We have friends that make grape juice each year. Canning homemade grape juice has been something that my mom and I have wanted to try for many years now. This year we finally purchased a steam juicer so we could make our own grape juice and we are so glad that we did!
We were inspired when a neighbor invited us to pick grapes at his home. Adam and I picked a bushel and were able to produce nearly 14 quarts of grape juice from that bushel using the steam juicer.
We purchased our juicer from a local Mennonite grocery store. We found the steam juicer very easy to use and I am sure we will be making a variety of juices next year.
Adam describes the steam juicer as a triple boiler. You fill the top pan with grapes, the middle pan catches the juice from the top pan and the bottom pan is filled with water to create the steam. The top pan looks like a colander as it is filled with holes. The middle pan looks much like an angel food cake pan as it has a hole in the center which allows the steam to pass through to the top pan. It is quite a clever design and works great.
Since we had the steam juicer and found that making the grape juice was fairly easy we decided we needed to find a source for more grapes. After looking on-line I found a few different vineyards that offered u-pick grapes. The prices were a lot less than I had expected. We figured that each quart of homemade grape juice cost less than a dollar to make. Plus homemade grape juice is much thicker than store bought, water can be added to home canned grape juice, stretching it even farther. Visiting the vineyard was a real treat! It was truly a beautiful place.
"Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil." Joel 2:23-24
Oh it's so true! Homemade apple juice is the same way. It actually tastes like the fruit. Looks like your pantry will be happy:-)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea people made their own grape juice -- it looks delicious! I can imagine it's much better than store-bought. Enjoy your home-steam-juiced bounty!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Shannon
This is so very fantastic that you can make grape juice for your family! I've seen my mother use her steamer juicer and would love to have one to. We don't live where grapes grow...but such a wonderful gift you can give your family!
ReplyDeleteHow neat, Sarah! I would love to try this some time. I enjoyed seeing your pictures and learning more about the process! Have fun enjoying your own grape juice!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. Another job well done. Canning is a metaphor for life as the Lessons that we harvest and process in one season are available to nourish us in others. I go back to your blog often to enjoy many of your recipes. They are delicious and nutritious and have become kitchen standards. Your sewing is topnotch, too! Prayers and thanksgiving for you and your family in the days ahead.
ReplyDeleteMy family was able to glean in a grape vineyard once. They were wine grapes, and I used the juice to make grape jelly. Oh yum! Your juicer looks like it would make things so much easier.
ReplyDeleteBe blessed and enjoy Thanksgiving dear lady.
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage