How To Store Grapes After Washing

When you get grapes from the supermarket, there are certain things to know besides how to store grapes in the fridge. Grape storage may seem simple, but it involves some thought. First, food goes bad because of wetness, just like other fruits.

For this reason, it’s crucial to either wait to wash the grapes until eating or to wash them in a particular method to increase their shelf life.

After washing, how should grapes be stored? Grapes that are wet need to be dried with a paper towel before being placed in a food-safe plastic bag, food storage container, or even the ventilated bag you bought your grapes in.

The grapes will stay fresh for up to three days, but if they have even a little moisture on them, they might not last that long.

In our guide, you can learn more about the proper ways how to preserve grapes carefully, so you get the best from the fruit. By the end, you’ll see that your fruits are turning; you may decide to turn your hand to making homemade wine. (Learn How Long Do Roses Last In The Fridge)

Choose Grapes That Are Fresh

You must choose fresh grapes from the market before we talk about the ideal washing technique!

Picking a bunch randomly is acceptable but going the extra mile to get the freshest bunch will help you store fruit for longer.

Pick grapes that are firmly attached to the stem and plump. Grapes that are not attached to the main stem or loose on the vine may be a little too ripe and oxidize earlier than those.

Two practical tips help determine whether the bunch is fresh:

1. Use The Shake Test

The shake test is an easy and reliable way of evaluating the grapes’ quality. But, first, pick a bunch that seems fresh.

Holding the bunch by the stem, shake it lightly to see if any grapes fall off.

You can read the rest here if none or a few of them do. If more than a few grapes fall, the bunch might not be suitable for storage.

2. Inspect and Taste

Check the bunch from every angle to determine whether deflated or blackened grapes are present. This will signal that the grapes have rotted and won’t last more than a day or two.

You can try one or two grapes to see if they are sweet or sour or if the grapes appear to be in good condition.

While sweet grapes should be consumed within five days, sour grapes may suggest that they are still unripe and may be good for long-term storage. (Learn How Long Are Grapes Good For)

Washing For Storing

You will have two choices when you bring the grapes home. First, you have two options for storing fruit: either wash them and store them in the refrigerator or shift them to a clean plastic bag and store them there.

If you intend to consume the grapes that day or if there is a lot of dirt on them, you should only wash them as soon as you get them home in the first scenario.

As previously said, moisture encourages the growth of bacteria, so if you wash them, you must also ensure that they are totally dry before putting them in the refrigerator.

The second scenario is ideal when you wish to extend the grapes’ storage life. Remember that under ideal circumstances, fresh grapes can stay in the fridge for up to three to five days.

Steps For Washing Grapes

Here are some important actions for washing grapes correctly:

Using the preceding advice, choose the best bunch, and put them in a strainer.
Rinse them in cool water to remove dirt. To better wash the grapes, you can rub loose grapes with your fingertips in a strainer under running tap water.
Allow the grapes to drain through the strainer for at least 3 to 5 minutes or until the excess water has been removed.
Gently shake the strainer to remove further excess water.
Lay the grapes on a clean paper towel and, alternatively, place them under a fan for a couple of minutes.
Pat grapes dry with another dry paper towel.
To continue storing grapes, place the grapes in the back of the refrigerator. You can store grapes in an airtight plastic bag, glass jars (recommended), or plastic container or place them in the crisper drawer.

Remember, while storing grapes, they stay fresh for up to 3 days; it is best to eat washed grapes inside 48 hours to enjoy the full flavor.

Another thing to note with keeping grapes in the fridge is to keep them away from smelly foods as they tend to absorb odors. (Read What Does Swiss Chard Taste Like)

Alternate Means Of Storage

There are other methods besides keeping washed grapes in the fridge to keep them fresh.

Here are some further suggestions for extending the freshness of this fruit:

Freezing

Like other food types, grapes can be frozen. This is the quickest and simplest way to extend the fruit’s shelf life.

However, there are a few things you should remember:

First, before being placed in an airtight container or bag and preserved in the freezer, the grapes must not be washed or entirely dry. Failure to do so could encourage freezer burn, ruining the texture and flavor of the food.
The grapes must be either under-ripe or just ripe enough. Grapes that are too ripe may not be suited for freezing since their skins may get discolored and torn.
The grapes will stay fresh longer if you freeze them when they’re at their best!
The grapes should ideally be frozen with the stem still attached.
Place the container on a ceramic plate to prevent the packaging or the grapes from sticking to the freezer tray.
It will take the grapes 8 to 12 hours to freeze. Once frozen, they can be stored for up to two to three weeks.
Although they can typically last much longer, you must consume the grapes within three weeks if you want them to be at their freshest.
The grapes can be quickly defrosted; all you have to do is place the container in the refrigerator and let it sit overnight.
Before eating, you can also rinse the grapes as described above.

Dehydrating

Grapes can also be kept for a long way by dehydrating them. This technique calls for washing, adding, and processing the grapes in any dehydrator for at least 8 to 12 hours.

The grapes will become fresh raisins, which you can use. If you let the grapes soak in clean water in the refrigerator for an entire night, they could even be able to rehydrate!

Grapes can be preserved similarly whether they are hydrated or rehydrated.

Shelf Life Of Grapes

The shelf life of grapes correlates with the method you use to store them. Grips stored at room temperature will no longer be edible within a few days. However, chilling the fruits can extend their shelf life and increase their vitality to over a week.

How to Identify Rotten Grapes

Grapes are a cool snack, but if you eat them after they’ve gone bad, they could be dangerous. Here are three ways to tell if your grapes are rotting or unusable:

When grapes rot, they release a potent vinegary odor. But, unfortunately, they have almost no smell at all when they’re still edible.
Grapes that have developed a brown tint are ready to become inedible. Any rotting grapes should be thrown away immediately because they could make you sick if eaten.
To the touch, fresh grapes feel firm. However, you may have moldy grapes if they feel soft.
Proper air circulation is vital; when grapes don’t have proper air circulation, they can bruise and become moldy. In an airtight container, ensure they are not tightly packed together.
Only wash grapes under cold water when you are ready to eat them.
When selecting grapes from a local market, you may get good grapes, yet they may not have a ventilated bag as you get from the supermarket.

How To Store And Use Grapes

Refrigerator: An appropriate place to store grapes.

Unwashed Grapes: Once the bag or container containing the unwashed grapes has been prepared, all left is to place it in the refrigerator.

Wash grapes before eating as they can be covered in pesticide residue.

Washed Grapes: If you want to know how to store washed grapes, don’t panic! When drying grapes that have been washed, wrap them in paper towels for 5 to 10 minutes. You’re then ready to place them back inside the ventilated bags of the original packaging for storing grapes as above. (Learn How Many Roma Tomatoes In A Pound)

Vegetables And Fruits

Don’t let your grapes near smelly vegetables.

Store Grapes Without Refrigerator

Grapes degrade quickly, so it is not suggested to store them without a refrigerator or freezer. Instead, grapes should be kept at room temperature and exposed in a dish or container if you wish to consume them that day.

You can choose from several mouthwatering delights prepared from grapes besides eating the grapes fresh. Some of these might even prolong the shelf life of grapes.

Make some grape juice at home to refresh yourself. Even new cocktails can be created from grape juice using apple cider vinegar.

Store Grapes In The Freezer

Freezing grapes means they last months; it is the best way to store grapes you have washed by mistake.
Like market packaging, you should store grapes in an airtight zip-lock or plastic bag without ventilation holes.
Frozen grapes lose flavor rapidly, so use them to make smoothies or ice cubes in wine.
Juice them and combine vodka with grape juice. You can even drop frozen grapes in a glass of wine.

How To Store Washed Grapes In Fridge

Grapes’ shelf life is shortened by washing them before storage. However, don’t worry if you accidentally washed them. Here is the best way to store grapes in the fridge for a couple more days.

The cleaned grapes are spread out on paper towels. Grapes are wrapped in paper towels.
Allow them to dry completely. The skin on the grapes can blister if you pat them dry. Grapes with a blister decay quickly as bacterial growth can get inside.
Once completely dry, put the grapes in airtight containers and avoid storing them until there is no moisture on them.
Keep in the store’s rear or the vegetable crisper.