South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-06
Anyone Can Make
Good Grape Juice
Uncle Sam Tells Housewives
How to Make This De-
Iicious Drink.

ANYBODY who is able to can vege-
tables can make grape juice, says
new publication of the United states
department Of agriculture, Farmers
Bulletin GA The principle is the
same in both cases-the sterilization
of the product before it is stored
away. In case Of grape juice this
sterilization prevents the fermenta-
ton which in making wine turns the
grape sugar into alcohol.
Fermentation is caused by various
fungi. yeasts and bacteria, which ad-
here to the skins and stems of the
grapes. If these are killed, no fer
mentation is possible. They can be
killed in two ways, but one. the adj
dition of antiseptics. is not possible
in the case of any article intended for
human consumption, because the an
tiseptics themselves are injurious.
The other method killing them by
heat, is the one used in the pasteur-
ization of milk. and is equally simple
and practicable with grape juice.
Practical tests indicate that grape
juice is satisfactorily pastedrized with
out appreciable change of flavor when
it is heated to a temperature varying
from $50 degrees to 176 degrees +.
If the temperature is allowed to reach
200 degrees F., the flavor of the juice
is changed for the worse.
For home use there are large num-
Der of varieties of grapes which will
make a pleasant and healthful drink.
No matter what the kind of grape,
however, only clean, sound fruit
should be used and it should be well
ripened, but not overripe. The grapes
should first be crushed and pressed in
an ordinary cider-mill if the farm
possesses one, or by hand if no mill
is available. The subsequent proceed
Ure depends upon whether a white or
a red juice is desired. For a light
colored juice. the crushed grapes are
put in a Cloth sack and twisted until
the greater part of the juice is ex-
tracted, one person holding each end
of the sack. The juice is then put in
some convenient form of double boil
er in which it does not come into di-
rect contact with the fire but is sur
rounded by hot water, and gradually
heated TO a temperature close to 200
degrees l.. As has already been said
however, it should not be allowed to
go over this point. If no thermometer
is available, it is best to heat the Juice
until il steams and then TO take it
from the fire before it is allowed to
boil 1t should then be poured into
glass or enamelled vessel and al
lowed to settle for "a hours, after
which it can be drained from the sedi-
ment and run through some form Of
cloth filter. The strained Juice is then
put into clean bottles and sterilized
once mere in a water bath. An or
binary wash boiler with a thin board
on the bottom for the filed bottles to
rest on is a convenient home device
for this purpose. After sterilization
the bottles should be cOrked i'm
mediately with new corks the corks
having been previously soaked for
about 80 minutes in hot water.
For red juice. the crushed grapes
are first heated the same tempera-
ture as before and then strained
through a clean cloth or drip bag with
out pressure. Thereafter, the process
is the same as for light cOlQred juice.
Grape juice should be stored away
in bottles or jars that are not too
large, for after these have been open
ed the juice is likely to spoil If
properly made, however, the juice
should keep indefinitely as long as it
is kept in sealed bottles In this re-
spect it is. Of course, like other can
ned goods. which should always be
used as soon as possible after they
have been opened.
OF the various varieties Of grapes
common in this country, the Delaware
gives a juice of delicate aroma and
excellent flavor. The Concord is |
darker with sprightly taste and well /
known aroma. The Catawba, Isabella. |
and Salem grapes also yield an ex-
cellent product. The California va
rietieS produce a very sweet Juice but !
in many cases there is little charac- |
terstic flavor. For home use. how |
ever, the kind Of grape that is most !
abundant in the vicinity Will, Of /
course, be used.