How to Make Grape Juice at Home

Homemade grape juice is one of the most satisfying fruit juices that you can make. It's so much fresher than store bought varieties and also offers a number of health and well being benefits. It's pretty easy to make and the flavor and taste are something to savor.

In this blog, we take you through the different processes you could use to make your own grape juice, the types of grapes you could use and a suggested grape juice recipe so that you can have a go yourself!

 

What are the benefits of homemade grape juice?

Homemade grape juice not only tastes great but is also a fantastic source of vitamin C and low in fat, particularly saturated fat. Grape juice is a fantastic natural protection against viral and fungal infections and so it's a great all round healthy solution!

Grapes can be expensive to buy in comparison to other fruits, so turning some of your bounty into juice ensures that you don't waste this precious commodity and canning it will ensure that it lasts long after the grape harvesting season.

The beauty of a homemade grape juice is that you can make it to your own specific tastes. You can add sugar if you prefer it extra sweet, or add other ingredients such as lemon or ginger to add a zingier flavor.

 

What are the best grapes to use to make grape juice?

Concord grapes are a perfect type of grape for making grape juice. A concord grape has a distinctive flavor and a dark purple color and so it works perfectly to make a healthy looking juice.

Concord grapes are packed full of anti-oxidants and help boost immunity - they're also great for the cardiovascular system - a good all rounder!

Realistically, you can make great grape juice with any type of sweet grape or even a green grape, but concord grapes really work well and provide abundant sweet juice.

 

How do you prepare grapes to make grape juice?

The first stage when making grape juice at home is to stem and de-seed the grapes, ensuring that you remove any blemished or shrivelled grapes as they may impair the flavor. The grapes then need washing thoroughly to remove any insects or potentially harmful bacteria.

This wash can be achieved by placing the grapes in a large bowl and rinsing them thorougly with water. You can also use a salt water bath to achieve a thorough clean but ensure that you rinse the grapes with plain water afterwards as you don't want a salty juice!

One method you can choose is to mash the grapes using a potato masher and cook the grapes over a medium high heat before using your blender or juicer, which might make it easier to blend and strain the juice and give you a head start although it isn't essential.

 

What do you need to make homemade grape juice? A simple grape juice recipe

For a basic grape juice, you will need:

• 26 pounds of concord grapes

• 1 cup of water

• Sugar to taste

• Lemon juice (optional)

• Cheesecloth or strainer

• Jars

 

How to make grape juice using a blender

Making juice with a blender involves very little prep time and produces some great results

• Place the cleaned grapes in a blender jar.

• Add 1-cup water and blend in the blender until smooth.

• Place a large fine sieve or cheesecloth (a strainer) over a large bowl and pour the blended juice over it. Press the pulp gently using a spatula to get the maximum juice out of it. Discard the solid pulp and sediment.

• You can squeeze a little bit of lemon juice over it and add ice cubes to taste. Stir the grapes and water with a spoon and taste the juice, if it is too sweet, add 1/2 cup more water or as needed according to the sweetness of grapes and stir. Pour the fresh grape juice into a glass and drink immediately for the best results.

 

How to make grape juice using a juicer

Using a juicer or steam juicer to make grape juice is also a great way to achieve great tasting juice, with less pulp than with a blender. It's a little more convenient than a blender as the machine will remove the sediment and pulp, so its ready to go!

All you need to do is to transfer the washed grapes to the chute of your juicer and allow it to do all the work for you according to the instructions of your model. It will extract the juice and leave none of the mess!

 

How do I store fresh juice?

Most recipes suggest that the best way to enjoy grape juice and to get the maximum nutrients from the juice, is to enjoy it immediately. However, homemade grape juice will last 5-7 days in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

You can extend the lifespan of the juice by 12-18 months by canning the juice. This requires quite a lot of prep time to sterilize and wash the cans, but the preparation is worth it to enable you to preserve your juice for longer.

While it’s technically possible to freeze, thawed grape juice actually loses a lot of its flavor and does not taste great once defrosted.

 

How many grapes do I need to make 1 cup of grape juice?

Generally, one pound of grapes (1lb) will produce around one cup of juice made (250ml). However, the yield can vary dependent on which method of juicing that you use.

 

What are the best juicers and blenders to use with grapes?

If you want a thick and nutritious grape juice, then a blender is a good tool to use. The Tribest Dynablend Horsepower Plus DB-950A High Power Blender is a fantastic starting point, which gives you all the qualities of high powered commercial blenders but at an affordable price.

At the higher end of the budget range, you could choose the Santos 62 Brushless Blender which, unlike universal motors, it has no carbon brushes giving it extensive life expectancy and excellent energy efficiency. It is also extremely quiet.

In terms of juicers, a masticating juicer offers a good solution for juicing grapes. The Kuvings Whole Slow Elite C7000 Masticating Juicer With Smart Cap, which will gently squeeze the grapes to maximise the nutritional value of the juice.

For faster results, you could look to a centrifugal juicer, such as the Rotor Sanamat Inox RSI Commercial Centrifugal Juicer, which is both powerful and efficient.

If you are looking for help to decide which machine would be best, then please feel free to contact Extreme Wellness Supply who have a range of blenders and juicers suited to make the perfect grape juice!