How to Store Grapes So They Stay Crisp, According to Experts

If you’re like the average American, chances are high that you stock grapes in your kitchen fairly often. Grapes are the fourth most popular fruit in the United States, falling just behind bananas, berries, and apples, but do you know how to store grapes to maximize their freshness and flavor?

Poppable, portable, sweet, and versatile, grapes are great for snacking, adding to salads, and slathering on a sandwich in jelly form alongside nut butter. However, if you don’t know the best practices for storing grapes, your fruit may lose some of its refreshingly crisp qualities and spoil more quickly than when properly stored. Thanks to our Test Kitchen experts, we’ve gathered tips on how to store grapes, as well as how to select a good bunch and how to extend the life of the fruit if you have a bunch you don’t think you’ll get to in time.

How to Choose Grapes

One bad grape truly can spoil the bunch—mold on one grape can spread to the rest—so be sure to shop or pick wisely to maximize the life span of your grapes. When selecting grapes, look for:

• Fruit that’s round, plump, firm, and mold-free. Discard any mushy or wrinkled grapes. While mold is a sign to toss the grapes in a compost bin, a thin white film on each grape is acceptable. Many grapes showcase “bloom,” a natural waxy coating that preserves them longer than if they were film-free. It rinses off easily when you wash the grapes.
• A firmly attached stem. Grapes connected to dry and brittle stems tend to fall off the bunch easily and may spoil at a more rapid rate. 
• The proper color. Avoid brown grapes, and don’t let the hue-based names confuse you. “Green grapes” should be slightly yellow, “red grapes” are best when purple-red (with no signs of green patches), and “black grapes” are ideal when deep purple.
• The absence of an aroma. When grapes go bad, they often smell like vinegar or have an acidic odor. Fresh grapes generally don’t emit a scent.

How to Store Grapes

The most important thing to know about how to store grapes is that they must be kept in the refrigerator. Storing grapes on the counter is one of the quickest ways for them to spoil. Instead of keeping grapes at room temperature, the California Table Grape Commission advises that grapes should be refrigerated immediately once you bring them inside from the grocery store or garden.

“Grapes need high humidity and good air circulation,” says Chris Meyer, Dotdash Meredith Test Kitchen administrative assistant, about how to store grapes. This produce pick does best when stored between 30°F and 32°F and at a relative humidity of about 90% to 95%, according to the California Table Grape Commission.

Properly store grapes by placing a bagged or boxed bunch in the refrigerator crisper drawer. If you no longer have the packaging or plucked your grapes from a tree, place the fruit inside the crisper drawer in a well-ventilated container or on top of a clean paper towel. The thin-skinned fruit can absorb odors from nearby aromatic fridge-mates, so try to keep them away from ramps, onions, leeks, cut garlic, or strong-smelling leftovers.

While you could wash the grapes immediately, pat them dry, and store them in the fridge, this can speed up spoilage, as excess moisture accelerates decay. Instead, rinse the grapes with cool water just before using them for snacking, sharing, cooking, or baking. If desired, transfer the grapes to a colander to corral them so you don’t sacrifice any fruit down the drain during the cleaning process.

How Long Do Grapes Last? 

“Refrigerated grapes can last up to three weeks,” Meyer says. Need more time? “Frozen grapes can last up to one year.”

To freeze grapes, first remove the fruit from the stems, then rinse and dry. Spread the clean grapes on a freezer-safe baking pan or plate, allowing ample space between each grape so they don’t stick together. Place the grapes in the freezer for approximately three hours or until they are frozen solid. Then, transfer the frozen grapes to a freezer-safe zip-top bag or an airtight container, removing as much extra air as possible before sealing the vessel and storing them for up to 12 months.

“If you have grapes in abundance, they’re a great addition to smoothies—especially once frozen,” suggests Lynn Blanchard, Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen director. Alternatively, you can use frozen grapes as dilution-free ice cubes in cocktails, white wine, or rosé, or spirit-free mixed drinks. Or pop frozen grapes as a snack on their own. After a taste test, members of Team BHG agree that frozen grapes are reminiscent of ice pops.