How to Make Grape Jelly

A good grape and homemade grape juice is the start of how to make grape jelly.

I grow Concord grapes.

The concord grape was developed in 1849 by Ephraim Wales Bull in Concord, Massachusetts. He planted seeds from wild grapes and evaluated over 20,000 seedlings before finding what he considered the perfect grape, the original vine of which still grows at his former home.

In 1854 Thomas Bramwell Welch developed the first concord Grape juice which through a process of pasteurization, the juice did not ferment. Welch originally introduced the unfermented grape juice to be used in his church communion service.

I pick my grapes and then put them into my largest soup pot. I add 1/2 gallon of water and cook for 40 to 50 minutes until the grapes have burst their skin and cooked down and there is a lot of juice.

I used to take and then put them into a bag and let the juice drip into a bucket. But now I have found a quicker and less messy way to get the juice.

I take the twice filtered juice and pour it into clean quart jars,leaving room for expansion at the top, seal the jars and put them in the freezer.

In this way I can use the juice when I show you how to make grape jelly, homemade jello, or grape pudding. It serves the whole family throughout the winter.

You will need 5 cups of grape juice and 7 cups of sugar and 1 box of SureJell.

I always use SureJell because the jelly always jells and I have more jars of jelly than if I simmer the juice until it jells naturally.

I follow the directions on the SureJell insert . I set my jars and tops in a pan of water, bring it to a boil and simmer to sterilize the jars while I prepare the jelly.

Measure 5 cups of juice into a sauce pot, stir in 1 box of pectin and add 1/2 teaspoon butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil,stirring constantly,then stir in sugar quickly. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly one minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Ladle quickly into prepared jars to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads and cover with two piece lids and screw bands on tightly. If desired put into boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Makes 8 cups.

Lehman's has a complete line of canning and preserving equipment for all your needs. Click here to view their selection.

Grape Pudding

Mix all in saucepan. Cook over low heat ,stirring constantly until it comes to a boil and thickens. Pour into 4 glasses. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or a thin custard sauce.