How To Dehydrate Grapes

This post is about how to dehydrate grapes. I picked up some red/purple grapes at Costco so I could demonstrate how easy grapes are to dehydrate. I must say, I started out with a very large bowl and ended up with a pint mason jar of dehydrated grapes. You can also call them homemade raisins if you like.

Of course, if you grow your own grapes you would love dehydrating them because they are almost FREE in bumper crop years. My sweet husband removed the grapes from their stems and cut each grape in half so I could serve them to a dehydrating class I taught at The Kitchen Corner in St. George, Utah. I was busy dehydrating bananas and apples.

I originally wrote this post back in 2014, boy, how time has flown by. Now I live in northern Utah, and I still love to dehydrate fruits and vegetables. In the process of moving, I accidentally snapped and broke the entire casing on the temperature knob section of my old Excalibur dehydrator. It had served me well for many years and our family enjoyed many hours working together in the dehydrating process. We also loved the snacks the old unit provided.

When I got settled in here in northern Utah I purchased the same brand as a replacement. I didn’t want any fancy electronics, I’m happy with just plugging it in and turning the knobs. That’s how I roll. So I bought this one. Excalibur Dehydrator 9 Tray w/Timer

They are cheaper without the timer, I just prefer the timer so I can set it and forget it, as they say. Excalibur Dehydrator 9 Tray Without Timer

How To Dehydrate Grapes

Which Grapes Are Best To Dehydrate?

Here is a list of popular grapes to use when dehydrating:

• Thompson Green Seedless Grapes
• Red or Green Grapes
• Moon Drops
• Cotton Candy Grapes
• Most grapes that are seedless will work

Instructions

Step One: Turn the Dehydrator On

Start Your Dehydrator based on the temperature your brand recommends. I’m using an Excalibur Dehydrator today. It recommends (135°F) = (57°C) degrees.

Step Two: Wash Grapes and Remove the Grapes from Their Stems

Wash and drain the grapes and remove the bunch of grapes from their stems. Discard any damaged grapes. I look for any cracks or bruises and don’t want any dirt or germs that might be on those particular grapes. Some people will blanch their grapes by putting them in boiling water in a large pot, then drain and cover the grapes with ice water or an ice bath with ice cubes. I’ve never done that and don’t think it’s necessary.

Step Three: Slice Grapes in Half

Slice grapes in half, if desired. If you don’t slice the grapes they will take longer to dehydrate. I like slicing mine lengthwise since the slices tend to be thinner and easier to dehydrate.

Step Four: Place Grapes Cut Side Up

Place the CUT side up on the dehydrator trays so they’ll dry more evenly. Leave space between the grapes for the air to circulate. I don’t stack my grape slices, I use a single-layer approach to save drying time and so each piece can have the same general dryness when done.

Step Five: Fill Your Trays

Fill your trays and let them dehydrate naturally in your dehydrator. Depending on the size of your grapes, the thickness of the grapes when cut, and the number you have ready to dehydrate will determine how many slices can fit on the tray and how many trays you’ll use. You may have to leave some spaces in the dehydrator if the slices are too thick.

Step Six: Most Grapes dehydrate in 18-48 hours

Most grapes will take between 18-48 hours. I dried them until they were wrinkled and pliable in texture. They took about 48 hours. They were the largest grapes I’ve ever dehydrated. The time will vary depending on the humidity of the room or area where you are drying the grapes. The thickness of the grapes and the temperature also influence the drying time. This picture was taken at the beginning of the drying time process.

Finished Product:

How can I use these after they are dehydrated?

These make great snacks, and lunch treats, and take them camping. When you make a salad with a green apple, add some dehydrated grapes, delicious!

How To Condition Your Fruit or Vegetables After Dehydration

If you live where it’s HUMID: “To condition the fruit, take the dried fruit that has cooled and pack it loosely in plastic or glass jars. Seal the containers and let them stand for 7 to 10 days. The excess moisture in some pieces will be absorbed by the drier pieces. Shake the jars daily to separate the pieces and check the moisture condensation.” https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/pack_store.html

I used to live in the DRY DESERT: I set my fruit and vegetables on my countertop for 5-7 days. Ten days is even better to make sure everything is dry before using your FoodSaver unit.

Information on grapes:

Although many people only think of grapes in the context of their use in making wine, grapes are loved by people throughout the world for their fresh flavor eaten alone, and also as ingredients in many prepared foods like salads. Grapes have been shown to have a number of health benefits we all could take advantage of by eating more each day.

Some people eat grapes because they’ve been helpful in minimizing stress on the kidneys. The grapes do this by lowering the acid content of the body’s uric acid. Grapes contain a lot of water which is something we all need plenty of each day. Others have found that grapes help reduce the number and severity of migraine headaches. They have found that the extract from grape seeds, along with grape juice both help.

Like a number of other fruits, grapes are good for eye health as they benefit the retina. They are also good for our bones since they contain iron, copper, and manganese. As we age we tend to struggle with bone-related issues like osteoporosis, and grapes can help minimize these age-related maladies. Older people also struggle with periodic bouts of constipation. Grapes can act as a type of laxative to help move things along in the intestinal tract. Grapes are also a food to help us lower our cholesterol levels, something we all should strive to do.

Grapes’ nutritional value is important to understand since grapes are known to have a number of nutrients like potassium, copper, manganese, and iron. They are a good vitamin source, particularly vitamins C and K. They are full of antioxidants, have a low sodium level, very little fat, and have no cholesterol. Although a cup of grapes only has about 65 calories, there are a fair amount of sugars from the carbohydrates in grapes, but grapes do provide some dietary fiber.

Can I dehydrate grapes in my kitchen oven?

Rather than eat store-bought raisins, some people will use their ovens to dehydrate grapes. The prepping is pretty much the same as with a regular dehydrator, but you’ll need to set your oven temperature at a very low setting, like 170 degrees. If your oven can’t be set that low you may need to prop the oven door open slightly with a wad of foil.

They suggest putting the cut grapes on a baking sheet with parchment paper. You’ll want to check the grapes from time to time and turn the baking sheet around to make sure the grapes are drying at a consistent rate. With the 170 degrees, you won’t have to dry them for as long.

What are some good treats I can make with these dehydrated grapes?

I love to make cookies and muffins. Besides other sweet ingredients like chocolate, I’ll often use dehydrated grapes (raisins) and other fruits and berries. A family favorite would be oatmeal raisin cookies. Note that my cookies and muffins tend to be very tasty the day after they’re cooked since they tend to have a more moist texture. We try to eat them in the first two or three days and keep them on the counter since the refrigerator will often dry them out.

You can also make them ahead for a special occasion and keep them in the freezer until you need them.

Here is a list of the Dehydrating Posts I have written:

• Dehydrating Apples
• Dehydrating Bananas
• Dehydrating Blackberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Blueberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Cilantro
• Dehydrating Cucumbers and Powder
• Dehydrating Ginger and Powder
• Dehydrating Green Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Kale and Kale Powder
• Dehydrating Kiwi
• Dehydrating Lemons and Powder
• Dehydrating Marshmallows
• Dehydrating Peppermint Marshmallows and Powder
• Dehydrating Mushrooms and Mushroom Powder
• Dehydrating Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Pears
• Dehydrating Pineapple
• Dehydrating Raspberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Spinach and Powder
• Dehydrating Strawberries
• Dehydrating Tomatoes and Powder
• Dehydrating Watermelon

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed my post today on how to dehydrate grapes. I love dehydrating fruits and vegetables. My house smells so good, although I dehydrate onions outside! LOL! Please stay safe and well., May God Bless this World, Linda