Easy Concord Grape Juice Recipes

HOMEMADE GRAPE JUICE

Steps:

• Prepare a sieve or cheesecloth: Get another large pot, place a large fine mesh sieve over it. Alternatively you can cover it with two layers of cheesecloth, secured with a rubber band. Make sure pot is sitting on a plate to catch any juice that may run over.
• Finishing: Remove sieve or cheesecloth. Note that sediment will have formed on the bottom of the container. Rinse out the sieve or cheesecloth and strain the juice again, to filter out some of the sediment. Pour or ladle juice into containers. Enjoy your juice! After about 1 week in the fridge I find that the juice starts to ferment, not in a bad way, it just adds some natural carbonation. If you let it sit around too long it could eventually turn to vinegar. This is why we try to make just as much as we would use up in 1 week. When we have made more than that we have frozen it, but the defrosted juice isn't nearly as good as the fresh juice.

CONCORD GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Sort and wash grapes, and remove stems. Place them into a large kettle and crush them. Add water, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and extract juice. Allow the juice to stand in a cool place overnight to prevent the formation of crystals in the jelly.
• Strain the juice through a double thickness of damp cheesecloth. Measure 4 cups of the juice into a large pot. Stir in the sugar. Quickly bring to a full rolling boil. Stir in pectin, and allow to boil hard for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and skim off foam. Pour into hot sterile jars, and process for 5 minutes in a boiling water bath.

EASY CONCORD GRAPE JUICE

Steps:

• In sterilized jar place 2 cups grapes.
• Add 1/2 cup sugar.
• Fill to top with boiling water.
• Seal jars at once with 2 piece lids. Process in water-bath canner for 10 minutes. Remove from canner and keep out of drafts(cover with a towel). Next day remove metal lid-bands, and label with date and contents.
• Let juice stand 3 to 4 weeks before using.
• Strain juice from grapes and use juice.

CONCORD GRAPE JUICE

Steps:

• Combine the grapes, water, and sugar in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a slow boil, then simmer until the grapes have broken down, about 1 hour. As they cook, gently mash the grapes with a slotted spoon to help them release their juices. Your kitchen will begin to smell like grape-flavored bubble gum: this is a good sign.
• Once the grapes have surrendered most of their juices and begun to look more like raisins, remove from the heat. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the grape carcasses and transfer to a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl. Pour the juice over the grapes and press down on them to get every last bit of juice out of them. (We compost the remaining skins, seeds, and stems.)
• Use the grape juice right away, or store it in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 1 week or in your freezer for up to 1 year.
• Concord grape juice is used in Concord Grape Jelly (page 190).