If you have experienced a situation where you had lots of chicken bones but had no idea how to grind, a food processor gives you the means to overcome it. There are several grinders on the market that afford you the same benefits as a food processor. But the cost implications of such blenders can be somewhat discouraging.
Can I grind chicken bones in a food processor? Yes, you can. Chicken bones are soft bones and as such can be chopped and ground in a powerful food processor. I will advise you not to try to grind harder bones in your food processor though. It could harm your food processor.
If you have ever tried to grind bones in the past, you would soon realize that a food processor might as well be the best solution to grinding your chicken bones.
Using a meat grinder for chicken bones gives you the desired result. But the food processor can also do the same if the guidelines are adhered to. The food processor cannot grind all types of chicken bone.
There are specific types of bones selected for grinding using this electrically powered appliance to avoid damage.
The limitation of the food processor does not make it any less useful. All it requires is a bit of caution from you during use. You could add supplements to the chicken bones during grinding for your preferred outcome.
The addition of water gives the bone mixture the desired change in appearance and texture. You can add some vegetables to the blender if you cater to your pets at home.
Be it to feed your pets or serve agricultural activities- the food processor is what you need within the comfort of your home.
Some people find it a little too much to use the food processor in their homes. But it isn’t rocket science, so the technicalities shouldn’t put you off. If you do it the right way, you should get great results.
As you may already know, the food processor is an electric-powered kitchen appliance quite similar to a blender. Although similar in function to a blender, using the food processor to grind your chicken bones requires that you adhere to a set of guidelines. Like I mentioned earlier, it could be technical, but not impossible.
Even though it grinds chicken bones, you should not use it for thicker bones. Thicker bones are way above the food processor’s “grind-grade”- If you do not strictly adhere to the guidelines, you may damage your machine.
That’s something you do not want. If you manage to avoid permanent damage to the appliance, efficiency will be sub-optimal. So, stick to the instructions and maintain the functionality of your food processor after use.
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Considerations before grinding chicken bones in a food processor?
Having established that it can grind chicken bones, there are a few things to consider before you grind chicken bones in a food processor.
The type of bones to grind
Before you go anywhere near the food processor, carefully select the one you wish to grind. It is quite necessary because if you get it wrong here, you might compromise the entire process.
So, take your time. Choose bones easily broken down in the food processor. Examples of such bones include chicken wings, rib cage, and the back.
While selecting the bones, make sure to choose the soft and uncooked ones. They are easy to break down. Thicker bones will decrease the sharpness of the blades and ultimately damage the food processor.
Avoid cooked bones because they have lesser nutrients compared to raw bones.
Bone Preparation
Yet another factor to consider. Ensure you cut the selected bones into smaller pieces. The machine will grind the bones faster. To achieve this task, you should use a strong knife in your kitchen.
Sometimes, a pair of good kitchen scissors might do. For instance, you can cut the chicken wings at the joint to sever meat from the bone. Make them into small pieces such that the processor can turn them into powder.
After separating the bones from the chicken, you have to pull off any residual meat on the bones. Once you complete this step, you can soak the bones in water for 30 minutes to soften them before you blend.
Quantity of Bones to Grind
The more the number of bones added to the food processor, the higher the chances of damaging it. At other times, the machine may become clogged as a result.
To avoid clogging, you shouldn’t add another piece of bone to the food processor before the initial one is ground. Be sure to exercise caution when you start grinding.
Once everything is set and in position, switch on the food processor and commence the bone grinding procedure. The entire process should last for about 5 minutes before you pour the next batch.
Storage of the Ground Chicken Bones
Freshly cut chicken bones retain blood and marrow before they are ground. There is a tendency that it may give an offensive odor if it isn’t stored well. It is advisable to dispose of the ground bones once you notice an unpleasant change in the smell or color.
To prevent spoilage of the chicken bone meal, store it in an airtight container or bag. Right after, you keep the bag and freeze for a long time. However, you should know that the bone powder loses its quality after 5-10 days, even in a frozen state.
What to check in your food processor before grinding chicken bones
There are different types of food processors available on the market to grind your chicken bone. But certain factors are peculiar to these machines.
The power consumption, regulation, grinding plates, and ground speed of the food processors differ. Here are some of the things you should look out for in a food processor for your chicken bone.
Powerful Motor Engine
The motor engine in a food processor is quite necessary. The appliance without an electric motor is like a car without an engine. It just won’t work.
Since the motor engine is electrically powered, watts are needed to ensure that the bones grind to your desired texture. Most motor engines are not designed for sustained use, especially when grinding chicken bones.
The average motor engine of a food processor requires at least maximum power of 1500 watts. It enables the processor to grind the bones at a higher speed.
Although food processors vary in power output, those with a much higher motor range are better suited to processing chicken bones in your home.
Stainless Steel Blades
Yet another vital component of a food processor. The stainless-steel blades, propelled by the motor engine, are responsible for grinding the chicken bones. The higher the power output of the motor engine, the faster the chicken bones are ground.
Some of the food processors have an in-built switch that regulates the blade speed in clogging that occurs during the grinding of the chicken bones.
The Size of the Grinding plates
Grinding plates play a key role in the entire grinding process of the chicken bones. The grinding plates help you determine the sizes you cut the chicken bones before putting them into the machine.
For bigger plates, you could pay less attention to the size of the chicken bone. But for small-sized grinding plates, you should cut the selected chicken bones into smaller pieces before using the food processor.
Circuit Breaker
Every food processor requires a circuit breaker to function optimally. Installed in the food processor, it helps to regulate the power flow in the machine. It also prevents overflow that may occur during the grinding process.
This cuts off the power flow to the machine when an anomaly is detected. It cuts off the power until the anomaly is resolved. The circuit breaker contributes to the durability of the food processor by addressing mechanical faults.
Why you should not grind your chicken bones in a food processor?
Grinding chicken bones with a food processor may not be one of the high-flying grinding procedures, but it does the job well when used. However, there are a few drawbacks to using a food processor:
Dull Blades
By design, the blades of a food processor should not even grind chicken bones. The function of grinding bones should rank pretty low when taken into account. If you ignore the necessary precautions before and during blending, you may cause a lot of damage to the machine.
When the chicken bones are not cut into smaller pieces before grinding, the bones can clog your machine and lessen the blade sharpness. Over time, the blade begins to lose its ability to crush the chicken bones. In some cases, it may lead to damages to critical parts of the blender.
Reduced Efficiency of the Blender
The food processors are not as powerful as other blenders. Yes, they serve to grind food and make them into what we desire, but they cannot take the extra labor’.
The pressure exerted by these bones in the food processor affects the internal working components of the machine. Besides, efficiency and energy output will begin to reduce, and the purpose for which it originally serves leaves a lot to be desired.
Chicken Bone Fragments
In the process of grinding chicken bones, you often come across bone fragments that require more grinding action. It usually occurs when using a food processor to grind. The sharp pieces in the ground mixture can be harmful when consumed.
It is best to ensure all the pieces of chicken bones are processed. Also, processing in small batches helps the machine’s grinding function is at an optimal level.
Food processors suitable for grinding chicken bones
Depending on the cost, preference, or recommendation from your seller, you could decide to purchase any food processor that serves your purposes. The best food processors on the market include:
FPC-100 Food Processor
This 27 pound Cuisinart food processor can amongst other things effectively grind your chicken bones.
It is excellent at maintaining the exacting temperature when working at full capacity. Just get on with crushing your ice and you are good to go.
Cuisinart FP-14DCN Cup Food Processor
Packed with a 1300-watt power motor, the Cuisinart food processor will tear through your ice and also process your recipes easily in full power. The food processor has an innovative 4½ cup bowl embedded into its 14-cup bowl, reversible shredder, adjustable slicing disc amongst others.
It has a seal-tight advantage that prevents the spill from getting all over your kitchen tops and table counters, whenever you are processing your recipes.
Conclusion
The question of grinding your chicken bones has surely become more of achieving the best outcome with the options available at your disposal. If you have come this far in reading this article, then I need not worry about how your chicken bones are ground to powder.
You may have longed to buy a food processor or struggled with grinding your chicken bones to the desired texture. However, finding a suitable one can be tasking, especially with various manufacturers on the market, trying to entice you with their wonderful products.
I hope you have enough information to make the right decision or better still, get started in the right direction to grinding those chicken bones.
Remember to consider all the listed factors we discussed in making a choice. From the grinding power to the blades, durability, and affordability, a good food processor can be the magic you need to turn some of those heart-wrenching chores into a fun-filled event.
Besides sellers who can offer you the food processors at discounted prices, Amazon also offers these appliances at awesome prices. Take a stroll on the site, and you may just end up falling in love with the first food processor your eyes behold.