How to Wash and Store Grapes So They Stay Fresh

Spreading out our grocery shopping trips is one of the things I do in order to help my family stay within our grocery budget. That means I have to think about how long our food will last. I’ve found that by following my washing and storing techniques, the shelf life of grapes in my fridge for up to six weeks! 

Fresh grapes make the perfect crunchy, healthy snack so they’re something that we always have in hand. By taking just a few minutes to wash them when you get home from the grocery store, you can prolong how long they stay fresh.

This means you won’t waste any of those delicious grapes you just spent your hard-earned money on! You use these methods on green grapes, red grapes, or black grapes... it works the same for any of them. Below is the best way to wash and store grapes. 

How to Wash Grapes

1. Remove unwashed grapes from the plastic bags or other packaging.
2. Cut the bunches of grapes into smaller portions while leaving them on the stem. I call this a “grape cluster”. Cutting them into smaller clusters creates easy grab-and-go size portions for when you want a quick snack or for serving them to your family. When you leave the grapes on the stems they last longer. This is because the oxygen doesn’t get inside of the grapes and cause them to go bad.
3. Once your grapes are cut into clusters, place grapes in a large bowl and fill it with cool water. 
4. Add ¼ cup of 5% distilled white vinegar to the bowl. The vinegar will kill mold spores which prevents mold growth on fresh fruit. 
5. Set a timer for two minutes and let the grapes soak until the timer goes off.
6. Drain the grape clusters using a colander and rinse with water
7. Lay the grapes in a single layer on a clean towel at room temperature to dry.
8. Place the dry grapes in a glass airtight container when they are completely dry. I prefer a paper towel at the bottom of a gallon sized glass jar, like this one.
9. Put the lid on the jar and place it in your refrigerator.

It is normal for some condensation to build up inside of your airtight container. You can simply remove the lid and wipe out the excess moisture with a paper towel or clean towel. I talk about condensation in this YouTube video. 

How To Store Grapes That Fall Off The Stems

If there are any loose grapes, I put them in a separate container to eat first. They will go bad faster and you don’t want them mixing with the grapes in the glass jar. Leave the bowl in the front of your fridge, or if it is only a few, on the counter where it’s easy to see. I have taught my family to eat the fruit in bowls first which prevents us from having any waste.

Follow this washing process and these proper storage techniques and and you will be amazed at how long your grapes will last! 

If you want to learn how to wash 75 produce items all in one place, check out my Zero Waste Produce Guide. This hardcover book has produce instructions, recipes, organization tips, and more! You can get it at TheCrossLegacyShop.com. 

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