The raisins are genuine and delicious. You can eat it on its own when you feel like a healthy snack or use it in a wide variety of recipes, for example to enrich the cookie dough. In addition to being incredibly versatile, raisins are very easy to prepare. You can dry grapes in the sun, in the oven or in the dryer in no time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Drying Grapes in the Sun
Step 1. Separate the grapes from the grape stalks and wash them thoroughly
It is not necessary to remove all the stalks, but make sure you have removed at least the largest ones, then wash the grapes under running water.
Washing the grapes with water is sufficient, but if you prefer you can use a natural ingredient with disinfectant properties, such as white wine vinegar or lemon juice
Step 2. Distribute the berries inside a container and then cover them
They don't have to touch each other. The ideal would be to use a container made of wood, wicker or bamboo (or alternatively a perforated plastic container) so that the air can circulate around the grapes. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel.
- If you prefer, you can use a clean pillowcase to cover the grapes.
- The cloth serves to protect the grapes from insects as they dehydrate in the sun.
- Make sure the wind can't blow away the cloth or pillowcase you used as a cover by placing weights in the corners.
Step 3. Let the grapes dry outdoors on dry, sunny days
Place the container in a spot that remains exposed to the sun during most hours of the day. Only let the grapes dry outdoors when the air is warm and dry. The hotter and drier the climate, the faster the process will be.
- If you leave grapes outside when the weather is cloudy, wet, or cold, it will take a long time for them to dehydrate (and in some cases, they won't completely dehydrate). Arrange to prepare raisins when the weather is hot and dry and the days are sunny. Ideally the temperature should be above 24 ° C.
- If the temperature drops during the night and dew forms, bring the container back into the house in the evening and reposition it outside the next morning.
Step 4. Let the grapes dry in the sun for 3-4 days by turning them at regular intervals
It will take about 4 days for the grapes to reach an adequate level of dehydration. The amount of time may vary based on climate conditions and the degree of ripeness of the grapes. In general, it takes at least 3 days to get a good result. Rotate the grapes twice a day to expose both sides to the same amount of sunlight.
- After 3 days, check if the grapes are ready. Taste a couple of beans; if you like them, take the container back home. If they are still not sufficiently dehydrated, leave them outside for another day.
- You can leave the grapes to dry in the sun for up to 5 days, within this time they should be ready.
Step 5. When ready, transfer the grapes to an airtight container
When you have tasted it and you have ascertained that it has become raisins, bring it back to the house and transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it in a cool place or in the refrigerator.
To store raisins that you dried in the sun, use a glass jar, a zip-lock food bag, or an airtight plastic food container
Method 2 of 3: Drying Grapes in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 100 ° C
Turn on the oven, set the temperature to 100 ° C and let it heat for 15 minutes. Putting grapes in a cold oven negatively affects the quality of the result, so turn it on well in advance and let it warm up for the necessary time.
This temperature will allow you to dehydrate the grapes in just about 4 hours. For slower preparation, you can set the oven to 70 ° C and let the grapes dry for about 36 hours. At low temperatures, grapes dehydrate more slowly, but the risk of overcooking and drying out decreases
Step 2. Separate the berries from the grape stalks and wash them thoroughly
Remove the larger stalks by hand or with a pair of scissors, then wash the grapes under cold running water. Discard any imperfect grapes.
Washing the grapes with water is sufficient, but if you prefer you can use a natural ingredient with disinfectant properties, such as white wine vinegar or lemon juice
Step 3. Grease two baking sheets with oil
Brush them with sunflower or corn oil before adding the grapes. Space the berries evenly to prevent them touching each other.
- If you prefer, you can line the baking sheets with parchment paper instead of using oil.
- Be careful not to overfill the trays or the hot air will not be able to circulate freely between the grapes. It doesn't matter if some berries are touching, but make sure most of them are separated.
Step 4. Let the grapes dry in the oven for 4 hours
Take it out of the oven when it is visibly withered, without waiting for it to become too dry; internally it must remain pulpy. To avoid getting it wrong, try it at regular intervals. If it looks ready, you can remove it from the oven even before the time runs out.
The time required to dehydrate grapes varies according to the size of the berries and the initial humidity level. In general, the larger the berries, the slower they dehydrate
Step 5. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the raisins cool
When the berries are sufficiently dehydrated, take the trays out of the oven and let the raisins cool for at least 30 minutes. If any berries have stuck to the pan, gently peel them off with a metal spatula.
Step 6. Place the raisins in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator
Wait until it has cooled completely, then transfer it to an airtight food container. Store the container in the refrigerator to make the raisins last longer.
Eat or use raisins within 3 weeks
Method 3 of 3: Dry Grapes in the Dryer
Step 1. Wash the grapes and, if necessary, remove the seeds
Before putting it in the dryer, rinse it under cold running water to get rid of any foreign matter. If you have chosen a seeded variety, cut the berries in half and remove them before continuing.
- If the grapes are seedless, there is no need to cut the grapes in half.
- Washing the grapes with water is sufficient, but if you prefer you can use a natural ingredient with disinfectant properties, such as white wine vinegar or lemon juice.
Step 2. Arrange the grapes in the trays of the dryer
Try to distribute them evenly, but don't worry if some berries touch each other. However, be careful not to overfill the trays or the dryer as it will negatively impact the dehydration process.
Read your dryer instruction manual carefully and find out how to best use it
Step 3. Set the dryer temperature to 60 ° C
Generally it is the recommended temperature to dehydrate grapes. If your dryer model has a specific setting for dehydrating fruit, select it.
Inside the dryer instruction manual you may find specific indications about grapes. If so, set the recommended temperature. In the absence of other instructions, set the dryer to a temperature of 60 ° C
Step 4. Let the grapes dry for at least 24 hours
For most varieties, it takes at least a full day to achieve complete dehydration. In some cases it may take even longer. Check and taste the grapes at regular intervals (at least every 2 hours). If it looks ready, feel free to remove it from the dryer ahead of time.
- If the grapes are very small, they could be ready in less than 24 hours, so check and taste them frequently to avoid the risk of them drying out.
- For any grape variety it is best to never exceed 48 hours.
Step 5. Remove the raisins from the dryer and store
When the berries are sufficiently dehydrated, take them out of the dryer and let them cool. Once cool, transfer them to an airtight container. You can use a glass jar, food bag, or plastic container.
Raisins prepared with the dryer can last for several months, the important thing is to keep them in a closed container away from heat and humidity
Advice
- If the grapes are very ripe, they will dehydrate more slowly and may spoil before the process is complete. That's why it's best to use slightly unripe (but still sweet) grapes when making raisins.
- Discard any imperfect grapes. During the dehydration process, some grapes may go bad. In this case, discard them immediately and give more space to the neighboring berries. As the hours go by, the berries will become smaller and smaller and wither, but they will have to maintain a firm consistency without turning into mush.
- The more experienced prepare the raisins by hanging the whole bunches by a string and letting them dry in the sun. This method requires more skills, but guarantees a better result because the exposure to air is higher.
