How to Make Prune Juice from Dried Prunes: Easy DIY Guide

You wake up feeling bloated. Coffee didn’t help. You remember your grandmother swearing by a glass of prune juice. You buy a bottle at the store, but it’s expensive, loaded with added sugar, and tastes like watered-down prune syrup. There’s a better way: make it yourself from dried prunes. It’s cheaper, you control the ingredients, and it tastes surprisingly fresh.

In this guide I’ll walk you through exactly how to make prune juice from dried prunes. We’ll cover ratios, soaking times, blending versus boiling, straining methods, storage, and flavor tweaks. You’ll have a glass ready in 30 minutes flat.

Langer Farms

Langer Farms All Prune, 100% Juice, 32…

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If you need a reliable store-bought backup, Langer Farms All Prune 100% Juice (pack of two 32 oz bottles) is a solid choice. It’s pure prune juice with no added sugar, sweeteners, or colors. Each 8 oz serving counts as two servings of fruit. Keep a bottle in the fridge for days you don’t have time to DIY.

Why Make Your Own Prune Juice?

Store-bought juice often contains added sugar, citric acid, or preservatives. Many brands use concentrate that tastes flat. Homemade juice lets you decide the sweetness and thickness. You can use organic prunes if you want. The cost per glass works out to about half the price of premium bottled juice.

Another reason: you get the full fiber content if you don’t strain it too much. Dried prunes naturally contain sorbitol and fiber, both of which help with digestion. When you make juice at home, you control how much pulp stays in. Some people prefer it cloudy, others want it clear.

The Basic Method: Soak, Blend, Strain

This is the simplest approach. You need dried prunes, water, and a blender. Start with 1 cup of pitted dried prunes and 3 cups of filtered water for a concentrated juice. If you want a drinking-strength juice, use 5 cups of water.

1. Soak the prunes in the water for at least 4 hours or overnight in the fridge. Soaking softens them and makes blending easier.
2. Blend the soaked prunes with the soaking water until smooth. A high-speed blender works best, but any blender will do if you let it run an extra 30 seconds.
3. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or nut milk bag. Press gently with a spatula to extract all liquid. Discard the leftover pulp or save it for baking.

That’s it. The whole active time is about 10 minutes. The juice will be opaque and a bit thick. If you want it thinner, add more water and stir.

Three Ways to Extract the Juice

The soak-and-blend method is the most forgiving and uses common tools. Boiling is faster but changes the flavor slightly. An electric juicer gives you pulp-free juice in seconds, but you’ll need a machine. For that route, a Breville Juice Fountain handles dried prunes well if you soak them first. A masticating juicer produces even smoother juice with less foam.

Flavor Tweaks and Variations

Plain prune juice works fine, but a few additions make it more interesting. Add half a lemon (juice and zest) during blending for brightness. A cinnamon stick or a pinch of ginger warms up the flavor. For sweetness, a ripe banana or a tablespoon of maple syrup blends in nicely.

If the juice tastes too strong, dilute it with cold water or apple juice. For a thicker, smoothie-like drink, keep all the pulp and stir in some yogurt or oat milk.

You can also use the leftover pulp. Mix it into oatmeal, muffin batter, or energy balls. It adds fiber and a mild prune taste.

How to Store Homemade Prune Juice

Fresh prune juice keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Shake well before drinking because solids settle. Freezing works perfectly. Pour into ice cube trays, freeze, then transfer cubes to a freezer bag. Thaw cubes in the fridge overnight or drop them into smoothies.

Do not can homemade prune juice at home — it’s too low in acid for safe water-bath canning. Stick to refrigeration or freezing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does homemade prune juice last in the fridge?

Typically 4 to 5 days. After that you might notice off-flavors or cloudiness that isn’t normal. Smell it before drinking. If it smells yeasty or sour, toss it.

Can I freeze prune juice?

Yes. Freeze in ice cube trays for small portions or leave headspace in jars. The water will expand, so use freezer-safe containers. Thawed juice may separate a bit; just shake it.

Do I need to pit the prunes first?

Most dried prunes sold in stores are already pitted. Check the package. If you have whole prunes with pits, you must pit them. A blade hitting a pit can damage your blender or juicer. The pits also add a bitter taste if blended.

My juice came out too thick. How do I fix it?

Just add water, one quarter cup at a time, until it reaches your preferred consistency. You can also mix in unsweetened apple juice or pear juice for natural thinning and added flavor.

Is homemade prune juice as effective for constipation as store-bought?

It can be more effective because you control the concentration. Dried prunes contain sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin, both of which stimulate bowel movements. Homemade juice retains more fiber than many commercial brands that filter out pulp.

What to Do Next

• Use a 1:5 ratio of prunes to water for a drinkable juice; 1:3 for a concentrate you can dilute later.
• Soak prunes overnight for the smoothest texture and easiest blending.
• Strain through a nut milk bag for the clearest juice; use a coarse sieve if you want more fiber.
• Add lemon or ginger to cut the sweetness and add complexity.
• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze in cubes for long-term storage.
• Don’t throw away the pulp — use it in oatmeal, smoothies, or baked goods.
• Buy pitted prunes to save time and avoid damaging your equipment.