Q&A for How to Make Raisins

If you use the sunlight method, it will take at least 3 days. You’ll need dry, sunny conditions for it to work! You can do it a little faster in a dehydrator, which takes about 24 hours. The oven technique takes only a few hours, but you’ll have to be very careful not to burn your grapes.

You can make raisins out of many different kinds of grapes, but seedless grapes work best. In the U.S., most raisins you buy in the grocery store (both the purple and golden ones) are made from a green variety called Thompson Seedless.

Raisins keep for a long time because they have so little water content. The high amount of concentrated sugar in dried fruits like raisins also makes them pretty inhospitable to bacteria. As long as you store your raisins in a cool, dry place, they can stay good for about a year.

There is a possible chance of mold. Keep grapes as dry as possible during the 'drying' process.

If your home grown grapes are tart or sour tasting, add 1tsp sugar to 1 cup cold water, let the grapes soak for about 4 hours. Then strain the grapes and start the drying process over again.

Yes, if you're drying your grapes out in the sun, you should make sure they're covered so that insects won't be able to get at them and potentially place bacteria or other unwanted substances on them.

Yes, one grape contains approximately 0.4 grams of sugar. About 7 grapes contains the equivalent of a sugar cube. However, sugar in fruits is much healthier for your body than processed/refined sugars.

Some common traits of bad grapes are a soft texture, a brown discoloration, and they will begin to smell a little like vinegar when they are left too long and begin to ferment. Mold will eventually start to appear, so be sure to discard any rotten grapes.

It kills germs. If the grapes have been handled with dirty fingers, then it can give you food poisoning.

It depends on the fruit. For example, cranberry raisins exist. They are made by drying cranberries in the sun. Other fruits may not work so well with the same process, for example, a banana.

Yes, you should be able to use any type of grape. But, depending on the type of grape, the flavor may vary.

You should store them in an airtight container, preferably one that has very little air in it to begin with. Then, either store them in the refrigerator or in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry.

Try brainstorming with friends. Write down all of your ideas. Any ideas you wake up with will most likely be influenced by whatever you were dreaming about, and it's very hard to control what you dream about.

This will not change the process of turning them into raisins. All grapes typically have seeds.

Yes, it's actually a relatively straightforward process. See the steps above to find out how to dehydrate grapes in an oven.

No, it doesn't involve smoking. It only calls for drying the grapes out in the sun.

Grapes grow on a vine. If you want to grow grapes, find grape vines to plant.

You can use either type of grapes when making raisins using this process. Typically, most raisins have seeds.

In my experience, this is because the juice of the grapes will come out in the process and the stems make it easier to handle them. Having the stems can also keep the grapes fresh while drying.

The grapes will be dry to touch. However be sure to wash your hands before touching the grapes. Another method you could try is blotting your grapes with a paper towel. If no water residue comes off, your grapes are dry enough.

Make sure they do not get to the grapes. They can cause infection (both bacterial and fungal) or even lay eggs. So, cover them up with thin net or cloth. If they have insect infestation, they're only good for the compost.

Unfortunately, it is not possible. Environmental factors can degrade the grape. Birds can poop on the grape, thus getting bacteria on it, which can for sure ruin the dehydrating process. And the longer they're left, the more likely something or someone else will get the grapes first.

Yes, or else it will affect the end result, and if you're using an oven, it might catch on fire or stink up your oven; I speak from experience!

No; a microwave isn't designed for dehydrating. Your grapes will swell and explode.

You want the oven to be at 225 F. If your oven doesn't go this low, you could try leaving the door open a little and/or reducing the cooking time. Just be sure to keep an eye on them.