Blending Chicken: Best Practices For Post-Cooking Grinding

Grinding chicken in a blender is a simple and affordable way to create ground chicken at home. It's also a great alternative to using a meat grinder, which can be difficult to clean. To get started, you'll need a powerful blender, raw or cooked chicken, and a sharp knife. If you're using raw chicken, keep it as cold as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Remove any fat, bones, skin, gristle, and connective tissue, then cut the chicken into small, uniform pieces. Chill the chicken in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to prevent it from getting mushy, then place a small amount into your blender and use the Chop setting for 20-30 seconds. Check the consistency and continue blending until you're happy with it. Remember to clean your blender immediately to avoid dried-on chicken, which can be difficult to remove.

Cut chicken into small pieces

When it comes to cutting chicken into small pieces, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the process is safe, efficient, and yields the desired results. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Choose the Right Cut of Chicken:

Chicken thighs are generally the best option for grinding as they have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, resulting in more flavourful and moist ground chicken. However, if you prefer leaner meat, you can certainly opt for chicken breasts.

Cut the Chicken into Small, Uniform Pieces:

Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken into small, uniform pieces. Aim for a size of about 1 inch. This will make it easier for your blender or food processor to grind the meat evenly. Cutting the chicken into evenly sized pieces will help ensure a consistent texture in the final ground product.

Remove Excess Fat and Gristle:

As you're cutting the chicken into small pieces, take the opportunity to remove any excess fat, gristle, or connective tissue. This will improve the texture and mouthfeel of your ground chicken.

Chill the Chicken (Optional):

Before grinding, you can optionally chill the chicken to help prevent it from getting too warm during the grinding process. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes, or until it feels nicely chilled. This step is especially useful if you are grinding raw chicken, as it helps keep the meat below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to minimise bacterial growth.

Remember to practice good hygiene and food safety throughout the process. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the chicken and keep your workspace and utensils clean. Now that you have your chicken cut into small pieces, you're ready to move on to the next step of grinding it in a blender or food processor!

Chill chicken before grinding

Chilling chicken before grinding it helps to keep the meat from getting too warm and becoming mushy. This is especially important if you are using a blender or food processor to grind the meat, as these appliances can generate heat during the grinding process. By chilling the chicken, you can help maintain the texture and quality of the ground meat.

To chill the chicken before grinding, place the cut pieces in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes before grinding. This is an optional step but can be helpful in maintaining the desired consistency of the ground chicken.

Another option is to partially freeze the chicken before grinding. This can be especially useful if you are grinding the chicken by hand with a knife. By partially freezing the chicken for 60-90 minutes, it will be easier to handle and slice, resulting in a more uniform grind.

If you are grinding a large batch of chicken and want to keep it as cold as possible, you can place it in a chilled bowl resting on top of an ice bath. Alternatively, you can work in batches, taking out a pound or two of chicken from the freezer at a time to ensure it stays cold during the grinding process.

Chilling or partially freezing the chicken before grinding is a helpful step to ensure the meat retains its moisture and texture. This is particularly important for chicken, which is a leaner protein than pork or beef and can dry out more easily. By chilling the chicken, you can help create a more uniform and desirable consistency for your ground chicken.

Pulse food processor/blender

Pulsing a food processor or blender is a great way to grind chicken after cooking. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Choose the Right Cut of Chicken

Chicken thighs are generally the best option for grinding as they have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, resulting in more flavourful and moist ground chicken. However, if you prefer leaner meat, chicken breasts are a good alternative.

Step 2: Cut the Chicken into Small Pieces

Before grinding, cut the chicken into small, uniform pieces of about 1 inch in size. This will ensure the food processor can grind the meat evenly. You can also remove any excess fat or gristle from the chicken at this stage.

Step 3: Chill the Chicken (Optional)

Chilling the chicken before grinding is an optional step but can help prevent the meat from getting too warm and mushy. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for around 15-20 minutes, or even in the freezer for a couple of hours if you prefer.

Step 4: Grind the Chicken in Batches

It is important not to overload the food processor. Put in about 1/3 to 1/2 of the chicken at a time, ensuring the chicken is ground evenly without clogging the processor.

Step 5: Pulse the Food Processor

Now it's time to pulse the food processor! Pulse it for short bursts of around 10-15 seconds at a time, checking the consistency of the ground chicken after each burst. You want the chicken to be evenly ground but not too fine or mushy. The pulse function gives you greater control over the consistency, allowing you to achieve the desired texture without over-processing.

Storing Ground Chicken

Once you've achieved the desired consistency, you can store the ground chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For longer storage, divide it into portions, label with the date and amount, and place it in freezer bags in the freezer.

Scrape down sides of blender

Grinding chicken in a blender is a simple and affordable way to create your own ground chicken at home. It is important to note that the more powerful your blender is, the better the end result will be.

When grinding chicken, it is best to use chicken thighs as they have a higher fat content than chicken breasts, resulting in a more flavorful and moist ground chicken. However, if you prefer leaner meat, chicken breasts can also be used.

Before grinding, cut the chicken into small, uniform pieces of about 1 inch in size. This will make it easier for the blender to grind the meat evenly. You can also remove any excess fat, gristle, or connective tissue from the chicken at this stage.

To ensure the chicken doesn't get too warm and become mushy, it is recommended to chill it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before grinding.

Now, you are ready to begin grinding the chicken in your blender. It is important to work in batches to avoid overloading your blender. Place a small amount of chicken into the blender, secure the lid, and use the "Chop" or "Pulse" setting. Run the blender for short periods of time, around 10-30 seconds, and then check the consistency of the meat. Continue blending until you achieve the desired texture. Remember to scrape down the sides of the blender periodically during the process to ensure all the chicken is being ground evenly.

Using a spatula or a flat metal icing spatula, carefully scrape down the sides of the blender, being cautious of the blades. It is recommended to stop the blender before scraping to avoid any accidents. Make sure to get as much of the chicken as possible, especially in the areas where the blades meet the sides of the blender.

By following these steps, you can successfully grind chicken in a blender, creating a versatile ingredient for a variety of delicious recipes.

Store ground chicken

Ground chicken should be stored in the fridge or freezer. If you're planning to keep your ground chicken in the refrigerator, it should be used within a couple of days. If you're not going to use it within this time frame, it's best to freeze it.

To store ground chicken in the freezer, it's recommended to use freezer bags and form the chicken into semi-flat rectangles so they're easily stacked. This also gives you lots of surface area for browning when you come to cook it. Ground chicken will last for up to six months in the freezer.

If you're storing ground chicken in the fridge, its shelf life should be the same as the chicken packaging you started with.

Frequently asked questions