Can a food processor grind tiger nut for flour or milk?

December 13, 2025 •

4 min read

Despite their name, tiger nuts are not true nuts but small, fiber-rich tubers, often used to create dairy-free milk or gluten-free flour. A food processor can grind tiger nut, but proper preparation is key to achieving a successful outcome and protecting your appliance.

Quick Summary

Yes, a food processor can grind soaked tiger nuts to make a coarse flour or a paste for milk. Soaking is vital to soften the tubers, while pulsing prevents over-processing and an oily, buttery texture.

Key Points

Soak First: Always soak dried tiger nuts for 12-48 hours before grinding in a food processor to protect the motor and soften the tubers.
Use the Pulse Function: For a coarse flour, use the pulse setting to control the texture and prevent the nuts from turning into an oily paste.
Process in Batches: Grind small quantities at a time to ensure even processing and avoid overworking your food processor.
Excellent for Horchata: A food processor is highly effective for creating the initial paste needed to make tiger nut milk.
Food Processor vs. Blender: While a food processor is good for coarse grinds, a high-speed blender might be better for achieving a super-fine, silky flour.
Don't Discard Pulp: The leftover pulp from making milk can be dehydrated and ground into flour, minimizing waste.

Preparation is Paramount: The Soaking Method

Grinding raw, dried tiger nuts directly in a food processor is not recommended. These small tubers are incredibly hard when dry and can cause a food processor's motor to overheat or dull the blades over time. Soaking them is a crucial first step that softens the tubers, making them much easier to process into a desired consistency.

Step-by-Step Guide to Soaking Tiger Nuts

Rinse Thoroughly: Start by rinsing your desired amount of dried tiger nuts under cold running water to remove any dirt or debris.
Submerge: Place the rinsed tiger nuts in a large bowl and cover them with fresh, filtered water. Ensure there is plenty of extra water, as the tubers will expand significantly as they absorb the liquid.
Chill: Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator. Soak for a minimum of 12 hours, but for the best, softest results, aim for 24 to 48 hours. Changing the water once or twice during this period is a good practice.
Drain and Rinse: After soaking, drain the softened tiger nuts and give them one final rinse before processing.

Using a Food Processor to Grind Soaked Tiger Nuts

Once your tiger nuts are properly soaked and softened, your food processor becomes an excellent tool for breaking them down. The technique you use will depend on your desired end product.

For a Coarse Flour

If your goal is to make a coarse, meal-like flour for baking or a grain-free coating, follow these steps:

Dry the nuts: For a drier flour, pat the soaked nuts thoroughly with a clean towel to remove excess moisture before adding them to the processor. You can also dehydrate the leftover pulp from making milk to create a fine flour.
Add in batches: To ensure even grinding and prevent overheating, process small batches of tiger nuts at a time.
Use the pulse function: Pulse the food processor in short bursts of 3-5 seconds. This gives you greater control over the consistency and prevents the blades from continuously processing the nuts until they turn into an oily butter.
Check consistency: Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl periodically with a spatula. Continue pulsing until you reach the desired coarseness.

For Tiger Nut Milk (Horchata)

Making tiger nut milk, or horchata, is one of the most common uses for a food processor with these tubers. The process is straightforward and yields a creamy, sweet beverage.

Add nuts and water: Place your soaked tiger nuts and a portion of the recipe's water into the food processor.
Blend into a paste: Blend the ingredients until a thick paste forms. This breaks down the fibers and helps extract the flavor.
Add remaining liquid and blend again: Add the rest of the water and blend again to create a milky mixture.
Strain: Pour the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or a nut milk bag to separate the smooth milk from the fibrous pulp.

Food Processor vs. High-Speed Blender

When it comes to grinding tough ingredients like tiger nuts, the choice between a food processor and a high-speed blender can impact the final texture. Each appliance has its strengths and weaknesses.


Feature	Food Processor	High-Speed Blender (e.g., Vitamix)
Optimal Use	Chopping, slicing, and creating coarser textures like meal or paste.	Creating very smooth, pourable liquids and very fine flours.
Texture Outcome	Best for coarse flour or milk base. Can be challenging to achieve a silky-smooth, super-fine powder.	Can produce very fine, consistent flour from dried tiger nuts, often with less effort.
Best for Flour	Coarse, meal-like consistency. Requires pulsing to avoid butter.	Best for a fine, silky flour, especially when used with dry nuts.
Best for Milk	Excellent for creating the initial paste, then straining.	Can create a smoother milk with less straining, or even a drinkable consistency with proper soaking.
Performance	Blades are designed for chopping. Less powerful than high-speed blenders.	Powerful motor and blade design create a powerful vortex for blending and grinding.

For most home cooks, a food processor is perfectly capable of handling the task of grinding soaked tiger nuts. However, if your primary goal is to produce a very fine, wheat-like flour, a high-speed blender will likely yield better results, though a food processor is still useful for creating a coarse meal or the base for horchata.

Conclusion: A Versatile Tool for Tiger Nuts

In conclusion, a food processor can absolutely grind tiger nuts, but the secret to success lies in proper preparation. Soaking the hard, dried tubers for an extended period is a non-negotiable step that protects your appliance and ensures a better final product. Whether you're making a coarse, gluten-free flour or a creamy, sweet batch of horchata, your food processor is up to the task. Just remember to work in batches and use the pulse function to maintain control over the consistency. For those seeking a truly ultra-fine flour, a high-speed blender may be the better option, but the versatility of a food processor makes it a powerful kitchen ally for all your tiger nut recipes.

Learn more about the differences between these appliances from reputable sources like KitchenAid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is essential to soak dried tiger nuts for at least 12-24 hours. Soaking softens the hard tubers, which protects your food processor's blades and motor from damage.

For best results, you should soak dried tiger nuts for 24 to 48 hours. This ensures they are fully softened and easy to process. Remember to refrigerate them and change the water occasionally.

A food processor can produce a coarse flour or a meal-like texture from soaked tiger nuts. For a very fine, silky flour, a high-speed blender or grain mill is generally more effective.

A food processor is better for creating coarse, controlled textures and pastes, while a high-speed blender excels at making very smooth, pourable liquids like nut milk and super-fine flours.

To prevent making tiger nut butter, use the pulse function on your food processor instead of running it continuously. Process in short bursts and stop frequently to check the consistency.

Yes, a food processor is a great tool for making tiger nut milk. You use it to blend the soaked nuts into a paste with water, then strain the mixture to get the milk.

The leftover pulp can be dehydrated and then ground into a fine flour. This helps reduce food waste and provides a usable, high-fiber flour.