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Farm Kitchen:  Grape Juice??  |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 30 2008 : 3:03:33 PM
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Anybody make and can their own grape juice?? We did this years ago when I was little, I remember my sister and I washed and sorted grapes while my mum finished the process... she used some sort of juicer, but for the life of me, I can't even remember it enough to describe what it looked like. Any of you ladies know what it might have been...? How to go about the juicing process...? I'd like to try this in addition to my general canning adventure this summer, lol.  I do recall there was some sort of crystalized sediment stuff in the bottom of the jars, though...what is this? A sugar? Can it be avoided...?
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2008 : 10:33:14 PM
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I have done it a couple different ways. Now that I have a steam juicer I use that mostly...but I have done it by cooking them up and pouring through a jelly bag or seive and canning. My kids' favorite way is this: (uses alot of jars if you have a whole lot of grapes but works every time)
In each quart jar put 1 cup of grapes, 1 cup of sugar and fill the rest with boiling water. Then process for 30 minutes in a boiling water bath. This makes a concentrate that makes 2 quarts. Just add a quart of water after straining out the grapes. My kids love to eat them..me..not so much!!
I have done some without the sugar before with some really sweet concord grapes...and it was not as concentrated..or maybe just needed to be "grapier" to make up for the lack of sugar? But it works either way. We only have 2 quarts of home canned grape juice in the pantry right now...I hope to score some grapes this year to can!! I have two little grape vines..growing well, but small..one a concord and one a green grape..I forget the name.
anyway...good luck!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 03:31:27 AM
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I second the steam juicer method
You don't even have to touch the grapes!
I re-pour the juice back through 1 or 2 times just to make it really concentrated.
Jodi,-the big name juicer is made by Mehu Liisa. I think its a company either from the Netherlands or Denmark. I have this one and a "knock-off" sold by Wisemen Trading Company. I like the second one better simply because everything is actually better made. The welds look sturdier and the water pot and fruit basket are also a bit deeper. Both juicers get workouts though since I can and make jams and jellies throughout the year.
both cost over 100.00 but WELL worth the price if you plan to do lots of juicing in the future
My main juicing fruit is wild blackberries. In years past, the finished jelly always had that bitter after taste in the back of your throat--probably from some of the seeds getting mixed in and crushed since I had to process ALL the berries by hand. With this juicer you can stir the berries around but you don't have to crush anything. The taste has been significant;y improved!
And you don't really have to do much post straining of pulp----unless you want to the extra fiber instead and skip straining
Hope this helps! |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 1:10:42 PM
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I'll have to try your way, Jenny... putting the grapes in the jar and adding sugar and water sounds easy enough for me to handle, lol! I'm going to look into getting a steam juicer, though, too. Thanks for giving me the names on those!!
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 6:40:33 PM
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I found my steam juicer on ebay a couple years ago. It is an old enamel one...brand new in the box with all the stuff..manual and everything...I was thrilled. $40. I am very careful with it so it won't chip. I see the stainless steel ones on there for about 120 dollars all the time. It took me a long time to get the juicer....I would sure make it the grapes in the jars way to give it a try. It works!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 10:13:40 PM
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Hmm...that's an idea...I wonder if I could find one on Craigslist. I'll look for the ones Anna mentioned... do you know what brand your enamel one is, Jenny?
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 09:31:15 AM
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I will look and post later..the box is out in my mess of a laundry room.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 03:27:19 AM
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It took a long time to save for my juicer too.
Can't remember even how the idea came, but did a google search and found out where they are made and what they looked like.
I think all total it took nearly 2 years.
I'm still saving for a really BIG pressure canner---a double decker that can hold 14 quart jars. Course, at the rate we are going with the lack of rain, looks like I may not do much at all 
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Farm Kitchen: Grape Juice?? |
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Grape Juice??
