You should store grapes in the refrigerator though, since grapes do best in the cold. As the experts from the California Table Grape Commission explain, the optimal storage conditions for grapes is 30-32°F with high humidity, about 90-95 percent.
Yes, grapes need to be refrigerated in order to stay fresh and preserve their flavor. Grapes are highly perishable and can easily spoil if left at room temperature for too long.
Grapes in clamshells and other containers should always be refrigerated. When grapes are refrigerated on display and not over-stacked, they can be displayed for up to 72 hours before visible shrink occurs.
Fruits That Should Not Be Stored in the Refrigerator
Apricots, Asian pears, avocado, bananas, guava, kiwis, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, pawpaw, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, plantain, plums, starfruit, soursop, and quince will continue to ripen if left out on the counter.
Unrinsed stem-on grapes fared best, lasting nearly two weeks before starting to decay. In fact, as long as we periodically inspected the bunches and removed any decaying grapes, most of them—both red and white samples—kept for an entire month. In sum: Don't pull grapes from their stems before refrigeration.
Store Grapes In the Fridge
Your refrigerator is the best place to keep fresh grapes. They thrive at about 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit with 90-95% humidity, so go ahead and throw them in the back of your crisper drawer (it's usually the coldest place in the fridge).
Ripen fruit at room temperature. Once they are ripe, refrigerate. Apples, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, tangerines and watermelon are received ripe and should be refrigerated.
To clarify, the whitish film you often see on grapes isn't from pesticides; it's called "bloom," a waxy coating produced by the plant itself to protect the fruit. While the bloom is safe to eat, it can taste bitter and chalky, so we suggest thoroughly washing your grapes, whether or not they're organic.
What is the problem with eating unwashed grapes? Unwashed produce may not look dirty, but viruses and bacteria—including salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria—could be on the surface, according to the CDC. 1 Those germs could cause a nasty foodborne illness if you eat them.
If you notice a white coating on your grapes, they are still good to eat. This is called bloom and is a naturally occurring substance that protects grapes from losing moisture and decay.
The Best Way To Store Grapes
After washing the bunches and gently patting the grapes dry, place them in a well ventilated container such as a colander or a reusable plastic container with vents, and then put this in the back of the crisper drawer.
Once cut or peeled, fresh produce should be refrigerated within 2 hours. If it is left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, throw it away. Remember: To prevent foodborne illness, buy good-quality fruits and vegetables, store them properly and wash them thoroughly.
Grapes. Another fruit bowl favourite, grapes will keep fresher for longer when stored in the fridge.
The ideal place to store bananas is on the countertop, where they can ripen naturally. You can refrigerate bananas once they've achieved your ideal level of ripeness; however, refrigerating bananas too soon or for too long can have detrimental effects on your bunch.
Minimize Moisture
Covering your grapes is key to preventing them from going bad faster than usual. Store grapes in a shallow dish or bowl, with a paper towel or a single layer of paper towels on top of them; the paper towel will absorb moisture and keep your fruit from spoiling too quickly.
Use cool, running water: we always recommend washing grapes under cool, running water – either by placing them in a colander or holding them in your hand. While washing, it's wise to remove any grapes that are broken or show signs of decay. Rinse for about 30 seconds to a minute.
Apples are safe at room temperature, but their higher ethylene content contributes to faster ripening. Apples stored in the refrigerator can last for several weeks. Cut produce is more susceptible to pathogens, so storing in the refrigerator can limit pathogen growth.
Freezing brings out a grape's natural sweetness and crunch. The coolness is particularly welcome on hot summer days, but frozen grapes make for an easy, healthy snack year-round.
Storing fruit in the fridge
Most fresh fruit, including apples, berries and grapes, will last longer if kept in their original packaging and stored in the crisper of your fridge. Berries can last in the fridge for about a week. It's a good idea to eat as soon as possible so they don't spoil.
You can leave blueberries at room temperature if you plan to eat them in the next day or so, but after that you should transfer them to the fridge—they can stay there for five to 10 days. Of course, you can freeze them if you want to keep them longer than that.
Choose the right container: Storing grapes in an airtight container or plastic bag is not ideal for maintaining their freshness because it blocks circulation. Consider keeping the grapes in their original, ventilated packaging with space between them and direct airflow.
The easiest way to store grapes is to place them, unwashed, into an airtight container and put them in your refrigerator. They can last for just over a week this way, but there are some ways to improve that.
Store them unwashed: grapes should not be rinsed before storing them. Any extra moisture from washing will speed up the decay process. Simply remove what you need from the original bag or punnet and rinse when you are ready to enjoy your grapes.