This past weekend we went down to my parent’s house to get a lesson in how to can grape juice. Late summer to my mom = extreme canning season. It’s kind of her hobby.
So when she asked me if I wanted to do some canning there where she
1. Provided the produce
2. Provided help
3. Provided most of the canning paraphernalia– how could I turn her down?
If you thought that making grape juice involved stopping grapes barefoot in a large vat like in I Love Lucy, you’d be mistaken, but entertained nonetheless. Actually making it is easier than you might expect!!
How to can grape juice:
First you pick some grapes.
Then you wash your grapes, pick them off the stems, and remove all the yucky ones.
Next, you scoop them in clean jars.
Add a bit of sugar. (Unless you don’t want to then you-do-you-boo!)
Top with hot water.
Finally, can in a hot water bath canner.
AND If you’re a fan of easy healthy recipes you won’t want to miss my Real Food, Comfort Food Meal Plan! In this healthy fall meal plan you’ll find a weeks worth of cozy, healthier comfort food for busy weeknight dinners. Let me take meal planning off your full plate!!
How To Can Grape Juice
Ingredients
- Concord Grapes however much you are ambitious to do!
- Sugar 1/4 cup per quart
- Hot water
Instructions
- Wash and de-stem grapes, discarding any bad grapes (over-ripe or buggy).
- Add 1 1/2 cup grapes to clean 1 quart jar.
- Pour in 1/4 cup of sugar.
- Fill jar to the top with hot water, leaving an inch of headspace.
- Wipe tops of jars. Top with lids and rings.
- Place in hot water canner. Cover with water, just enough to cover the jars fully. Bring to a boil. Process 20 minutes in hot water bath.
- Turn off heat after 20 minutes. Let jars "rest" in the canner an additional 5 minutes.
- Store in a cool, dry place. After two weeks open jars, drain off grapes and enjoy grape juice!
Do you dilute the juice?
You can dilute with water to your liking or drink it as is. It is also delicious to make sparkling grape juice with by mixing it with carbonated water or sprite.
Can you make this without sugar?
Sure! This grape juice can be made without any added sugar, but it would be a bit sharp, not quite sour, but a bit biting–I prefer just a little sugar in it. But if you prefer not to have the added sugar–go for it!
You can always add a little bit of sugar or artificial sweetener (this one’s my fav!) to your cup if needed.
How long does homemade grape juice last?
It is best to use all home canned items within a year and drink the juice once opened within a week.
Fermentation can easily happen with grape juice left out too long! So unless you want to open your own winery–drink up!
What is the hardest part of canning this juice?
The most time consuming part to me is cleaning and picking the grapes off the stems.
But it is truly worth the effort and now we are all stored up for grape juice for the winter.
My original intent was to do 8-10 quarts, but then my mom convinced me to do more and we ended up with 24 quarts of grape juice!!
I always seem to bite off more than I can chew with canning! So in an afternoon we did all that grape juice, plus 18 pints of tomato sauce. I was TIRED by the end!
But the tomato sauce was SO delicious–better than ever! It makes me hungry for spaghetti and pizza and everything Italian.
And the juice will be great this winter! I love grape juice with popcorn at night for a snack and Layla LOVES it (what kid doesn’t?)!
We had a great time at my folks. Layla loves the farm and always asks when we are coming back!
We are coming into my favorite season, fall and the Midwest just does fall SO right!
We were also gifted quite a few pumpkins from my mom’s garden! Some for decorating and some for pie! I may need to make some of my healthy pumpkin muffins or my crustless pumpkin pie! Soo good!
Hope you enjoyed this step-by-step guide for canning grape juice at home!
Let me know if you have any questions about the process-I’d love to help! The comments section has lots of helpful tips as well!
Have you ever canned? Are you ready for fall?
If you like this recipe be sure to pin it for later here!
Amanda says
Quick question a friend of mine made hers this way as I have for years now. When she checked her lids they all had bubbled and when she went to release the pressure they fizzed. Has that ever happened to you or your mom? Thank you for your time.
Kate says
I’ll ask my mom cause she’s the real canning guru, but I would say it sounds like they didn’t seal. Maybe next time make sure the top is wiped well and rings are nice and tight. Also, that she’s always using new lids.
Michelle Domangue says
Can you use the grapes for anything or do you just drain them off?
Kate says
I just drain them off and toss. If you find something to use them for I’d love to hear it!
Sheryl says
Michelle, after I’ve made grape juice, I put what’s left in a colander & extract “pulp.” It makes great grape leather when dried. In fact, I sometimes freeze it & use to make leather in the winter.
Val Rossman says
Hi,
I love this juice canning method and have used it with grapes and wild grapes. Wondering if you think putting elderberries in a jar using this method would be safe as well?
Thanks.
Val
Kate says
Hey Val! I’ve never canned any type of elderberries, but I checked my ball blue book of canning and they do have a recipe that is similar to this one. So yes it is safe! You can get the exact recipe here: http://amzn.to/2hxX40j
Sharon says
Thanks for the info we can only eat so much jelly and the grapes are in good supply this year.
Kate says
You are absolutely welcome!! My kids adore this grape juice!
Heather says
I just made 27 quarts of this this weekend! 🙂 it was a recipe passed from my grandma! Happy canning!
Terrie Ransom says
I canned some fresh grape juice about 3 years ago. I just opened a jar, it was still sealed, and drank some of it. It tastes just as good. I am not sure why we must throw away perfectly good juice after a year! Why do the recommend that? And is it dangerous to drink? My husbands grandmother use to cook butterbeans out of the freezer 5 years old and it never hurt anyone. Why now, is canned and frozen foods so bad after a year when it didnt use to be?
Kate says
Hi Terrie! So honestly this is a health code thing and the recommendation from the FDA. And while your Grandma (and mine too!) never experienced botulism their still were incidences of sickness caused by home canning. Many home canned products CAN last longer than a year, but I suggest staying within the 1 year guideline and using your brain. 😉 If your grape juice smelled “off” or had any kind of puncture or dent or mold growth of course don’t consume it. I’ve definitely eaten older canned items and lived to tell the tale, but generally try to can only as much as my family can consume in a year. Happy canning!!
Joe Sherman says
this recipe seems to be same or similar to what my mother did in the 60s and 70s. My new home has concorde grapes and I want the anti-oxidants from grape juice. However I am now diabetic. Do you have information on doing this recipe with out sugar or a sugar substitute. We use the Stevia (green) bags of sweetener from Aldi, and it is a mix of maltodextrin and stevia.
I appreciate any input on this.
Joe Sherman Grand Haven MI
Melanie says
I don’t add sugar to my grape juice using this method, however, it takes some getting used to because it is a bit biter. After a bit though, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sheryl says
Joe, you may can just fine without sugar at all. I do it all the time. When you open the jar, if you (or anyone) wants it sweeter, just add the sweetener/sugar as you desire. If the grapes are fully ripe, they make yummy no-sugar juice. Careful, though, as they are high in carbohydrates (& vitamins!).
Debbie says
Do we re-process the juice after removing the grapes in order to keep the shelf life?
Kate says
No. I do not. Leave the grapes in and simply strain them out when you’re ready to enjoy.
catherine W bryant says
Do you have to open all jars and remove grapes after two weeks or just take out grapes as you use the juice??
Kate says
No! Take the grapes out when you serve it.
CarolynH says
Would this work for cherries too.
Kate says
I’m really not sure.