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A close-up of a mason jar filled with bright red grape juice, sealed and ready for storage.
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Canning Grape Juice

This homemade juice captures the pure, sweet flavor of fresh grapes, perfect for canning and enjoying year-round.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 45 minutes
Rest Time12 hours
Total Time14 hours 55 minutes
Course: Canning
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Canning Grape Juice
Servings: 4 pints
Calories: 313kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 12 cups seedless grapes about 5 pounds
  • boiling water
  • sugar optional

Instructions

  • Boil water. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
  • Stem and smash grapes. Remove the stem from the grapes and rinse the grapes under water. Place them in a separate large pot. Using a potato masher, smash grapes down.
    A glass measuring cup filled with water next to a large bowl of red grapes on a marble countertop.
  • Boil grapes in water. Add enough boiling water over the grapes so they’re covered with boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
    A large pot filled with partially mashed grapes, with a potato masher resting on top.
  • Simmer. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 30 minutes.
    A pot of simmering mashed grapes, showing the mixture bubbling as it cooks.
  • Strain. Transfer to a dampened jelly bag or fine mesh strainer set over a deep bowl or large stock pot. Let the mixture drip, undisturbed for at least 2 hours.
    A metal strainer filled with grape pulp, set over a large pot for straining.
  • Let mixture settle in fridge. Cover the juice and refrigerate for 24-48 hours to allow sediment to settle.
  • Prep for canning. Prepare your jars by washing them with hot soapy water and place them in a water bath canner. Fill the water bath canner with water so the jars are fully submerged with water. Place the water bath canner over medium heat and cover. Place the rings and lids of the jars in a saucepan filled with water set over medium-low heat and allow to simmer. (do not boil)
  • Strain again. Strain juice again through a dampened jelly bag or cheesecloth-lined colander. Transfer to a clean saucepan.
  • Optional: add sugar. If adding sugar, add sugar to taste now.
  • Heat juice. Heat the juice to 190 degrees F (88 degrees C) over medium-high heat. Do not boil. Keep the juice at a consistent 190 degrees F for 5 minutes adjusting the heat to maintain the temperature.
    A large pot of strained grape juice being heated with a thermometer clipped to the side.
  • Fill jars. Ladle the hot juice into the hot jars leaving a ¼ inch headspace.
    Hot grape juice being ladled into a glass jar from a funnel, with empty jars ready to be filled.
  • Wipe rims and twist on lids. Wipe rims with a dampened cloth and place the lid and rings on the jars tightening them so they’re fingertip tight.
    A hand wiping the rim of a filled glass jar with a cloth before sealing.
  • Place in canner and Process. Place the jars in the canner making sure that they’re fully submerged in water with 2 inches over the jars. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, process for 15 minutes for quart jars or 10 minutes for pint jars.
    A glass jar filled with grape juice being lowered into a water bath canner, and a top-down view of three jars in the canner.
  • Rest in canner briefly and remove. Turn the heat off, remove the lid and allow the jars to sit for 5 minutes. Remove the jars from the canner and transfer them to a heat-safe place.
    Four sealed jars of grape juice cooling on a striped kitchen towel next to a water bath canner.
  • Cool and check seals. Allow jars to cool undisturbed for 24 hours. Once completely cooled, check the jars for a proper seal. Once a proper seal has been confirmed, remove the rings and store the jars in a cool dark place for up to 18 months or per your lids manufacturer’s recommendations.
    A top-down view of four sealed jars of grape juice, with a jar lifter being used to check the seal on one jar.

Notes

Seedless grapes are recommended for this recipe.
Sugar was not used in this recipe. You can add up to ¼ cup of sugar to the jars if you desire sweeter grape juice.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 865mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 299IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg