how to dry grapes Archieven - My little Homestead

Grapes are delicious, but unfortunately, they don’t last very long. In the fridge they’ll stay good for just a few days, which is far too short if you have a big harvest. Especially when you have a grapevine in your garden, the harvest can suddenly become overwhelming. That quickly raises the question: how can you store grapes for longer?

One of the tastiest ways is drying grapes. Dried grapes – better known as raisins – are sweet, healthy, and incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Of course, you can buy raisins anywhere, but homemade raisins taste so much better. In our home, they don’t last long: dried fruit is a favorite snack for both kids and adults.

In this article, you’ll learn step by step how to dry grapes, which methods work best, how to store them safely, and how to use homemade raisins in different recipes.

Which Grapes Are Best for Drying?

You can dry both white and red (or blue) grapes. Each variety makes delicious raisins, but the flavor and texture will differ slightly:

White grapes make mild, sweeter raisins.
Red or blue grapes have a richer, more intense flavor.

Personally, I prefer the white ones, although as a child I always chose white raisins at the store too. In the end, it really comes down to personal preference – and to what you happen to have in abundance from your garden or local farmer.

👉 Tip: Taste your grapes before drying. Some grape varieties can be tart, watery, or not as pleasant to eat fresh. Since the flavor of your raisins depends directly on the grapes you use, don’t waste time drying grapes you don’t enjoy. Instead, turn those into grape juice or grape jelly.

Seedless or With Seeds?

Seedless grapes are by far the easiest, since you can dry them whole without any extra preparation.

If you have seeded grapes, you can halve them and remove the pits before drying. It’s a bit of extra work, but worth it for a smoother snack.

Whole or Halved Grapes?

You can dry grapes either whole or halved:

Whole grapes → look beautiful and make plump raisins, but take a long time to dry. Expect 24 hours or more in the dehydrator.
Halved grapes → dry faster (about 12 hours) and give you the chance to remove seeds at the same time.

When halving grapes, always place them cut-side up and skin-side down on the tray. This helps moisture escape more easily and shortens drying time.

I’ll admit: halving grapes can feel like a bit of a chore. But once you get into a rhythm – maybe with some music or a podcast – it goes quickly.

Preparing Grapes for Drying

Wash the grapes thoroughly and let them drain.
Remove them from the stems.
Decide whether to dry them whole or halved.
Place them evenly on your trays: not touching, with space for airflow.

Drying Grapes: Dehydrator or Oven?

There are two main ways to dry grapes at home: using a dehydrator or your oven. Both work, but there are differences.

1. Drying Grapes in a Dehydrator

The dehydrator is designed for this type of job. It keeps a steady temperature and airflow, removes moisture effectively, and is generally more energy-efficient than running your oven for a whole day.

Temperature: 60 °C (140 °F)
Drying time: about 12 hours for halved grapes, 24+ hours for whole grapes
Check regularly: Taste a grape to see if it’s fully dried but still a little flexible.

2. Drying Grapes in the Oven

No dehydrator? The oven works too. Set it at 60 °C (140 °F) and leave the door slightly ajar to let moisture escape.

⚠️ Some ovens don’t allow the door to stay open. If that’s the case, you can still dry grapes with the door closed, but open it occasionally to release steam. You may also need to wipe the oven window if condensation builds up.

Keep in mind: drying grapes in the oven takes a lot of time and energy. Sometimes more than a full day!

How to Tell When Grapes Are Dry Enough

Dried grapes should be:

Flexible but not sticky
Dry all the way through (cut one open to check – no wet flesh inside)
Sweet and chewy

The best way is simply to taste them. If they’re pleasantly chewy and no longer moist, they’re ready.

Storing Homemade Raisins

For long storage, it’s important that both the raisins and the jars are completely dry.

Here’s what I do:

Rinse the jars.
Place them in a preheated oven at 180 °C (350 °F) for 10 minutes to dry and sterilize them.
Do the same with the lids.
Fill the jars with raisins (pack them well).
Close immediately with the warm lids.

Optional: Vacuum Sealing by Canning (Wecking)

Normally, fully dried fruit doesn’t need to be canned. But if you want extra-long storage without a vacuum sealer, you can water-bath can them to create a vacuum.

Time for dried grapes: 10 minutes at 90 °C (195 °F)
Time for half-dried grapes: 30 minutes at 90 °C (195 °F)

Because jars of dried grapes are light, they float during canning. To solve this, place a jar filled with water on top, or put heavier jars (like jam or fruit in syrup) above them.

This step is optional but gives peace of mind if you want to store raisins for several years.

Using Homemade Raisins in the Kitchen

Homemade raisins are delicious as a snack, but they’re also incredibly versatile:

Snack: perfect for kids and adults alike.
Granola: add natural sweetness and chewiness.
Yogurt: combine with homemade yogurt and a handful of nuts.
Salads: raisins give a sweet contrast in couscous or rice salads.
Baking: essential in raisin bread, cakes, and pastries.

👉 Try them in my basic granola recipe or paired with my homemade yogurt recipe. (coming soon)

Why Dry Grapes at Home?

Drying grapes is not just practical, it’s sustainable:

You extend the shelf life of fresh fruit.
You reduce food waste.
You create a healthy snack with no additives.

And best of all: homemade raisins taste richer and more pure than store-bought. Just grapes, nothing else.

More Recipes for Grapes and Dried Fruit

If you still have grapes left, try making homemade grape juice.

You can also preserve other fruits by drying:

Gedroogde stukjes appel — Dried apple bites with cinnamon and honey

Zelf vijgen drogen — Dried apple bites with cinnamon and honey

Pin this for later:

Check out our other canning and preserving recipes

Subscribe to our newsletter and don’t miss a thing:

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

My little Homestead

how to dry grapes

Drying Grapes: Learn How to Make Homemade Raisins for Snacking and Storing