Canning Grape Juice

Canning grape juice is easy! I share a step-by-step tutorial on how to can grape juice using whole Concord grapes. Our family loves this healthy drink, which is good for your immune and digestive health! I make this canned grape juice recipe concentrated, then sweeten and add water later.

I love canning recipes! Canning grapes for juice has been one of those things we re-make every year, around September. I also ensure we have Canned Dill Pickles and Salsa on the shelves every year, along with pizza sauce, for a well-stocked pantry.

Canning Grape Juice

I learned how to can grape juice from my Mennonite friends. Some make grape juice with a steamer, but I’ve always loved the idea of canning grape juice with whole grapes. A steamer is a juice extractor and a multilayered pot, requiring many tedious steps. If you forge and freeze grapes, I can see how this would work for you.

However, since we get Concord grapes in bushel boxes, we like to can them quickly as we work with boxes of grapes.

What Are Concord Grapes?

Concord grapes are sweet, deep blue grapes with thick skins. They are ideal for making juice, pies, and jellies but not so much for fresh eating because of the seeds and slightly astringent aftertaste. Canning grape juice with Concord grapes is ideal and doesn’t taste bitter. You will need firm and ripe grapes; discard any mushy ones.

Where Do You Get Concord Grapes?

Concord grapes are usually a pre-order item from local vineyards or farmsteads. We get ours from a local Mennonite group that takes orders weeks in advance and ships them by truck. It’s best to search where to buy Concord grapes by the box and see what farmers you can order from.

How To Can Grape Juice:

Homemade grape juice is easier than you may think! It’s perfect for beginners because all you have to do is pack the grapes cold into jars (whole with the vines), fill them with cold filtered water, and process them. You can use a water bath canner or this tall, heavy-duty pot for half-gallon jars when processing.

1. To can whole grapes for juice, you will need to wash them well. I like to use a large white plastic dishpan to submerge and wash the grapes.
2. Fill quart-sized jars full of whole grapes with stems and all. Make sure the jars are sterilized for successful canning.
3. Add cold water.
4. Shut each jar finger-tight with lids.
5. Place jars into a canner (or large pot) and cover with warm water. Bring to a boil and water bath for 5 minutes. Half-gallon jars will need to be processed for 15 minutes.

Will Grape Juice Be Bitter if the Skins and Vines are Canned?

Canning grapes with the vine does not produce bitter juice. I work with ripe Concord grapes and have never experienced bitter grapes. If you’ve experienced bitter grape juice, it could be from a different tannin-type variety. Use ripened grapes for sweet and non-bitter juice.

Everything You Need to Can Grapes at Home:

• Canning jars-I like to use standard quart-sized jars and some half-gallon jars. Sterilize jars before beginning.
• Large Pot- for water bath processing. It needs to be deep enough to cover the jars with water. You can buy a water bath canner or use a heavy-duty pot.
• Pitcher-is very handy for filling the jars and canner.
• Jar lifter- removes jars easily from the pot to the counter.
• Kitchen towels—I use them to seal the bands shut after the water bath so they vacuum seal. You can also use kitchen mitts.

How Long Will Canned Grapes Last?

Properly canned fruit juice will keep on the shelf for years! However, for premium quality, it is best to use it within 18 months. Typically, we use our canned grape juice within one year, right on time for the next grape season. If you do happen to store grape juice over 24 months, it can begin to lose nutrients over time. Canned goods should be stored out of sunlight to maintain color and quality.

Ways To Serve Canned Grape Juice:

There are a couple of ways to drink canned grape juice! You could sweeten grape juice when canning by making syrup or adding sugar to each jar. I skip this step for ease, as I prefer to concentrate the grape juice and add water and sugar right before serving. Finally, you can use a steamer to brew the juice.

How Much Water To Add To Canned Grape Juice Concentrate:

Now that you have learned how to can grape juice concentrate, preparing it is easy! To make grape juice, add the same amount of water as the concentrate and 3/4 cup of sugar for each quart jar. So, for example, if you open 1 quart of grape juice concentrate, strain the liquid out from the vines and grapes, and add 1 quart of water and 3/4 cup of sugar to a pitcher, mix until the sugar dissolves, and it’s ready!

How To Make Sparkling Grape Juice:

This one is a favorite! If you want to get festive and love carbonated drinks, this variation is for you! Instead of using water to dilute the concentrate, use club soda or Sprite! If you choose sparkling water like club soda, you must sweeten it. We often use our Soda Stream Sparkling Water Maker.