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Homemade grape juice is a delicious way to preserve fresh Concord grapes. Using a steam juicer makes it easy to extract the juice, and the finished juice can be canned or frozen to enjoy throughout the year.
Making grape juice from fresh grapes
The Concord grapes I use for this juice grow at my grandfather’s childhood home, just down the hill from where we live. The vines have been there for years and still produce an incredible amount of grapes each fall.
Picking them is always a bit of a race. The raccoons love the grapes just as much as we do, and once the grapes are ripe, they can clean out the vines quickly.
Once picked, I use a steam juicer to extract the juice. It’s an easy way to handle a large harvest, and I preserve jars of the finished grape juice so we can enjoy it throughout the year.
Using a steam juicer to make grape juice
A steam juicer is my preferred way to make grape juice, especially when I have a large amount of grapes to process. It extracts the juice with steam, so there’s no need to cook and mash the grapes and then strain the juice separately.
A steam juicer has three main sections. The bottom pan holds the water, the middle section collects the juice, and the top basket holds the grapes. As the water boils, steam rises through the grapes and releases their juice. The juice collects in the middle section and is drained through a tube.
One of the things I like about this method is that I can keep adding grapes as they soften and make room in the basket. It works well when I’m processing a large harvest.
How to Make Grape Juice
Making grape juice with a steam juicer is fairly hands-off once everything is set up.
- Collect the juice. Drain the hot grape juice from the collection pan using the tube on the steam juicer.
- Wash the grapes. Rinse the grapes well. There’s no need to remove the grapes from the stems.
- Prepare the steam juicer. Add water to the bottom pan and place the grapes in the top basket.
- Steam the grapes. Bring the water to a boil and steam the grapes for 1½ to 2 hours, or until the juice stops flowing.
How to Preserve Grape Juice
Fresh grape juice can be refrigerated for short-term use, frozen, or canned for longer storage. I usually can mine using a water bath canner so we can enjoy our grape harvest throughout the year.
Canning Grape Juice
Heat the grape juice to a boil and pour it into hot canning jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the rims, add the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath canner.
Processing time for pints and quarts:
- 0–1,000 feet: 5 minutes
- 1,001–6,000 feet: 10 minutes
- Above 6,000 feet: 15 minutes
If your processing time is less than 10 minutes, the empty jars must be sterilized before filling. Jars processed for 10 minutes or longer do not need to be sterilized first, but they should be clean and hot when filled.
Always follow current safe canning practices and adjust processing time for your elevation.
Tips for Making Grape Juice
- Leave the grapes on the stems. There’s no need to remove each grape from the stem when using a steam juicer. Just wash the bunches well before adding them to the basket.
- Keep an eye on the water level. Check the bottom pan during juicing and add more hot water as needed so it doesn’t boil dry.
- Don’t overfill the collection pan. Drain juice periodically while the grapes are steaming so the collection pan doesn’t become too full.
- Add more grapes as they cook down. As the grapes soften and take up less space, you can add additional grapes to the basket.
- Expect the yield to vary. The amount of juice you get will depend on the grapes and how juicy they are.
- Handle the juice carefully. The juice coming from the steam juicer is very hot, as are the juicer and tubing.
Serving Homemade Grape Juice
The juice made with a steam juicer is quite concentrated. When we’re ready to drink it, I dilute the grape juice with water to taste. The amount of water you add will depend on how concentrated your juice is and how strong you like it.
Start with a small amount of water, taste, and add more as needed.
More ways to preserve food
If you are looking for other recipes to preserve food, check out Blackberry Jam, Apple Pie Filling and How to Freeze Raspberries.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Homemade Grape Juice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 20 pounds concord grapes
Instructions
- Wash the grapes well. Leave the grapes on the stems.
- Fill the bottom pan of the steam juicer with water according to the manufacturer's directions. Place the grapes in the top basket.
- Bring the water to a boil and steam the grapes for 1½–2 hours, or until the juice stops flowing. Check the water level periodically and add additional hot water if needed.
- Drain the hot grape juice from the collection pan.
- To can the juice, heat the juice to boiling and pour into hot canning jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the rims and add lids and rings.
- Process pints or quarts in a boiling water bath canner for 5 minutes at 0–1,000 feet, 10 minutes at 1,001–6,000 feet, or 15 minutes above 6,000 feet.
- When ready to drink, dilute the grape juice with water to taste. Add sugar to taste if the juice is too tart.
Notes
- Yield will vary depending on the grapes and how much juice they contain.
- Check the water level in the bottom of the steam juicer during juicing and add more hot water as needed.
- Sterilize jars when needed. If your water bath processing time is less than 10 minutes, empty jars must be sterilized before filling.
- Dilute before drinking. The finished grape juice is concentrated. I usually start with equal parts grape juice and water, then adjust to taste.
- Add sugar if needed. Depending on the sweetness of your grapes, you may want to add sugar to taste when serving.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
CakePants says
I've never had fresh grape juice, but I bet it's phenomenal!! Your photos from the site are stunning - it looks like the kind of shot you'd find on a postcard!
Kathy says
Anything fresh and homemade is best! Thanks 🙂
Linda Johnson says
It’s amazing ; much better than store bought.
Kathy says
Hi Linda,
This is pretty amazing!!! I love being able to use the juice all year long!
Kathy 🙂
Adina says
I've never thought about making grape juice myself, it sounds like a great idea. I keep getting offerd grapes from people's gardens nowadays and keep turning them down because I don't like their thick skin and many pits. But I am sure they would make a very good juice.
Pamela @ BFG says
When I saw your grapes on Instagram the image stuck with me, so much that I was telling my husband about your beautiful grapes a night later! I love this grape juice you made, I can taste it from here (I wish!). We just planted grapes for the first time this year.... hoping one day they will be 1% as pretty as yours!
Amanda says
The scenery around your grandparents' old place is absolutely beautiful. Wow!
I've never had homemade grape juice. What a fascinating process. I bet the flavor is ten times better than store bought.
Balvinder says
Those grapes from your grandma's are beautiful!...And the juice you made from is much more delicious than the store-bough versions.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Your farm is beautiful, Kathy. I love grapes and store bought grape juice but never made my own. Making your own juice was such an awesome things.
Kathy says
I love making food that is grown here. It is so great to be able to use it all year long.
Manali@CookWithManali says
how wonderful to make fresh grape juice! you are lucky!
Kathy says
Thanks, Manali! I am lucky to have access to such fresh and lovely grapes.
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
I am so insanely jealous of your grape harvest and I think I can taste your juice through the screen. Nothing, nothing compares to fresh grape juice. Best stuff on earth!
Kathy says
It is quite delicious!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
What a great post, Kathy. Love that you make your own grape juice from a grape field that's been in your family for so long. Love the shot of the lake below the grape/vineyard. What lake is that? It looks so peaceful there - even if you have to crawl on your hands and knees to get those grapes!
Kathy says
Hi Geraldine,
It was very peaceful in those grape vines. The lake is Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Kathy - that is so awesome about the grapes at your aunt and uncle's place. The view is absolutely incredible. Must be so rewarding to pick and then make into juice this way. I do not own a steam juicer and had never even heard of one. But if I had these kind of grapes at my disposal you can believe I would get one in a hurry. I would love to taste that juice! Have a super week!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
Glad you were able to get to the grapes before those raccoons did! It must have been such a pleasure to pick these and then make your own juice. I bet it tasted extra special! Love it 🙂
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
It looks like such a heavenly place!! I've been looking for grape recipes - & this one looks like perfection 🙂 Have to try soon!
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Oh my gosh, you live in the MOST gorgeous place! How could that grape juice not taste like heaven? 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Sounds like so much fun Kathy! I'd love to try making my own grape juice some day!
Kathy says
You can do it! 🙂
David @ Spiced says
Grape juice has always been my favorite kind of juice. Always! But I've never made my own. What a fun project. Also, I'm jealous at those vines! What a gorgeous farm. And I had no idea that raccoons eat grapes. Now I want a nice, tall glass of cold grape juice. Looks delicious, Kathy!
Kathy says
The vines are amazing. I wish I knew how old they are.
Lori from LL Farm says
Oh my!!! I could take a big gulp right now...looks delicious.
Kathy says
It is very tasty!
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
Wow! This is AMAZING! Who knew you could make your own grape juice? Magical! 🙂
Kathy says
Sometimes we just take foods for granted and never really stop and think about where they come from or how they are made....I think grape juice is one of those foods.
Kim | Low Carb Maven says
Kathy, I always enjoy reading your posts and hearing about your life on your farm with your gardens and animals. How wonderful to be able to visit what was once your grandparents place. I love concord grapes - pinching the fruit out of the skin is so much fun. My kids would love this juice. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and recipe.
Kathy says
The juice is always a hit with kids! There's just something about that color that they are drawn to...
Velva says
This is incredible! Wow!!!
Kathy says
Thanks!