be sure that there is no added preservative or artificial flavoring in your food.
Helpful Tips When Grinding Meat Using Vitamix
Cut meat into small pieces before grinding.
Cutting the meat into small pieces will make it easier to grind them evenly.
Use low pulse speed for natural juicing.
Juicing fruits and vegetables using a Vitamix machine provides the perfect opportunity to use low pulse speed. The low pulse speed allows the user to juice without having to worry about damaging the ingredients in any way.
Use variable speed for maximum flexibility.
Unlike most other blenders, Vitamix machines have variable speeds that allow users to mix and blend different ingredients together with ease. With this feature, you don’t need to worry about blending all ingredients at one time or having to stop halfway through because there was not enough room in the container for everything you wanted to blend!
Hold down lid with a kitchen towel
When you grind meat in your Vitamix, be sure to hold down the lid with a folded kitchen towel while it is running. This will help keep the lid steady and prevent the lid from flying off. Remember, never use your hands or any utensils to hold down the Vitamix lid when the machine is running!
Do not mix dry ingredients with water
It is important that you do not mix dry ingredients with water when grinding meat in your Vitamix. The dry ingredients will absorb all of the moisture from your ground meat and leave behind a very dry product.
What Are The Alternative Ways To Grind Meat?
Knife
A sharp meat knife can be used to grind meat, but the result will not be consistent, and you may have trouble keeping all the meat on the chopping board. Hold the knife at a 90 degree angle from your work surface and push it forward as you chop, taking care to bring the blade back to its original position before each chop. For a finer grind, turn the meat over and repeat. This is a good method for small amounts of meat.
Food processor
The food processor is one of easiest ways to achieve a consistent grind. Place small amounts of meat into your food processor and pulse briefly until you have reached your desired consistency. If you process the meat too much, it will become pasty, so work in small batches.
Conclusion
To conclude, the answer is yes.
The Vitamix really is kind of amazing, and can make all kinds of things. If you want to make soups, nut butters, baby food, and more, the motor should be fine. Don’t try to make a whole chicken in it though as the blades go up pretty high!