Raisins are easy to make but a few get to try it at home. The advantage of homemade raisins is that the quality is excellent with no artificial additives. Raisins are essentially dried out grapes. You can use heat from the sun, a dehydrator or oven to dehydrate the grapes and heat up the sugar causing it to caramelize. When dehydrated, the nutrients become more concentrated. Raisins are rich in fiber.  They are packed with energy, vitamins and minerals. They aid digestion, relieve constipation, fight gastric ulcer, boost iron levels and help to form strong bones. The antioxidants lower blood pressure and the iron reduces the risk of anemia. They also prevent tooth decay.

Ingredients

• Fresh red seedless grapes
• Baking tray
• Kitchen roll or baking paper

How To Prepare

1. Wash and gently dry the grapes with a towel.
2. Blanch grapes by dropping by the bunch in boiling water for 30 seconds. Blanching them before dehydration soften the skin and make them more tender and easy to dry.
3. Transfer into a bowl of ice water. Remove the stems.
4. Spread the grapes on the baking tray. Make sure they are not touching each other.

Cover the grapes up with kitchen roll. Use something that won’t be blown away by the breeze. The cover prevents bugs from getting to the grapes.

5. Take the grapes outside and leave them for at least 3 days under the sun to dry.
6. Alternatively, you can dry your grapes in a dehydrator or oven. Set your oven to a temp of 160-180 degrees Celsius and leave them to dry for up to 24 hours. Occasionally turn up to 3 times to prevent from sticking.
7. Once dark and wrinkled, store for long-term in an air tight container.

You can snack on this or use them in baking your bread, cakes, and other food.