Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks: Fresh grapes are one of the most loved snacks in summer, and you can extend their shelf life by weeks if you know the proper way to store them.
Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks
There is nothing better than juicy grapes to snack on during the summer as they tend to be a lot cheaper in stores at this time of year, but the only downside is that they spoil quickly.
Grapes tend to go bad or even mouldy only after a few days because they have a high water content and thin skin layer which makes them more susceptible to bacteria.
Luckily, Amy Cross, a food storage expert and founder of the cooking website The Cross Legacy, has shared that storing grapes properly in the fridge will keep them fresh for up to six weeks.
Amy said: “Grapes make the perfect crunchy snack so they’re something that we always have in hand.
Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks: “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!”
How to store grapes so they keep fresh for much longer
Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks: All you need to do is wash the grapes as soon as you get them home from the store and cut the stem branches into smaller potions while still keeping them attracted to the fruit.
Amy said: “When you leave the grapes on the stems they last longer. This is because the oxygen doesn’t get inside of the grapes and causes them to go bad.”
Once you have cut them into more manageable positions, place the grapes into a large bowl with cool water, and then add 240ml of white vinegar to the bowl.
It may seem strange but the acetic acid vinegar has natural antimicrobial properties that will completely kill the growth of any bacteria, mould or any other residue on the grapes.
Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks: Soaking the grapes for a limited time will prevent them from tasting like vinegar so it is important to be careful and only wash the grapes in the vinegar-water solution for a maximum of two minutes.
Amy said: “This next step is key, set a timer for two minutes and let the grapes soak until the timer goes off When the timer goes off, drain the grape clusters using a colander and give them a good rinse.”
Keeping grapes fresh for 6 weeks: Once the grapes have been properly washed, place them in a single layer of a clean tea towel or paper towel and leave them for a few hours at room temperature to dry.
When they are completely dry, place the grape stems in a large airtight glass container with a lid, which will prevent bacteria from being able to get into the grapes.
Amy said: “It is important to store 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.”
Glass is a non-reactive material which means it does to interact with the food inside it like plastic does so the fruit will stay preserved for much longer.
