The grapes were ripe and I knew that if I didn't deal with them the birds would. Since I already had chicken stock in the refrigerator that had to be pressure canned I figured that I might as well start. So first thing Wednesday morning I picked what grapes that were ripe and brought them inside to make grape juice.
First I strained the fat off my chicken stock made from the leftover carcass of a baked chicken we had eaten the day before. The bones and fat were boiled down with lots of onions, garlic and celery to make a rich chicken stock to use in soups and casseroles. I canned it at 10 pounds pressure for 25 minutes and started picking my grapes off the stems and washing them.
Once clean and washed I let them drain while I put a big pot of water on to boil and started my jar lids heating.
Then I put 1/3 cup sugar in the bottom of each jar. On top of the sugar I put 1 1/3 cup fresh cleaned grapes and then poured boiling water over them and sealed.
Then I pressure canned the quart jars for 10 minutes at 5 pounds pressure. Remove and let cool. When ready to serve simply shake and open the jar and strain out the grapes and chill. I served this to my grandkids throughout last winter and they loved it.
And I added another 5 jars of chicken stock and 28 jars of grape juice to my pantry. I tried this recipe last year for the first time and will never go back to making it the old way again. My family loves it and it so much easier. This recipe originated over on the Lehman's blog.
I have about twice that many grapes not yet ripe still on the vine and one vine that I haven't picked at all yet so we should have plenty of grape juice for the winter. I think I will send some over for my daughter to put in her basement for the grandkids.
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
I never thought to amke grape juice out of my grapes, that's interesting!
ReplyDeleteHelen
Do you think this method would work with Muscadine grapes? They have tough skins and seeds but I have bazillions of them and would love to make grape juice with them without all the peeling and seeding.
ReplyDeleteAlso, about how many canning jars do you have????
I know it would because i made some with wild grapes and it worked : )
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ReplyDeleteWow, what an easy way to make grape juice! We usually just make wine from grapes we get, but we planted our own grapes last year so soon I will (hopefully) have an abundance of grapes & we all love grape juice! Thanks for all your great info!
ReplyDeleteWow nice, sure wish I could get the nerve to cann...Have a great day..with love Janice
ReplyDeleteWhat types of grapes do you think will work for this? We don't have any planted but would love to try this with some maybe I could buy!?
ReplyDeleteI have three different typres of grapes and they all work. One is a table grape, the other a wine grape and the other a muscadine type grape. So I think any grape that taste good as juice will work.
DeleteI just made 3 batches of grape jelly last week but we have more grapes to pick. I'd LOVE to do this but I have to admit I'm afraid to use my pressure canner. First of all, the seal needs checked as it was given to me years ago and hasn't seen use for even more years. Second....I'm just kind of afraid of them! LOL I've only done it once. One of these days I'll have to try this tho. We really don't need more jelly!
ReplyDeleteThat looks wonderful. We always spent all this time cooking and hulling grapes. Definitely going to try this if I can get my hands on some local grapes.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog today and now I am a follower. You have a very interesting blog. I am a quilter, too. And a grandmother. With our granddaughter named Aimee Grace who we affectionately call Gracie. I enjoyed spending time reading your blog this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteMy family loves the grape juice made like this. I think you're the one that taught me this year a couple of years ago. Thanks for linking this up at the Carnival of Home Preserving!
ReplyDeleteHi I just saw this today, over a year from posting. My question is: You just put the grapes in the jar and the juices from it (over time) will just make it "grape juice" along w/ the sugar and water? I love grape juice and can drink Welche's any day but money talks.... and if I can can it and make it yummy tasty and not add too much sugar, it will be great. I am wondering where I have been all these years to not look up how to make grape juice! Thanks for this blog! ~Dahni
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