How To Properly Wash Grapes
Learn how to clean and wash grapes so that they stay their best until you're ready to eat them.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Grapes are beloved because they are sweet and delicious, but also a healthy and convenient bite-sized snack perfect for packing in a lunch box or enjoying while you're on a road trip or commute. They come in many varieties and can be enjoyed in everything from jams and jellies to our favorite fruit salad.
An important consideration when buying this fruit is that you must clean and store them appropriately so they are at their freshest and best tasting for as long as possible. You want grapes that are crisp and juicy and full of flavor, and that all comes down to a few important steps at the outset.
Meet Our Expert
Brent Demarest is the produce and floral field support team leader at Whole Foods Market. Brent is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
William Dissen is the James Beard-nominated chef and owner of The Market Place restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
How To Wash Grapes
When you are ready to enjoy eating those grapes, they will have to be cleaned first, and that is an easy step-by-step process:
Rinse the grapes. To clean the grapes, the important first step is to give them a good rinse. You do this by placing the grapes into a colander in the sink. "Turn on your faucet and run cool water over the grapes. Move the grapes around with your hand so that they are cleaned," says William Dissen, a James Beard-nominated chef and owner of The Market Place restaurant in Asheville.
Soak the grapes. After rinsing, let them soak for a little bit to make sure everything gets a good clean. "You can soak your grapes in water for about five to 10 minutes. Then, toss them around in a bowl, and gently rub and rinse them," said Dissen.
Remove the bloom. This is the waxy whitish coating on grapes, and if you want to remove it during the rinsing process, this is when you'll do that. (It is safe to eat, however.) "If you want to remove the natural white bloom on the grapes, you can sprinkle baking soda, and/or salt over the grapes in the colander, then gently scrub them with your hands. This treatment of exfoliation will remove the bloom and make the grapes shine," said Dissen.
Rinse again and dry. Now, give the grapes another good rinse, and you are good to go. "Rinse off the baking soda and/or salt thoroughly with cool water. After rinsing, dry the grapes in the colander with a clean dish towel or paper towel," said Dissen. Don't skip the drying part because you don't want mushy grapes when you are ready to eat them—which is next!
When Should You Wash Grapes?
Only wash grapes right before you are planning to eat them. If you wash them too early, the excess moisture could invite bacteria growth, which will speed up decay.
Why Should You Wash Grapes?
As with any other produce, food safety is improved with grapes if we take a bit of time to clean them before enjoying them.
"Cleaning grapes removes pesticides or any contaminants that could occur while being grown or transported. All fruit should be washed before eating," says Demarest.
How To Store Grapes
Storing grapes is as simple as simple can be: Because the best thing you can do is… nothing at all. "Storing raw grapes in the refrigerator is best, and if they are unwashed, this will help conserve shelf life," says Brent Demarest, a produce and floral field support team leader at Whole Foods Market.
Instead, store the grapes in the fridge and wait to rinse them until you're ready to eat them or use them in a recipe.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Where To Store Grapes in the Fridge
Grapes like a little humidity and to stay cold, so Dissen recommends keeping them in the bag you bought them in and keeping them cold in the crisper drawer in your refrigerator.
"It typically has a little more humidity than keeping it out on an open shelf in the fridge," said Dissen.
How To Store Cooked Grapes
Cooked grapes will be cleaned beforehand in the same method as raw grapes but stored a little differently. "After cooking the grapes, allow them to cool to room temperature and then place them into a sanitized container, and keep covered in the refrigerator for up to three days," said Dissen.
Related: Grape Pie
Can You Freeze Grapes Without Washing Them First?
You can freeze grapes, but for the best crisp, snappy grapes, you should plan to freeze grapes soon after you get them, not down the road when they begin to wrinkle and turn soft. And before you freeze them, go ahead and was them.
"Place the cleaned grapes into a freezer ziplock bag. Remove as much air as possible, and tightly seal the bag. Keep frozen for up to six months," says Dissen.
Frozen grapes also make a delicious cold treat during hot summer months. If you will be enjoying them frozen, you'll of course clean them first by washing the grapes and placing them on a tray with parchment or wax paper. Once frozen, you can remove from the tray and place them in a zipped bag. This is also a fun way to enjoy chocolate-covered grapes as a dessert treat.
How Long Can Grapes Sit Out?
There are no food safety concerns with grapes sitting out, but as they are a fresh fruit, the expected chain of events will occur. These grapes will begin to break down and decay more quickly when sitting out than if they are in the fridge.
"Grapes can typically sit out for about two days before going bad. I recommend they not sit out more than two hours to preserve shelf life," says Demarest.
Do I Need To Remove the Stems Before Cleaning Grapes?
You can wash grapes with stems on, but it may be easier to remove the steps before cleaning than after—so it all comes down to your preference and time.
Is Cleaning Organic Grapes Different?
It may seem like organic grapes are going to need less cleaning consideration than non-organic grapes, but they will need to be cleaned as well.
"With all organic products, there are no pesticides being used, but they still gather dust and dirt in the process of harvesting, packing, and shipping, so it's best to also clean organic grapes," says Dissen.
Related: How To Store Lemons So They Stay Fresh Longer
Things To Consider When Cleaning Grapes
Remember that when cleaning grapes, anything you use to clean them will also be something you may ingest. So skip the soaps or detergents as you don't want to eat that.
"Avoid soap as it can leave residue, and avoid soaking in the sink as the sink may contain contaminants," said Demarest. (Instead, use a clean bowl.)
Related: 6 Types of Produce You Should Always Wash But Might Not Be
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Grapes
We all know how our fingers get pruny if we soak them too long, the same is true for fruit. Soaking grapes too long may lead to mushy grapes.
"Soaking them for too long, using very hot water, or using detergent or soap to clean the grapes," said Dissen.
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