DIY Raisins

Learn how to preserve grapes

Are you looking for a healthy and delicious snack option? Look no further than homemade raisins! Not only are they packed with vitamins and support heart health thanks to their potassium content, but they're also incredibly easy to make from grapes in just a few simple steps.

First things first, it's best to use seedless grapes for this process.

Throughout history, raisins were made by drying grapes in the air – the old-fashioned way.  This was especially ideal during the warmer summer months. Grapes were washed, stems removed, and laid out in direct sunlight. At night they were covered with a bug screen to keep unwanted visitors at bay and brought inside. After a few days, grapes transformed into delicious raisins!

Today, we propose a quicker, year-round option, involving your oven. Begin by washing and drying your grapes thoroughly. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place your grapes on top. Set your oven to a low temperature, around 170°F, and leave your grapes inside for a few hours. The heat will remove the moisture from the fruit, leaving you with perfectly dried grapes that can be enjoyed on top of oatmeal for breakfast or add a touch a sweetness to a savory dish as in our Roasted Cauliflower with Curry and Raisins. 

Once your raisins have cooled, be sure to store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh. And voila! You now have a tasty and healthy snack that you can enjoy at any time.

Winter Bonus:  A study in the journal Metabolism found that eating a cup of raisins a day for six weeks yielded a 38% increase in levels of leptin, a hormone which suppresses appetite and triggers thermogenesis, the conversion of calories to body heat.

Published February 1, 2024