Is there anything better than fresh grapes? With their juicy, sweet, and tart flavor, they are an incredibly healthy snack that will satisfy your sweet cravings. To ensure your haul of grapes will stay fresh and yummy, follow this storage guide!

Do grapes need to be refrigerated? Grapes should be refrigerated immediately after purchase. They can only be kept out of the fridge for up to 3 hours. However, when refrigerated, grapes can last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The ideal storing temperature is between 32 and 40°F with 90 to 95% humidity.

To ensure your grapes don’t spoil prematurely, we are going to break down how to store grapes. The last thing you want is to buy a big bag of expensive grapes only for them to go bad! Follow our tips to learn how, where and what temperature to store your grapes.

How to Properly Store Grapes in the Fridge

Unless you are going to have a massive grape feast and eat them all in one day, you need to place them in the fridge to stop them from going rotten. The best temperature to store grapes is between 32 and 40°F with 90 to 95% humidity.

Placing your grapes in a specific place in your fridge is vital! Your grapes should not be placed at the front or in the door as the temperature can vary widely. The ideal place is in the fruit or vegetable draw.

Follow these steps to ensure your grapes stay fresh for weeks!

• Wash Your Grapes

Prior to eating or storing grapes, they need to be washed. Grapes often have soil and other residues on them. To give your grapes a deep wash, you should use a special solution which is 3 parts water and one part vinegar. Alternatively, you can buy a professional fruit washing liquid. To completely remove any residue, let your grapes sit in the wash for 30 seconds to 1 minute. If you soak them for too long, they will become overly soft.

Now you need to move your fingers over the grapes to get rid of any stubborn wax. Once soaked, rinse them with water and leave them to dry. Avoid wiping them dry as you may damage your lovely grapes!

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• Sort Your Grapes

There is no point storing already spoiled grapes. Off grapes could also damage your fresh grapes, so they need to be removed right away! To successfully sort your grapes, remove ones that have the following characteristics:

• Odd color
• Overly soft
• Mold
• Damaged  skin

If you spot any of these symptoms, send the offending grapes directly to the bin!

• Putting Grapes In the Container

Now you have lovely dry grapes, it is time to store them! We recommend using airtight containers as they protect your grapes from nasty bacteria and keep them moist. Place your grapes in the container but remember not to overfill the container as you could damage your precious grapes!

Another tip we recommend is making holes in your airtight container to add some ventilation. When you buy grapes, you will notice the bags also have little holes as some air keeps your grapes juicy and crisp for longer.

• Keep Your Grapes Dry

Grapes should be kept dry at all times! The only time your grapes should interact with water is when you initially clean them. To prevent moisture, we recommend throwing some paper towels to the bottom of your airtight container. Remember to change the paper towels every couple of days. By mopping up any excess moisture, your grapes will keep their lovely sweet flavor, and their skin will stay firm and crispy!

• Picking the Right Location in the Fridge

Did you know you can keep your grapes fresher for an additional 5 to 7 days by storing them in the right place in your fridge? Avoid placing your grapes in the door or right near the front of your refrigerator. The temperature jumps around too much and will lead to your grapes spoiling prematurely. The number 1 spot to store your grapes is in the vegetable or fruit draw. This stop will keep them cool, and the temperature is very consistent!

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How to Store Grapes For Longer Periods

You can freeze grapes to store them for longer periods. Frozen grapes can last for up to 12 months! Don’t wash your grapes prior to freezing, simply place them in an airtight container and put them in your freezer. To defrost, remove them from the freezer and place them in your fridge.

Did you know you can freeze grapes? Refrigerated grapes last for 2 to 3 weeks, but frozen grapes can last for 1 year! It is super easy to freeze grapes; just place them in an airtight container and throw them in your freezer. Just remember not to wash them as the water may cause a freezer burn on your precious grapes. When you feel like eating your frozen grapes, remove them from your freezer, place them in your refrigerator and wait until they are defrosted.

How Long Can Grapes Be Left Unrefrigerated?

Grapes can be left unrefrigerated for up to 3 hours. Grapes spoil very quickly when left at room temperature or higher and exposed to direct sunlight. However, when properly refrigerated, grapes can last for 2 to 3 weeks. 

Grapes go bad fast! Properly storing them in the fridge is vital. You don’t want to get sick from eating bad grapes. If you don’t plan to eat your grapes right away, they need to be placed in the fridge. You can usually get away with leaving grapes unrefrigerated for 3 hours.

Can grapes be stored at room temperature? Grapes can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 hours, any longer, and they are not safe to eat. To keep your grapes fresh, we recommend storing them in the fridge immediately at 32 to 40°F with 90 to 95% humidity.

Grapes should not be stored at room temperature as they can go bad within 3 hours. It can be dangerous to eat grapes that have been left at room temperature for more than 3 hours. To keep your grapes super sweet and yummy just place them in your fridge, and they will last for up to 3 weeks!

Are grapes safe to eat if not refrigerated? Nonrefrigerated grapes are only safe to consume if you eat them on the same day you buy them. Grapes should not be left out of the fridge for more than 3 hours. To keep them fresh for up to 3 weeks, store them in the fridge at 32 to 40°F with 90 to 95% humidity.

Unrefrigerated grapes are only safe to eat if you consume them immediately after purchasing them. Unrefrigerated grapes can spoil within 3 hours and should be avoided. Refrigerated grapes are safe to eat for up to 3 weeks, and frozen grapes are safe to eat for up to 12 months!

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Should store-bought grapes be refrigerated? All grapes, including store-bought grapes, should be refrigerated immediately after purchase. Grapes that have been left out of the fridge for more than 3 hours are not safe to consume. To keep your grapes fresh for up to 3 weeks, store them in the fridge at 32 to 40°F with 90 to 95% humidity.

Unfortunately, store-bought grapes don’t have any anti-spoiling powers and go bad rapidly if not refrigerated. Store-bought grapes are unsafe to eat if they have been left out of the fridge for 3 hours or more. If you want your grapes to last for weeks, place them in your fridge in an airtight container.

Final Thoughts

Grapes need to be refrigerated immediately after purchase and can spoil within hours of being left at room temperature. To properly store grapes, you need to thoroughly wash them and wait until they dry. Then place them in an airtight container with paper towels and put them in the vegetable and fruit draw at 32 to 40°F. If you follow this method, your grapes will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks!