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Homemade Concord Grape Juice


This is my third full year with my Concord grape plant, and it was my most productive year yet. I was able to harvest several pounds of grapes that all ripened right around the same time in late August. I am still battling with wasps and Japanese beetles so it requires some delicate clipping, but the harvest was well worth it.

I had 5 pounds of Concord grapes and used 3 of them to create this grape juice. I froze the remaining two pounds to use in smoothies or as a frozen treat. The 3 pounds of grapes created a bit over 4 cups/1 quart/32 ounces of juice. The juice tastes so much fresher and more natural than store-bought grape juice. It's a little less sweet and a bit more tart but still has amazing grape flavor. Perhaps my favorite way to enjoy it is to add it to sparkling water to create a refreshing grape soda.

This recipe was adapted from Grow a Good Life.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds picked and cleaned Concord grapes
  • 1/4 cup water
Directions
  • Add ingredients to an Instant Pot pressure cooker.
  • Press the Pressure Cook button until the "Less" light is highlighted then hit the up or down area until 5 minutes is displayed.
  • Cook on that setting for the 5 minutes. Ensure the vent on top is closed to be able to build pressure.
  • Let the pressure release naturally. Once the lid unlocks, strain the liquid from the grape residue. I use a pasta strainer for this first step.
  • Then strain the juice a second time using a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth.
  • Pour into clean, sanitized bottles or jars and allow to come to room temperature. Then put in the fridge to cool.
  • Drink or use within one week.

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