Tasty Homemade Raisins

Tasty Homemade Raisins: An easy, yummy snack to make at home with a surprising nutritional punch. 

A friend of mine has a backyard grapevine and was kind enough to share her seedless grape harvest with our family. We love the Tasty Homemade Raisins, nothing you buy can compare with their taste. My dehydrator has been used year round for making jerky, granola, and drying fruit. The brand I have is the SnackMaster and it is very old, like 18+ years! I use it often and won’t hesitate to replace it the second it finally dies on me. What I love about the model I have is that I can add or remove trays depending on how much food needs dehydrated. This works perfectly since I prefer to make big batches of whatever I prepare and store the extra in the freezer; it saves time in the kitchen. Eating the Tasty Homemade Raisins plain, as a snack, or adding them to homemade trail mix are a few of the favorite ways we enjoy them. Of course, they are great in Super Fudge, granola, cereal, or any baked good.

Raisins have quite the nutritional punch as well. According to my research, a large handful of raisins is rich in dietary iron, B vitamins, potassium, carbohydrates, and fiber.(1)  Raisins are also rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. (2)

In one large handful or a small box of raisins, you will get 0.8 milligrams of iron. Iron mainly carries oxygen in red blood cells, but it’s also present in every cell in your body because it has so many other jobs. It supports your immune system, helps make amino acids, and it’s essential for metabolism. (1)

They are also a good source of some B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid.(2)

You will get 322 milligrams of potassium in that large handful of raisins. Potassium is especially vital for your heart, helping to regulate the heartbeat and lower blood pressure. (1)

There are 34 grams of carbohydrates, which includes 26 grams of fructose (sugar) for rapid energy.  If you use sports chews or other sports products to add carbohydrates and improve performance while you exercise or participate in endurance sports, you can get the same benefit from eating raisins, according to a review in the Journal of Food Science in 2013. (1)

You will get 1.6 grams of fiber. About half of the total is soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar.  Eating raisins regularly can also help ease or prevent constipation. (1)

With the harvest of all God’s wonderful fruits and vegetables at the close of the summer season, this is one way to capture and preserve those beautiful grapes into Tasty Homemade Raisins. My reference book for preserving foods is, Putting Food By.

♥ Shelly

Don’t forget to pin this TASTY HOMEMADE RAISINS to your favorite PINTEREST board for later!

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Homemade Raisins

An easy, yummy snack to make at home with a surprising nutritional punch. 

Course Kid Food, Snacks

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 3 minutes

Servings 2 pounds

Author Shelly Bartels

Ingredients

• 2 grocery sacks seedless ripe grapes

Instructions

1. Blanch for 15 to 30 seconds in boiling water in small batches.
   
2. Remove with a slotted or wired spoon to a colander, sitting inside a larger bowl.
   
3. Pour grapes into a second colander over the sick to drain more, before placing them on the dehydrator trays.
   
4. Plug dehydrator in and let run 2 -3 days. I like to put it out in the garage, because I don't like the extra noise.
   

Recipe Notes

♥ Shelly

Don’t forget to pin this TASTY HOMEMADE RAISINS  to your favorite PINTEREST board for later!

Tools used to make this recipe:

Nesco Snackmaster Food Dehydrator: it makes dehydrating a snap.

♥ Shelly

(1) Busch , Sandi. “What Are the Benefits of Eating Raisins Every Day?” Healthy Eating | SF Gate, Healthy Eating, healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-eating-raisins-day-5982.html.

(2) Rudrappa, Umesh. “Raisins Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.” Nutrition And You.com, Www.nutrition-and-You.com., 2009, www.nutrition-and-you.com/raisins.html.