How to Grind Chia Seeds
Learn how to grind chia seeds so you can add these nutritious superfoods into your daily routine and increase their nutritional value.
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When making chia pudding, a chia egg, or even egg-free chocolate chip cookies, having ground chia seeds is the way to go. It’s super easy to do with these tips.
Grinding chia seeds is a great way to add these nutritious superfoods into your daily routine. It makes adding them to your favorite recipes a breeze and increases their nutritional value by helping your body absorb more essential vitamins and minerals.
Today I’m sharing the basics of how to grind chia seeds and how to use them!
If you’re ready to make some chocolate chia pudding, create chia powder by grinding chia seeds first will create the smoothest pudding texture.
Key Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:
- Chia seeds — You’ll need a large quantity of chia seeds, at least one cup, if not more. This allows the blender to work most efficiently. If you have a spice grinder, you can churn smaller quantities.
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- USEFUL —Chia powder is nice to have around. You can make chia pudding, egg replacements, and more.
- EASY — Make a big batch of ground chia seeds and store it in the freezer.
- NUTRITIOUS — Studies suggest ground chia seeds are more nutritious than whole chia seeds.
Video
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can you grind chia seeds in a Vitamix?
Grinding chia seeds in a Vitamix is easy, but you’ll need a significant quantity, at least one cup. The added volume helps create an even ground texture.
Does grinding chia seeds destroy nutrients?
Not only does milling chia seeds not destroy their nutrients, but it also enhances the bioavailability of their nutrients, making them more accessible for your body to absorb.
Why Grind Chia Seeds
You don’t have to grind the seeds, but there are plenty of reasons why to do it:
- Flour Substitute — Chia powder has a neutral flavor and can be used to replace some of the flour in your favorite recipes, such as vegan pancakes or vegan bran muffins.
- Nutrition — Chia seeds are one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods on the market. They are packed with protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids (omega-3s). Grinding chia seeds increases your body’s ability to absorb their nutrients.
- Better Texture — Whole chia seeds are a pain. They are slimy and tiny and can easily get stuck between your teeth. Grinding them creates a much better texture.
Four Ways to Grind Chia Seeds
Regardless of the process you use, your chia seeds must be raw in order to pulverize them into a powder. Soaked seeds cannot be ground.
- Food Processor — You can use a food processor and pulse in short bursts. It helps to grind 1 to 2 cups of seeds at a time. I personally don’t prefer using a food processor. The seeds dance around the food processor but don’t get ground into a fine powder as I prefer.
- Vitamix — My favorite tool to make chia powder is the Vitamix. You need to use at least a cup, but I’m always blending at least 2 cups of chia seeds at a time. Then I refrigerate or freeze the powder.
- Grinder — The perfect chia seed grinder for small quantities is an electric coffee mill or spice mill.
- Hand — If you have a pestle and mortar, you can grind chia seeds by hand. It’s another excellent way to grind up small quantities.
Storage Tips
Store chia powder in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
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Chia Recipes
Once you know how to grind chia seeds, you’ll want some recipes to use them in. I love adding ground chia to my chocolate energy balls. I even use them as an egg replacer for cookies, such as these carrot cake cookies or vegan peanut butter cookies. Here are more of our favorite recipes for using chia seeds:
Grinding Chia Seeds
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole chia seeds
Instructions
- Add the chia seeds to a blender. Pulse on low to begin. Gradually turn up the speed and pulse until the chia seeds are ground into a sand-like consistency.
- Transfer to an airtight container. Store ground chia seeds in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
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The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
8 Responses to How to Grind Chia Seeds
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After grinding the chia we can pour a spoon directly to the recipe, don’t need to soak in water for minutes as we do for whole chia?
Hi Maria – great question! I still let them soak for about a minute, but it goes much faster than when I use whole chia seeds.
I never thought to grind them first. I will have to try this. I love the watermelon idea too. One of my favorite flavors is chocolate peanut butter.
I’m so glad you like this, Laura! And we are kindred spirits because I love everything chocolate peanut butter!
I have a cracker recipe that calls for 1/2 cup of whole chia seeds. How does that convert for powdered chia.
Hi Kim. This is an excellent question! I have been using the powder 1:1 with whole chia seeds and this has worked for me. If you want to play it safe with your recipe, you could measure out 1/2 cup of powdered chia and remove a tablespoon or two before mixing it in with the batter. I would love to hear from you how this works!
There’s 3 categories to compare: whole chia, whole chia that has absorbed liquid, and ground chia. My ratio for whole seed chia pudding is yours for ground:: 1/4C whole chia seeds/1C liquid. My favorite liquid is liquified watermelon. I’d think that whole seeds that double (or more) their size by absorbing liquid is just as good nutritionally as ground. I never use whole seeds. They’re unpleasant and who needs that in our teeth.
Hi Marge. I’ve never tried liquified watermelon with chia seeds. Sounds great, tho! I think the sweetness from the watermelon would be delicious! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on grinding chia seeds vs. whole chia seeds. We’re on the same page about the unplesantness of picking at a chia seed between the teeth. I much prefer the chia powder. Besides, having chia powder around makes it easy to add to energy balls, or smoothies, etc.