When you’ve purchased a fresh package of grapes, you may get home and wonder whether or not you should leave them out on the countertop or refrigerate them. It comes down to when you’re planning on eating them.
If you plan to leave your grapes on the counter, ensure that you eat them within a couple of days. Anything longer than this and they have the potential to go bad before you can enjoy them. Putting grapes in the fridge prolongs their freshness and you can enjoy them throughout the week.
There are a few other key tips to consider when storing grapes, such as keeping them on the stem. If you wash them before storing them, they’re likely to go bad more quickly due to the increased moisture content.
How Long Can You Keep Grapes At Room Temperature?
Grapes keep well on the countertop at room temperature for 2-4 days. Anything longer than this and you should consider storing them in another manner, such as in the refrigerator in order for them to stay fresh.
If you keep grapes on the countertop at room temperate for too long, they will go bad and become soft and unpleasant to consume. When you know that you’re not going to eat them within a day or two, it’s best to go ahead and store them at a cooler temperature right away.
Keep in mind, the grapes at the grocery store have usually been sitting out at room temperature. This means that the clock has already started and it’s difficult to say if they’ve been sitting out for a day or two already, which quickens their pace to going bad.
When you get them home, proceed to wash them and store them as you see fit. If they still feel firm to the touch, they may be able to handle a length of time on the countertop. However, if they already feel a bit soft, straight into the fridge is the recommendation.
If you don’t want to eat cold grapes, you can simply refrigerate them and then remove them from the fridge an hour or two before you want to snack on them. This allows them to come down to room temperature, while also keeping them fresh and firm.
How Can You Tell If Grapes Have Gone Bad?
When grapes go bad, there are a few obvious visual signs that consumers can look for to avoid eating a rotten grape. Often, they become soft, shriveled, and may become discolored. They may have mold spots as well, in which case you should toss them out.
If your grapes have taken on a sour, vinegar-like odor, this also means that they’ve gone bad. Always do a visual and smell inspection of your fruit before consuming it, as this can provide you with the confidence to eat or toss out the produce and start over if need be.
Ripe grapes should be firm and bounce back if you press down on them lightly. They should either be green, purple, or red, depending on which variety you purchased. Some types of grapes may go bad quicker than others, so keep this in mind as you’re choosing your variety.
If the grapes look brownish, this is a clear sign that they’re past their best-by date and you’ll want to toss them out. Squishy and shriveled grapes and unpleasant to eat and may have an off taste to them that is not ideal for snacking on.
Eating grapes is a great way to get extra vitamin C into your diet, so you’ll want to eat them before they go off. Nobody likes grabbing the bowl of grapes only to see they’ve become unappetizing.
If you have purchased your grapes in a bunch, the entire bunch should have a uniform color. If some sections are good and some look bad, you can separate them and try to preserve the ones that still look good to eat while tossing the rest.
Can You Get Food Poisoning From Eating Bad Grapes?
Food poisoning is a serious concern once you’ve even bad food and it’s something that many people go through at least once during their lifetimes. It’s unavoidable in some cases but often, you can visually inspect your food at home to ensure that it’s safe to eat.
If the grapes you purchased at the store weren’t handled correctly and were not washed thoroughly before consumption, you may be at risk of getting food poisoning. Eating rotten grapes can enable bad bacteria to gain entry into your system and make you sick.
Even if your bunch of grapes looks to be perfectly edible, you’ll want to wash them before eating. It’s recommended to do this even if the package says that they’ve been pre-washed. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to fresh produce.
Washing your fruit can prevent any bacteria that was picked up from the field or the store from being transported to your body. This is an easy step that helps greatly decrease the likelihood of food poisoning.
It’s important to be aware of the common signs of food poisoning, such as an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and a fever. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to hydrate and rest. Luckily, food poisoning is often mild and can be treated at home.
Grapes also have a high likelihood of having pesticides sprayed on them while they’re in the field, which is another reason you should always be washing them.
How Should You Store Grapes?
Grapes do best when kept at a cooler temperature, such as in your refrigerator. If your fridge has a crisper drawer, even better! Throw the grapes into the drawer and they should last much longer than they would on the countertop.
Keep in mind, that when you’re storing grapes you should keep them separate from smelly foods. They absorb odors, so placing them next to garlic or onions could negatively impact their overall flavor profile.
If you’ve noticed that your grapes come in a plastic bag full of holes, this is for a very good reason. It allows the grapes to stay well-ventilated and dry.
If stored in a tightly sealed bag, moisture can form and it can allow the grapes to go bad faster.
Once you get them home, you can either leave them in the original bag or place them into a ventilated container of your choosing. You don’t want to put a lid on the container, as this will create an airtight seal.
When you wash your grapes before storing them, you’ll want to allow them time to dry completely before putting them up. Even then, you can place a paper towel layer into the container that will absorb any excess leftover moisture from the fruit.
Do Grapes Last Longer If Left On The Stem?
When you’re purchasing grapes that are in a bunch, a common question is whether or not you should pluck them off individually or leave them as is.
It may seem easier to eat them if they’re already plucked, especially when you want a quick grab-and-go snack.
However, leaving the grapes on the stem can allow them to last for a longer period of time. If you’re packing your child’s lunch, you can pluck them off as they’ll be eaten within a few hours and they won’t have time to go bad.
If you’re storing grapes in your fridge and want them to last for the week, you should leave them on the stem. Plucking them as you eat them is a fairly easy process and shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying this nutritious snack.
Grapes on the stem are able to stay drier, as the stem keeps them separated from each other as opposed to sitting on top of each other. This allows ideal air circulation, which is key for keeping produce fresh for a longer period of time.
Leaving grapes with the stem on and not washing them before refrigerating them can allow them to last for up to two weeks! More often than not, you’ll have eaten them long before this.