How to Choose Grapes
Examine the grape texture., Look at the skin on the grapes., Check the stem., Determine if grapes are in season., Choose a slightly sweeter grape for eating., Select a very sweet or tart grape for making jam., Pick a wine grape that suits your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Examine the grape texture.
Ripe, healthy grapes should be firm and plump on all sides.
If a grape is shriveled where the stem meets the fruit or if there are any signs of moldiness, the grapes are not in good condition.
You should also avoid grapes that have excess moisture inside the bag, as this is often a sign that the grapes may be susceptible to mold or rot., The best grapes will have a healthy shade to the skin.
Ripe red grapes should have a dark purple hue, as any signs of green indicate that red grapes are not yet ripe.
Ripe black grapes should have a full, rich shade of bluish-black, and green grapes should have a yellowish hue.In addition to skin tone, healthy grapes should also have a light silver-colored dusting on the skin called bloom.
Bloom is commonly mistaken for dirt, but it's actually the plant's way of protecting the fruit from drying out or rotting., The stem of a healthy grape cluster should be green and flexible.
If the stem is brown or brittle, the grapes may be old or poorly-grown.You should also make sure that the majority of grapes are securely attached to the stem, as this is considered a sign of healthy, well-grown grapes., The climate in which a grape variety is grown will affect when it ripens and how it tastes.
The majority of each type of grape (green, red, and black) generally tend to ripen in the same part of the growing season.
There are exceptions, of course, and each type's growing season may vary somewhat, depending on where they are grown.Green grapes typically ripen in the middle of the growing season.
Ripe green grapes should have a yellowish hue to the skin.Red grapes tend to ripen fairly early in the growing season, though there are some exceptions.
Ripe red grapes should have a dark reddish-purplish hue without any signs of green.
Black grapes generally ripen in the early to middle part of the growing season.
Ripe black grapes should have a rich violet hue to the skin. , Grapes can vary significantly in sweetness from one type to another.
In general, though, most people choose sweeter grapes if they're being used as table grapes (for eating as they are).Canadice, Concord, Himrod, Mars, Neptune, Niagara, Reliance, and Thompson Seedless are among the most commonly-purchased table grapes found in stores. , When choosing grapes to make jam with, you may want to opt for a grape that's sweeter than what you would pick for table eating.
For this reason, many jam makers prefer muscadine grapes for a sweeter jam, though others do prefer a more tart grape for a more balanced jam profile.Beta grapes and Chambourcin grapes make a good tart jam, while something more saccharin like Van Buren grapes would be ideal for a sweeter jam.
Most wine grapes can also be used for making juice and jam, and they tend to range from very dry to very sweet.
Which type you choose will depend largely on your taste preferences. , Wine grapes (which are also frequently used for making juice and jam) range dramatically in flavor, from very dry to very sweet.
Which grape you choose to make wine or juice with will depend entirely on what flavor profile you're looking for.Cayuga, Chardonel, Moore's Diamond, and Riesling grapes are all good choices for a dry wine or juice.
Canadice, Catawba, Jupiter, LaCrosse, and Muscat grapes will produce a sweeter wine or juice.
Some people like both sweet and dry wines, depending on the meal that wine is being served with.
Try experimenting with different types of grapes and different flavor profiles to find a grape that works best for your needs. , It's important to wash grapes before eating them to ensure that you remove any bacteria and pesticides.
However, storing wet grapes is more likely to lead to mold and rot.Instead of washing the whole bag, it's best to just remove however many grapes you need for one serving and wash only those grapes.
When you do wash grapes, you can simply rinse them under clean, cool water from the faucet.
Place washed grapes on a plate with paper towels to prevent water from spilling as you snack on them. , The bags that grapes are sold in are specially designed to protect the fruit while simultaneously allowing the grapes to breathe.
These ventilation holes also allow any moisture to escape so that the grapes do not get moldy or go bad as quickly as they would in an unventilated bag.While sealable sandwich bags are great for storing some foods, it's best to store grapes in a bag that lets the fruit breathe unless you plan on freezing them. , Grapes keep best in a cool to cold environment.
If you're storing them for a short period of time, keep grapes in the back of the refrigerator and set the temperature to around 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius).If you're planning on using frozen grapes in a smoothie or simply want to store them for prolonged periods of time, you can store them in the freezer.
Simply wash, dry, and de-stem the grapes, and they're ready for the freezer. -
Step 2: Look at the skin on the grapes.
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Step 3: Check the stem.
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Step 4: Determine if grapes are in season.
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Step 5: Choose a slightly sweeter grape for eating.
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Step 6: Select a very sweet or tart grape for making jam.
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Step 7: Pick a wine grape that suits your tastes.
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Step 8: Store grapes without washing them.
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Step 9: Keep grapes in their original packaging.
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Step 10: Chill grapes in the refrigerator or freezer.
Detailed Guide
Ripe, healthy grapes should be firm and plump on all sides.
If a grape is shriveled where the stem meets the fruit or if there are any signs of moldiness, the grapes are not in good condition.
You should also avoid grapes that have excess moisture inside the bag, as this is often a sign that the grapes may be susceptible to mold or rot., The best grapes will have a healthy shade to the skin.
Ripe red grapes should have a dark purple hue, as any signs of green indicate that red grapes are not yet ripe.
Ripe black grapes should have a full, rich shade of bluish-black, and green grapes should have a yellowish hue.In addition to skin tone, healthy grapes should also have a light silver-colored dusting on the skin called bloom.
Bloom is commonly mistaken for dirt, but it's actually the plant's way of protecting the fruit from drying out or rotting., The stem of a healthy grape cluster should be green and flexible.
If the stem is brown or brittle, the grapes may be old or poorly-grown.You should also make sure that the majority of grapes are securely attached to the stem, as this is considered a sign of healthy, well-grown grapes., The climate in which a grape variety is grown will affect when it ripens and how it tastes.
The majority of each type of grape (green, red, and black) generally tend to ripen in the same part of the growing season.
There are exceptions, of course, and each type's growing season may vary somewhat, depending on where they are grown.Green grapes typically ripen in the middle of the growing season.
Ripe green grapes should have a yellowish hue to the skin.Red grapes tend to ripen fairly early in the growing season, though there are some exceptions.
Ripe red grapes should have a dark reddish-purplish hue without any signs of green.
Black grapes generally ripen in the early to middle part of the growing season.
Ripe black grapes should have a rich violet hue to the skin. , Grapes can vary significantly in sweetness from one type to another.
In general, though, most people choose sweeter grapes if they're being used as table grapes (for eating as they are).Canadice, Concord, Himrod, Mars, Neptune, Niagara, Reliance, and Thompson Seedless are among the most commonly-purchased table grapes found in stores. , When choosing grapes to make jam with, you may want to opt for a grape that's sweeter than what you would pick for table eating.
For this reason, many jam makers prefer muscadine grapes for a sweeter jam, though others do prefer a more tart grape for a more balanced jam profile.Beta grapes and Chambourcin grapes make a good tart jam, while something more saccharin like Van Buren grapes would be ideal for a sweeter jam.
Most wine grapes can also be used for making juice and jam, and they tend to range from very dry to very sweet.
Which type you choose will depend largely on your taste preferences. , Wine grapes (which are also frequently used for making juice and jam) range dramatically in flavor, from very dry to very sweet.
Which grape you choose to make wine or juice with will depend entirely on what flavor profile you're looking for.Cayuga, Chardonel, Moore's Diamond, and Riesling grapes are all good choices for a dry wine or juice.
Canadice, Catawba, Jupiter, LaCrosse, and Muscat grapes will produce a sweeter wine or juice.
Some people like both sweet and dry wines, depending on the meal that wine is being served with.
Try experimenting with different types of grapes and different flavor profiles to find a grape that works best for your needs. , It's important to wash grapes before eating them to ensure that you remove any bacteria and pesticides.
However, storing wet grapes is more likely to lead to mold and rot.Instead of washing the whole bag, it's best to just remove however many grapes you need for one serving and wash only those grapes.
When you do wash grapes, you can simply rinse them under clean, cool water from the faucet.
Place washed grapes on a plate with paper towels to prevent water from spilling as you snack on them. , The bags that grapes are sold in are specially designed to protect the fruit while simultaneously allowing the grapes to breathe.
These ventilation holes also allow any moisture to escape so that the grapes do not get moldy or go bad as quickly as they would in an unventilated bag.While sealable sandwich bags are great for storing some foods, it's best to store grapes in a bag that lets the fruit breathe unless you plan on freezing them. , Grapes keep best in a cool to cold environment.
If you're storing them for a short period of time, keep grapes in the back of the refrigerator and set the temperature to around 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius).If you're planning on using frozen grapes in a smoothie or simply want to store them for prolonged periods of time, you can store them in the freezer.
Simply wash, dry, and de-stem the grapes, and they're ready for the freezer.
About the Author
Joseph Kelly
Creates helpful guides on home improvement to inspire and educate readers.
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