How to Wash Grapes the Right Way, According to Our Test Kitchen

Whether they’re concord or cotton candy, red globe or ruby, grapes are one of the best fruits to keep on-hand for snacking or using in recipes. But prior to grabbing a handful to pop in your mouth or into a recipe, it’s important to ensure they’re clean. So we tapped Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager, to walk us through why, when, and finally, how to wash and store grapes.

Before we dive in, a reminder about what to look for as you choose grapes: You’re seeking fruit that’s plump, round, firm, and blemish-free, with a tightly-attached stem and no strong aroma. Mushy, wrinkled, moldy, or acidic-smelling grapes should only be food for your compost.

Why You Should Wash Grapes 

As with any piece of produce in which you eat or slice through the skin, it’s wise to wash grapes to clean off any garden debris, pesticides, chemicals, or pathogens that might be present on the surface. 

Washing grapes also gives the fruit a boost in terms of its appearance. Many grapes build something called a “bloom” that essentially acts as an all-natural preservative for the fruit. 

“This thin, white, waxy substance helps protect the tender skin on the fruit,” Brekke explains, and keeps them fresh for a bit longer than if they were bloom-free. “While the bloom is technically safe to eat, it may taste bitter or feel chalky in the mouth, so we recommend washing this away.”

When to Wash Grapes

It might be tempting to clean the entire bunch as soon as you get home from the supermarket (or step inside after harvesting your home-grown grapes), your best bet is to “wash grapes just before using them to keep them fresh for as long as possible,” Brekke says.

That bloom helps maximize the lifespan of the grapes, so you’ll want to allow it to stay on the grapes for as long as possible. Plus, any extra moisture can speed up spoilage.

How to Wash Grapes to Ensure They’re Clean

The first essential step for how to wash grapes is one that’s easy to overlook: Washing your hands.

From there, washing grapes is quite easy.

Step 1: Pluck the grapes you plan to use from the stems and transfer them to a colander.

Step 2: Place the grapes under cool running water, then use your fingers to gently agitate the grapes so every side is able to enjoy a shower.

Step 3: If you notice the bloom still sticking around and would like to strip it away, you have two choices: 

• Simply use your fingers to rub the bloom off, or
• Fill a large bowl with enough water to cover the grapes, then add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add the grapes to the bowl, and use your fingers to carefully agitate and scrub the skins. (The baking soda acts as an exfoliant.) Transfer the grapes back to the colander, and rinse under cool running water.

Step 4: Using paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, gently pat the clean grapes dry.

How to Store Grapes

Before washing, store grapes in their original packaging or a produce storage container (Brekke and the Test Kitchen swear by the OXO GreenSaver Produce Keeper) in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. Or if you don’t have either of those, place the grapes on top of a paper towel situated on the bottom of the crisper drawer, if they won’t get smashed, or pop them in a paper towel-lined well-ventilated container, then tuck that inside the crisper. 

No matter what vessel you store them in, keep these pointers in mind:

• Aim to keep grapes away from thin-skinned fruit away from aromatic fridge neighbors, as they can soak up odors.
• Store between 30 to 32 degrees F and between about 90 to 95 percent humidity, if possible.
• Don’t pick them off from the bunch.

“Grapes stay better when left on the stems, so it’s best to keep the bunches intact until you are ready to wash and eat them,” Brekke adds.

Under these conditions, grapes can last up to 3 weeks. Just before you’re ready to enjoy the grapes, use our tips for how to wash grapes, then dig in.

Can You Freeze Grapes?

For even longer storage—up to 1 year—freeze grapes. Frozen grapes are a treat as all-natural mini ice pops, dilution-free ice cubes for drinks, or toss them into any smoothie recipe for extra sweetness and thickening power.

To freeze grapes, after going through the steps for how to wash grapes (including drying them), spread the clean grapes on a freezer-safe sheet pan or plate, allowing for enough space between each so they don’t stick together. Place the grapes in the freezer for 3 hours, or until frozen. Transfer the frozen grapes to a freezer-safe zip-top bag, press out as much air as possible, then seal. Label and date the grapes and store in the freezer for up to 12 months.