How to Make Pruno

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Make delicious prison fruit wine at home
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Pruno is a type of easy homemade fruit wine that’s often made by inmates in prison. Because pruno is typically made with makeshift ingredients, it doesn’t always taste very good. Making pruno is quite simple, but some recipes create the perfect environment for Clostridium botulinum . This is a bacterium that causes botulism, a form of food poisoning that can be fatal. Because of this, you must be very careful when you're making this homemade wine.

How to Make Prison Wine: Quick Steps

  1. Puree apple and orange chunks, fruit cocktail, and raisins in a large saucepan.
  2. Add sugar and water, bringing to a boil over medium heat.
  3. Simmer for 30 minutes. Cool the mixture for 30 minutes to an hour.
  4. Activate your yeast in a separate bowl and add to your cooled mixture.
  5. Move the mixture to a sealed, air-tight bag and store in a warm, dark place.
  6. Open the bag daily to burp the yeast by releasing gas and pressure.
  7. Strain the pruno over a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Chill before serving.

Ingredients

Artisan Pruno

  • 10 oranges, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 10 apples, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (225 g) plus one tablespoon (14 g) sugar
  • 2¼ teaspoons (one 7-gram package) yeast
  • 3 cups (711 ml) water
  • 1 cup (227 g) fruit cocktail
  • 1½ ounces (43 g) raisins

Minimalist Pruno

  • 10 oranges, peeled
  • 1 cup (227 grams) fruit cocktail
  • 2 cups (474 ml) water
  • 50 sugar cubes
  • 6 teaspoons (30 g) ketchup
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making Artisan Pruno

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  1. Traditional pruno made by inmates is made with few supplies and the ingredients that are available in prison. But at home, you can also make your own version of pruno using all the convenient equipment and ingredients available in a modern kitchen. To make artisan pruno at home, you'll need:
    • Immersion blender
    • Wooden spoon
    • Large saucepan
    • Small bowl
    • One-gallon (3.8-L) sealable plastic bag
    • Clean bath towel
    • Heating pad
    • Strainer
    • Cheesecloth
    • Large bowl
    • Funnel
    • Large sterile bottle or jar with lid
  2. Combine the apple and orange chunks, plus the fruit cocktail and raisins, in a large saucepan. Use the immersion blender to puree the fruit until it’s juicy and pulpy, but still has some bite-sized chunks in it.
    • Make sure to move the immersion blender around in the bowl as you blend, to ensure the fruit is pureed evenly.
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  3. When the fruit is ready, add the 1 cup (225 g) of sugar and 2 cups (474 ml) of the water and stir to combine. Put on the lid, transfer the fruit mixture to the stove, and bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
    • Once the fruit comes to a boil, let it simmer for 30 minutes to kill any bacteria that may be present. [1] Continue stirring the mixture regularly.
  4. After the fruit boils for 30 minutes, remove it from the heat and let it cool. You don’t want it completely cold, but slightly above room temperature to help the yeast flourish. As the fruit cools, continue stirring from time to time so it cools evenly. [2]
    • The cooling process will take about 30 minutes to an hour.
  5. Combine the yeast, the 1 cup of warm water, and the 3 teaspoons of sugar in a bowl. Set the bowl aside for five to 10 minutes to let it activate. [3]
    • As the yeast comes to life, it will begin to froth and bubble in the bowl.
  6. Pour the yeast mixture over the fruit and stir to fully combine. Transfer the mixture to the plastic bag. Press out as much air as you can, then seal the bag. [4]
    • It’s important to warm the fruit mixture because the yeast will die if it gets too cold.
  7. Wrap the fruit mixture in a clean bath towel to help keep in the heat. Then place the towel on top of an electric heating pad turned to low temperature. Transfer the fruit, towel, and heating pad to a dark place, such as a closet.
    • If you don’t have an electric heating pad, fill a hot water bottle with warm water. Be sure to check on the water ever six to 12 hours, and add fresh warm water as necessary when the bottle starts to get cold.
    • The reason you have to keep the fruit mixture warm is so the yeast will stay alive to ferment the fruit and turn it to alcohol.
  8. As the yeast converts the sugars in the bag to alcohol and carbon dioxide, the bag will slowly fill up with gas. To prevent it from bursting, remove the bag from the towel once or twice a day and open the bag to release the gas and pressure.
    • Reseal the bag, wrap it back in the towel, and return it to its dark spot on the heating pad.
    • When the mixture stops bloating, it means the yeast has converted all the sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide, meaning the pruno is ready. This will take about five days. [5]
  9. When the mixture has stopped bloating, it’s ready to strain. Place a cheesecloth-lined strainer over a bowl. Pour the fruit mixture into the strainer and let the juice drain down into the bowl. [6]
    • To get the most juice out, wring out the cheesecloth with the fruit still inside.
  10. Place the funnel inside the neck of a sterile glass jar or bottle. Pour the pruno into the bottle. Transfer the bottle to the fridge and allow it to chill for several hours or overnight. [7]
    • A large mason jar will work to store your pruno, or a large two-liter pop bottle.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making Minimalist Pruno

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  1. The idea behind minimalist pruno is that it’s more like making the type of pruno that inmates make, so it doesn’t require any fancy cooking tools or utensils. What you will need is:
    • One-gallon (3.8-L) sealable plastic bag
    • Three clean towels
    • A large bowl or sink
    • Hot running water
    • Spoon or t-shirt
  2. Break the oranges into wedges and place them in the sealable bag. Add the fruit cocktail and seal the bag tightly. With the fruit sealed inside the bag, squish the fruit between your fingers to break it up into small chunks. [8]
    • The fruit is ready when it becomes the consistency of fruit pulp mixed with paste.
    • You can substitute some of the orange with apples, peaches, pears, or any other fruit that’s available to you. [9]
  3. Open the bag and pour in the water. Then seal the bag again. Place the bag of mashed fruit into a sink or bowl and cover it with the hottest water you can get from the tap. Let the fruit sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. [10] Add fresh hot water every five minutes.
    • If you don’t have a bowl or a plug for the sink, keep the water from the tap running over the fruit for 15 minutes.
  4. Once the mixture is good and warm from the water, wrap it in the towels to help keep in the heat. Then transfer the mixture to a dark place for 48 hours.
    • The heat is necessary for the fermentation process, because otherwise the wild yeast will die instead of converting the sugar to alcohol.
  5. After two days, unwrap the towels from around the bag. The bag should have ballooned up with gases, so open the bag to release the gas. Add the sugar cubes and ketchup. Seal the bag and let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes to let the sugar dissolve. [11]
    • The amount of ketchup you need for this recipe is equivalent to about 3.5 ketchup packets.
    • If you don’t have access to ketchup, you can also use a piece of bread broken up into small pieces. [12]
  6. When the sugar has dissolved, knead the mixture to incorporate the fruit, sugar, and ketchup. Then heat the mixture with hot tap water again.
    • Let the fruit sit in the hot water (or under running water) for 30 minutes.
  7. After heating for 30 minutes in the water bath, wrap the mixture in the towels again. Stash it away somewhere dark and let the mixture sit for 24 hours.
    • Once you get to this point, the mixture will take another 72 hours or so to turn to alcohol.
  8. Over the next three days, open the bag daily to release the gases and reheat the bag under hot running water for 15 minutes. Then rewrap the bag in the towel and return it to its dark place until the next day. [13]
    • When the bag stops bloating, the pruno is ready.
  9. After three days or when the bag stops bloating with gases overnight, open the bag and skim off the fruit mash to leave the liquid behind.
    • If it’s available, use a tea strainer, clean sock, or clean t-shirt to separate the fruit mash and strain the liquid. [14]
    • Transfer the liquid to cups before serving, or return it to the plastic bag and drink straight from the bag.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I use if I don't have fruit cocktail?
    Community Answer
    Fruit cocktail is used in pruno because it is readily available in prison. If you don't have any on hand, you can use equally quantities of mixed fruit and juice instead. Use about 3/4 cups of fruit, and fill the remaining 1/4 cup with orange, pear, apple, or some other juice.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Do I have to use oranges?
    Community Answer
    No, you do not have to use oranges. The key is to use a fruit that has enough sugar content to feed the yeast, thus creating your alcohol content. Theoretically you could actually fill a container with water, add about a bag of sugar to it, and then combine your yeast and, with enough time (roughly 3-6 months), it will produce both ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide. As a result of the chemical process that the yeast and possibly fermenting fruit, you must relieve the pressure built up every few days in the container or alternatively buy an airlock for the cap of the container if you are serious about producing your own alcohol.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8
  • Question
    I heard that pruno can be deadly - is this a safe method?
    Community Answer
    Anything can be deadly if you consume too much. if you have a headache you can take a mild painkiller, but if you take 30 you will likely die. The same basic principle goes for pruno. Use your judgement.
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      Warnings

      • Potatoes can carry botulism spores, so don’t use them as a starter in minimalist pruno recipes. [15]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://brokelyn.com/how-to-make-your-own-prison-wine/
      2. ↑ https://brokelyn.com/how-to-make-your-own-prison-wine/
      3. ↑ https://lamag.com/news/how-to-make-prison-wine-the-craft-version
      4. ↑ https://lamag.com/news/how-to-make-prison-wine-the-craft-version
      5. ↑ https://brokelyn.com/how-to-make-your-own-prison-wine/
      6. ↑ https://lamag.com/news/how-to-make-prison-wine-the-craft-version
      7. ↑ https://brokelyn.com/how-to-make-your-own-prison-wine/
      8. ↑ https://pen.org/poetry/recipe-prison-pruno
      9. ↑ https://gizmodo.com/rotten-fruit-and-hot-pots-the-secret-techniques-of-cel-5854104
      1. ↑ https://www.drunkard.com/11-03-jailhouse-3/
      2. ↑ https://www.drunkard.com/11-03-jailhouse-3/
      3. ↑ https://gizmodo.com/rotten-fruit-and-hot-pots-the-secret-techniques-of-cel-5854104
      4. ↑ https://pen.org/poetry/recipe-prison-pruno
      5. ↑ https://gizmodo.com/rotten-fruit-and-hot-pots-the-secret-techniques-of-cel-5854104
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlipson/2013/02/12/prisoners-making-hooch-what-could-possibly-go-wrong/#7aed12b51eab

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make pruno, start by putting some orange wedges and fruit cocktail in a bag, sealing it, and then mashing everything together with your fingers. Next, pour water into the bag and then place it in a sink or bowl filled with hot water, adding new hot water every 5 minutes for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, wrap the bag in a towel and set it aside somewhere dark for 48 hours. Then, add sugar and ketchup to the bag and let it dissolve for 15 minutes before heating it in hot water again. Finally, wrap the bag and hide it for 24 hours, repeating the heating process every day for 3 days. To learn how to make artisan pruno, keep reading!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Dave Sharp

        Nov 8, 2020

        "I tried the prison pruno recipe and it worked great. I could actually hear the yeast working away when I placed my ..." more
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