Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (2024)

17Aug2016

Posted in Recipe'sby DrakeFarmDREAM

Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (1)

As I walk past the vines, the sweet smell of Concord grapes alert me that it is time to harvest. When I bring my bounty home and get ready to prepare some grapey goodness, I ask my hubby which recipe he prefers; jelly, jam, puree for pie, juice… “Grape juice, grandma’s way”, he replies.

It is important for me to not only preserve our harvest, but preserve those memories he has of the farm. My husband is fond of anything done the way they did it on the farm. So, without delay and without an actual recipe from grandma, I begin.

Now, mind you, my husband does not cook or follow recipes. I’m going off of stories he recollects from childhood, and for a man who doesn’t cook he does remember the steps pretty good. The process is very simple and I’m going to experiment with the amounts of sugar, because I don’t have the actual recipe from Grandma Bossler. I made some of the jars with ½ Cup sugar and others with 1/3 Cup sugar. I will label them and we shall see at the time of the taste test.

Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (2)Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (3)

Concord Grape Juice Recipe

  • 1 Cup Concord Grapes (heaping)
  • 1/3 – ½ Cup sugar
  • Boiling water to fill to the rim of each jar

Soak and rinse concord grapes in cool water, then drain. I like to add some vinegar to the water and let them soak for at least 3 minutes before rinsing and draining. While they are soaking you can set up your canning assembly line and wash canning jars. After washing the jars in soap and water, I place them in the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle to sterilize.

Remove stems from each individual grape and place into a container for later… depending on how many grapes you have this could be a while. Fill each sterilized jar with 1 Cup of Concord grapes. Add sugar to each jar then fill to the rim with boiling water.

Remove lids and rings from hot water bath and place on jars for canning. Process jars for 15 minutes in a hot water bath. Because I didn’t have a recipe I used the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preservingfor a reference on how long to process my jars. This is a great resource and canning companion!

Once the jars are processed and cooled, make sure they have sealed properly. Label and set aside for at least 4-6 weeks while the magic happens. When you’re ready to have your Concord Grape juice – Grandma’s Way, strain juice and enjoy the grapey goodness!

Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (4)Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (5)

    • Thanks for the comment! It makes light work of a plentiful grape harvest and it is so easy!

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  1. Thanks for sharing, this looks like a simple yet yummy way to make grape juice. Is this recipe for quart jars or Pint? Also what do you like better using 1/3 cup or half cup of sugar?

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    • This recipe is for the quart jars. My husband prefers the recipe with 1/2 Cup sugar and I like both. I think it is personal taste for most. The soil and grapes make a big difference too. Our grapes are older with rich soil, so they have more flavor than others I’ve had. I know they are ready to pick when I walk by and the sweet smell of grape shouts they are ready!

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      • Just finished canning 21 quarts! Now the hard part, to wait the 4 to 6 weeks before trying it out😔 I have enough grapes for another 21 quarts; however, there are no sealing lids to be found. Going to try and freeze the remainder of my grapes, and can at a later date. Do you think this will give me the same end result?

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      • Wow! That’s amazing! I haven’t tried the recipe from frozen grapes, but I know you can make a grape purée and freeze that for cooking juice at a later date or using for recipes like “Grape fluff pie”.

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  2. 24 hours later all jars sealed and ready to store. However, I am noticing that all my sugar is at the bottom of my jar, does not look like your picture above. I would have thought the sugar should have dissolved. Even when I lightly shake the jar the sugar does not move. Did I do something wrong during the processing?

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    • There are a lot of variables with canning; over ripe or under ripe fruit, temperature of water, too much sugar, etc. It sounds like the fruit pectin was high and could have encapsulated the sugar. I would recommend checking with https://www.freshpreserving.com/canning-101 and I believe you can email them with your questions directly.

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      • Follow-up! It has now been four days and most if not all the sugar has dissolved!! I am one happy camper! Thanks again for your inspiring post(s)!!

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  3. Can I use frozen grapes?

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    • This “old timer” recipe is for fresh Concord grapes.

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  4. I made 14 quarts of your grape juice. We waited 6 weeks and tried it last night. It was so good!! Thank you for sharing!

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    • You are welcome! I love keeping the old traditions alive, especially when they taste so good! 😉🍇

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  5. Can I use honey instead of sugar? What about sugar substitutes?

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    • I have not tried honey or sugar substitutes with this recipe. I checked with family members, but everyone uses sugar.

      Honey can be subbed in baked goods, but I haven’t tried for canning. Honey is sweeter, so usually using less is recommended when subbing. It can also make fruits darker and baked good will brown quicker. Honey can also change the flavor when subbing for sugar. The darker the honey the stronger the taste, but again I have never tried it with this recipe or the canning process.

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      • Can I use this grape juice later to make grape jelly?

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      • When I make grape jelly, I use the juice extracted from cooking down the grapes. It is thicker and we like a heavier consistency for our spreads.

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Concord Grape Juice Recipe – Grandma’s Way (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to juice Concord grapes? ›

directions
  1. In sterilized jar place 2 cups grapes.
  2. Add 1/2 cup sugar.
  3. Fill to top with boiling water.
  4. Seal jars at once with 2 piece lids. Process in water-bath canner for 10 minutes. ...
  5. Let juice stand 3 to 4 weeks before using.
  6. Strain juice from grapes and use juice.

How many pounds of grapes does it take to make 1 quart of grape juice? ›

Quantity: An average of 24½ pounds is needed per canner load of 7 quarts; an average of 16 pounds per canner load of 9 pints. A lug weighs 26 pounds and yields 7 to 9 quarts of juice—an average of 3½ pounds per quart.

What is the difference between grape juice and Concord grape juice? ›

While grapes are sometimes not associated with superfruits, the Concord is a special polyphenol-rich variety that is quite different from standard table grapes. In fact, research has shown that Concord grape juice contains between 74% and 422% more polyphenols than grape juices made from other varieties[3].

What is 100% Concord grape juice good for? ›

Enhances heart health

Thanks to its content of antioxidant compounds, several studies have found that grape juice could support heart health. According to one review, the flavonoids found in Concord grape juice could help lower several risk factors for heart disease, including ( 7 ): inflammation.

Can you drink too much concord grape juice? ›

To reap the most benefits from grape juice, it is best to limit consumption to two to three glasses per day. Excessive consumption of grape juice can result in: Indigestion. Nausea.

How much concord grape juice should I drink a day? ›

As little as half a cup of grape juice can yield benefits. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), half a cup of grape juice provides 50 percent of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. The high levels of vitamin C can help in immune system functioning and stave off disease.

How many grapes do I need for a gallon of grape juice? ›

1 cluster or bunch of grapes contains roughly 130 grapes (depending on variety). 4 clusters make about a pound. That means 8000 clusters makes a ton and a ton yields approximately 170 gallons of finished juice. Working it all up and down again - 11.7 pounds for a gallon.

Can you can grape juice without sugar? ›

We found ours so sweet that they did not need any added sugar! Follow these directions for making pure grape juice, and preserve it using the water-bath canning method.

How many grapes does it take to make a cup of grape juice? ›

A pound of grapes will yield about 1 cup of juice. If you are using ripe concord grapes, no added sugar is necessary, the juice is more than sweet enough. But if you are using a more tart grape, you may want to add sugar.

Is Concord grape juice good for your kidneys? ›

Kidney: Grape juice is diuretic and is excellent for cleaning out the kidney and may help remedy kidney stones. Liver: The abundance of minerals in grapes stimulate the cleansing activity in liver, helps to detoxify.

Is Welch's 100% Concord grape juice good for you? ›

Decades worth of research says that thanks to the dark purple Concord grape and its polyphenol power, 100% grape juice can help support a healthy heart. In fact, Concord grapes and their juice deliver many of the same polyphenols and heart health benefits as red wine.

What is the best time to drink grape juice? ›

Experts say that a small glass of pure grape juice before bedtime may help you in getting good sleep and also burn fat.

Is Concord grape juice good for your liver? ›

Not simply reserved for munching when you're sick, grapes are chock-full of nourishment for your liver. Dark red or purple grapes, in particular, are powerhouses for this major organ, thanks to their rich antioxidant content. These juicy jewels are jam-packed with potent antioxidants.

Can you eat too many Concord grapes? ›

Eating large quantities of grapes might cause diarrhea. Some people have allergic reactions to grapes and grape products. Some other side effects might include cough, dry mouth, and headache.

What is the best way to juice grapes? ›

Put the mashed grapes into a large stockpot. Slowly heat the grapes and juice to a simmer on medium heat and then simmer for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally so that the grapes don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Halfway through cooking mash some more, breaking up as many of the remaining grapes as possible.

Does concord grape juice make good wine? ›

The vast majority of Concord-based wines taste quite sweet, but Concord grapes actually have less sugar than most traditional wine grapes, and they can theoretically be made into a wide range of styles. Usually, winemakers chaptalize, or add sugar, to the wines to account for Concord's naturally lower Brix range.

Can you put grapes in a juicer? ›

It is not necessary to remove the remaining grapes from the stems. However, you may want to remove the stems if you plan on using the leftover pulp to make jam or fruit leather. Place grapes in the top layer of the juicer. Put the lid on the top, heat to just above medium heat.

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