Reasons for Washing Grapes
Wash grapes to remove any potential infections, pesticides, herbicides, or garden debris before eating or slicing through the skin. This goes double for other vegetables.
Grapes become more visually appealing after being cleaned. Many grapes develop what is known as a “bloom,” which serves as the fruit’s natural preservation.
The fruit is kept fresher for a little while longer than if it didn’t have blooms because of this thin, white, waxy coating that shields the fruit’s delicate skin. Although the bloom is safe to consume, we advise washing it away because it may taste bitter or feel gritty in the mouth.
Read also: How to Clean Airpods Without Damaging
When to Wash Grapes
Although it may be tempting to wash the entire lot as soon as you step inside after harvesting your home-grown grapes or return from the grocery store, your best option is to “wash grapes just before using them to keep them fresh for as long as possible.”
You want to let that bloom remain on the grapes as long as possible since it helps extend their life. Furthermore, any additional moisture can hasten deterioration.
Best Way To Wash Grapes
It’s simple to forget the first crucial step in cleaning grapes: washing your hands.
It’s really simple to wash grapes after that.
Select the grapes you want to use by plucking them off of the stems and placing them in a colander.
After submerging the grapes in cool running water, gently shake them with your fingers to ensure that all sides receive a good shower.
You have two options if you want to remove the bloom that you see is still there:
- You may just rub the bloom off with your fingers, or
- Once the grapes are submerged in a large bowl of water, stir in two tablespoons of baking soda. After adding the grapes to the bowl, gently rub and agitate the skins with your fingers. (The exfoliating effect of the baking soda.) After returning the grapes to the colander, give them a quick rinse under cool running water.
Pat the cleaned grapes dry gently with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
Tips for Storing Grapes
Store grapes in their original packaging or in a produce storage container in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator before washing. If you don’t have either of those, you may either put the grapes in a well-ventilated container lined with paper towels and tuck it inside the crisper drawer, or you can place them on top of a paper towel placed on the bottom of the crisper drawer to prevent them from smashing.
Whatever container you use to preserve them, bear the following in mind:
- Because grapes can absorb smells, try to keep them away from fruit with thin skin and from scented fridge neighbors.
- If at all feasible, store at between 30 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity.
- Avoid separating them from the group.
It’s ideal to leave the bunches whole until you’re ready to wash and consume them because grapes preserve better when left on the stems.
Grapes are kept for three weeks in these conditions. Use our grape washing instructions right before you’re ready to eat the grapes, and then be creative.
Can You Freeze Grapes?
Freeze grapes for up to a year of even longer storage. As all-natural little ice pops, dilution-free ice cubes for drinks, or added sweetness and thickening power to any smoothie recipe, frozen grapes are a treat. Following the instructions for washing and drying grapes, arrange the clean grapes in a freezer-safe sheet pan or plate, leaving enough space between each to prevent them from sticking together. The grapes should be frozen after three hours in the freezer. After moving the frozen grapes to a zip-top bag that is safe to store in the freezer, remove as much air as you can, and seal them. The grapes can be kept in the freezer for up to a year after being dated- and labeled.
Read also: Habits to Practice Weekly For a Cleaner House