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How to Store Grapes

How satisfying are grapes? That crisp snap of the skin and then the sweet juicy burst from the inside of the grape. Not only are they a nice refreshing snack they are great for your health too!

Grapes are known to reduce blood sugar, full of antioxidants, vitamin C and so much more.

Ok, enough about that. How do you store grapes to keep them fresh? Grapes of all kinds should be stored in the refrigerator, you want them stored cold to keep them fresh and delicious.

storing grapes

How to properly store grapes

Whether you like green grapes or red grapes, they are stored the same way. You always want to store them in the fridge. This will maintain the crispness and keep them lasting longer.

Here are a few key things to think about if you are wondering how to store grapes.

1. Buying the best bunch of grapes

The most important thing is buying good grapes. There are no tricks or tips that I can give you to store your grapes and keep them fresh if you buy a bad bag of them to start with.

When buying grapes you want to look not only at the grapes themselves but the stems and in the bottom of the bag. Yup, I said look in the bottom of the bag.

Strange I know, but if there are a ton of loose grapes that have fallen off the stems and sitting loosely at the bottom, chances are it’s a bad bag altogether.

The stems are most likely brittle and brown which means the grapes aren’t getting any nutrients and therefore falling off and rotting.

Healthy grapes should be plump and round and firmly attached to the stems. You have probably noticed that grapes have a white powdery white substance on them.

You automatically think it must be a pesticide.

Well, good news! It is not a pesticide. It is what you call “bloom”, a natural waxy protective layer that the grapes make to help protect themselves.

If you notice mushy or rotten grapes or even mold you are going to want to pass on that bag. Luckily grapes come in see-through bags which makes it a lot easier to inspect them before you get home.

Also learn how to store apples, whole, cut, and even long term.

2. Refrain from washing

You do not what to wash your grapes before storing them. It is best to take out as many as you would like and rinse only what you need.

They will get soft and moldy if they are too wet and will stay fresher longer if they are kept just as they were when you bought them.

3. Let them breathe

Store them in a well-ventilated bag or container. When you buy them they are in a bag that is covered in holes because if not the humidity will get trapped and become moisture.

Keeping them in the bag that they came in is ideal because it allows the air to get around the grapes. If you have a well-ventilated container that works too. As long as air can get in and around them.

Check out my latest post on how to store strawberries.

4. Refrigerate

Grape’s happy place is at 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit with 90-95% humidity. Keeping them in the crisping drawer is the perfect environment and will keep them fresh longer.

You want to store them away from other foods that have strong odors such as onions because the grapes will absorb the smells and be unpleasant. No one wants to taste onions when they are eating grapes!

Properly stored grapes will last about two weeks in the fridge. They should always be best kept cold. The refrigerator gives a better result than the freezer. Check out my comprehensive guide on how to freeze grapes for a refreshing summer snack!

If you’re just learning how to store fruit I would also check out how to store kiwi and how to store limes, it is really simple to do.

It is not advisable to store grapes in a Ziploc bag that isn’t ventilated. Grapes really require airflow so that moisture doesn’t get trapped and cause the grapes to get mushy.

Keeping them in the bag that they came in or a ventilated bag or container will keep them fresh and crisp, just the way they should be.

Grapes should remain on the stems and unwashed when you are storing them. This allows for the air to get in and around all of the grapes and keeps them dry.

You want to keep grapes on the stems until you are ready to eat them. At that point, you can remove them from the stem and wash them.

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