Question re Flax Seeds......

[islesgirl]

Since the Vitamix really pulverizes everything, why do some grind the flax seeds in the coffee mill first? Does anyone want to comment on this? Thanks.

Sue.

[juliebove]

Since the Vitamix really pulverizes everything, why do some grind the flax seeds in the coffee mill first? Does anyone want to comment on this? Thanks.

Sue.


I don't have a Vitamix so am only guessing here, but I think at least in some recipes, you'd want the meal as opposed to seeds to mix in. Once the seeds hit moisture, a gel comes out of them. This would be mixed better if the seeds were ground first.

[sport]

You have a good point.
Sesame are the only other seeds that I would pre-grind before adding to a smoothie. All the others I would throw straight in.

[busy91]

A short answer is...no.

I used to grind it up before hand, but then one day I didn't have time and put them in and it ground them up along with everything else.

[HolyGuacamole]

If you mean why don't people grind their flax seeds in a Vitamix as opposed to a coffee grinder, it's because flax seeds are so tiny, they are hard to grind in a Vitamix which has a largish space beneath the blades - they will all just stay under the blades.
Make sense?

[islesgirl]

juliebove, sport and Liz - thank you all for commenting. I am thinking that these instructions may be for those who don't have a vitamix. I imagine that we'll get the "gel" regardless of whether we grind them first in the coffee mill. Afterall, the seeds sure seem to be liquified when done in the Vitamix. I'll have to see if there is a difference in the thickness of my smoothie when I grind them first, although I doubt there'd be a change. Thanks girls. It was just one of those things I've wondered about for a while.

Sue.

[sport]

I feel that the reason that I pre-grind mine first is to make sure that I get the full benefit of them.
I am aware that flax seed which have not been either ground or soaked go straight through you and I do not want to risk that.
If I added them to my smoothie whole and the blending made it seem as if they had been ground I could still not be sure and I want to be sure.

[islesgirl]

Okay sport and Guac - I didn't realize that the seeds might still be whole in my smoothies as I seldom seem to feel them in my mouth. But from now on I won't be taking any chances and will grind them up first in the coffee mill. Thank so much everyone.

Sue.

[sprouts2go]

I feel that the reason that I pre-grind mine first is to make sure that I get the full benefit of them.
I am aware that flax seed which have not been either ground or soaked go straight through you and I do not want to risk that.
If I added them to my smoothie whole and the blending made it seem as if they had been ground I could still not be sure and I want to be sure.

I was told that the seeds had to be ground or they just stayed whole on their journey thru our body. To get the full benefit they must be ground. So grind away!

[islesgirl]

sprouts2go - thanks for commenting - that's just what I'm going to do from now on - grind away!

Sue.

[Revvell]

I grind the seeds to powder in my VM using the wet blade.

Revvell (http://LetsTalkRaw.com)