Homemade | Can Grape Juice | CANNING RECIPES
How To Can Homemade Grape Juice
My mother-in-law gave me this recipe when I first got married as my husband loves grape juice. It is a very simple way to can grape juice. I find this is great to make in small batches with quart jars so there is enough to share. If my husband had his way, we’d be using half gallon jars.
The beauty of this recipe is you only have to make what you need or however many grapes you have. As long as there is a cup of grapes, you can make your juice.
If you like to can like we do, we have other recipes, you may find helpful too, include including concentrated juice.
What Kind of Grapes Are Used?
We used concord grapes to make our juice. The grapes will need to be washed and picked from the vine. They should also be ripe and not green for the best tasting juice.
How Do You Clean Grapes?
We use a large bowl and submerge them into cold water, gently stirring to allow any contaminants to float to the top or the bottom. Allowing them to sit for a few minutes. You can then scoop and remove the debris from the bowl and place the grapes in a colander to drain. Try to remove as much of the grape vines as possible.
Are Grapes Peeled To Make Grape Juice?
This recipe does not call for peeling the grapes as you will press the grapes to make juice as you use each jar. We do have a concentrated grape juice recipe that you do press the grapes to make juice.
Can Juice Be Canned Without Sugar?
If you prefer to make your juice without sugar, you can eliminate the sugar and just can the grapes in water.
What Kind Of Grapes Make Grape Juice?
Concord grapes are used in this recipe for juice. They need to be ripe in order for the juice to have the best flavor. How do you know if they are ripe? They will be a nice dark purple and smell delicious.
What Else Can I Make With Grapes?
Have you every made grape jelly? The grapes are also delicious right from the vine. You can also make a sorbet, pie, jelly, cake and muffins.
How Difficult Is It To Make This Juice?
This is a great beginner recipe for canning. Water bath canning is easier and this recipe does not have to many complicated instructions.
Can You Drink The Juice Right After Making?
You need to let the juice sit for a few weeks so the sugars and juice can infuse. A month is even better. When you are ready, you will strain the juice out of the jar and press the grapes with a spoon or potato masher and serve.
Discard the skins and seeds and you can pour the juice back into the jar. Refrigerate any juice that was not drank.
Canning Easy Concord Grape Juice
Ingredients
- washed ripe concord grapes
- sugar 1/2 cup sugar per quart jar
- boiling water We use a tea pot
Instructions
Per Jar
- 1/2 cup sugar (you can use less or none if you prefer)1 heaping cup washed grapes (concord)boiling water
Instructions
- Fill the water bath canner and turn on the stove to begin heating the water.
- Fill a teapot with water and bring to a boil to fill the jars with.
- You will want to remove the stems from the grapes. Wash them in cold water, and run your hands through the water to stir them up. Drain with a colander and then fill the bowl with cold water and drain again.
- While the water is boiling, fill each of you quart jars with 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (your preference…or none) and 1 heaping cup of washed clean grapes.
- Once the teapot of water is hot, you can pour the water into the jars giving 1 inch head space.
- Place a seal and lid on each jar and finger tighten.
- Place the jars into the heated water bath so that they have 1 inch of water over the jars.
- Process in the water bath canner for 15 minutes once the water comes to a boil..
- Turn off heat and allow jars to sit at least 5 minutes to keep jars from siphoning.
- Remove from the water and place on the counter to cool. Label and date the jars.
- Remove bands and confirm they are sealed before putting in pantry.
Drinking The Juice Tips
When you go to drink the juice, you will want to have a small strainer to pour the contents through and then gently press the grapes to get any additional juice out, without having the seeds in your juice. If you have a lot of juice to process, you can use a potato masher instead.
Tip: It is best to let the juice sit for a couple weeks to allow the flavor to develop.
