How to chop and grind nuts in a food processor

Using a food processor for chopping and grinding nuts

Your food processor is a versatile tool that you can use to either chop or grind nuts according to your recipe. Compared to chopping or grinding by hand, using a food processor to chop or grind nuts can help simplify prep and streamline the cooking process.

Follow the steps below for helpful tips on how you can start using a food processor to chop and grind nuts for use in a delicious recipe base or as a garnish.

Yields

• 1 serving

Ingredients

• Whole nuts of your choice, such as almonds, pecans or walnuts

Tools

• KitchenAid^® food processor

• Multipurpose Stainless Steel Blade accessory

• Plastic spatula

Prep time

• 1 minute

Total time

• 3 minutes

Step 1: Prepare the food processor

Place your food processor on a level surface or countertop. Assemble your food processor and select your blade. To grind or chop nuts with your food processor, secure the multipurpose blade accessory to the drive adapter.

Once your food processor is ready to go, load your choice of clean whole nuts into the work bowl. Finally, secure the lid onto the work bowl.

Step 2: Select a food processor setting

The processing setting you choose will depend on the texture you want to achieve: coarsely chopped or finely ground. For chopped nuts, select the "Chop" setting on Low or Pulse. For ground nuts, select a "Mince" or "Pureé" setting on High or Pulse. If your food processor doesn’t have these settings, simply pulse for precision processing with greater control.

Step 3: Remove the chopped or ground nuts from the food processor

Before removing the processed nuts from the work bowl, wait until the blade has come to a complete stop. Turn off or unplug the food processor before taking off the bowl cover and removing the drive adapter and blade. Remove the work bowl from the base of the appliance and scoop the processed nuts out of the work bowl with a plastic spatula.

Which blades are best for chopping and grinding nuts?

Food processors come with a variety of blades that allow you to achieve different textures for your ingredients. When chopping or grinding nuts with your KitchenAid^® food processor, the multi-purpose blade is best for gaining the greatest control over your ingredients.

Should I use a food processor to chop or grind a small amount of nuts?

Food processors and choppers can help you process both small and large amounts of nuts quickly and easily. For very small jobs, consider using a food chopper with a smaller work bowl like the 3.5 Cup Food Chopper from KitchenAid brand to chop or grind nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans and more.

Can I use a blender to chop or grind nuts?

There are several differences between food processors and blenders, such as blade types and functions. While you may be able to grind nuts in a blender with a watchful eye, the rapidly rotating blades can overprocess your ingredients, leaving you with a nut paste instead.

When chopping or grinding nuts, a food processor is best for achieving the desired coarse or fine texture for your ingredients.

How can I grind nuts without a food processor?

If you don't have a food processor at home, an immersion blender with a chopper attachment can help you easily grind a small amount of nuts. Alternatively, you can also chop or grind nuts by hand using tools like a large kitchen knife to chop and mortar and pestle to grind.

Appliances by KitchenAid brand can help you create the perfect nutty topping to sprinkle on your next dessert. This immersion blender bundle by KitchenAid brand includes a chopper attachment perfect for chopping herbs, nuts, cheeses and more. The KitchenAid^® Food Processor Attachment allows you to transform your stand mixer into a versatile processing and prep tool, and a KitchenAid^® food chopper can help cut up ingredients with ease.

How can I use chopped nuts in recipes?

Chopped nuts are a versatile ingredient that can be used to add flavor and texture to both sweet and savory dishes. Use your food processor to add chopped nuts to desserts like Pecan Coconut Cups or this Boston cream pie recipe for a crunchy contrast, or use them to top a creamy soup, dip or sauce for a bit of richness.

Chopping nuts in your food processor can inspire you to make new recipe creations, like this recipe for caramel apple Bourbon slush cocktails. Experiment with different types of chopped nuts to discover which varieties pair well with your favorite recipes.

How can I use ground nuts in recipes?

The more subtle texture of finely ground nuts allows you to add depth of flavor to a variety of recipes without the crunchier texture of chopped nuts, giving you greater control over the look and feel of your toppings and garnishes.

Use your food processor to begin experimenting with different types of ground nuts to add a twist to classic desserts like caramel apples, or explore new textures by adding them as a topping to yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast.