Grapes-Tips

Tips for Selection and Storage:

Selection: Selection of a good quality product is pivotal if you are looking at reaping maximum benefits from it. As far as grapes are concerned, always choose those fruits that are plump, unblemished, evenly coloured and firmly attached to the stem. The best way to ensure that you are buying fresh grapes is to hold the bunch by its stem and shake them. If the grapes fall from the stem, it means that they have been stored for a long time and if they remain firmly attached, they are fresh. Bunches are held together if the stem is green. Green or white grapes are the sweetest if they have a yellowish colour with a tinge of amber while red grapes should be deeply coloured with no green areas. Sometimes grapes have a white coating on their surface. This coating, known as bloom, is a harmless natural substance that provides protection against the loss of moisture, fungus and decay. Avoid grapes with a soft or wrinkled skin or stems that are brown or brittle. This might be signs of freezing or drying. Grapes with bleached areas around the stem or leaking berries should also be avoided as they indicate poor quality or decay. It is a healthier choice to buy organic grapes as the ones grown conventionally are laden with harmful pesticides.

Storage: Apart from selection, proper storage of the grapes is also a pre requisite for keeping the fruits fresh and avoiding any injury or decay. Unwashed grapes should be kept in a plastic bag or airtight container and stored in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Grapes can be stored up to a week but their quality diminishes with time. Wash them well before serving.

Tips for Usage:

Eating:

Grapes like a few other fruits can be consumed either when fresh or frozen. Grapes should be removed from the refrigerator 30 minutes before eating to bring them to an ideal temperature of about 60F. Here are a few tips to serve fresh grapes:

Serving chilled grapes on a platter with a few varieties of cheese is an easy alternative for a fancy dessert.
Place some red grapes in a scooped half of a green honeydew melon and top it with yoghurt. Pairing this with toasted muffins makes for a nutritious breakfast. In addition to snacks, grapes can also form part of your meals. Try adding chilled grapes to pastas, chicken, sweet potato, fish, salads or pies. It can be served alongside a crusty bread or rolls.
Grapes along with cheese, sliced sweet onions and fresh thyme can be used as a topping on rolled puff pastry, and baked.
You can drop a few frozen grapes in champagne and other bubbly drinks. Grapes can suitably form part of ice-creams sodas, cocktails and sorbets.