How to store your grapes?

Nature can sometimes be generous, and now you find yourself overwhelmed with grape clusters in your garden. After all, doesn't the grape symbolise abundance? These small, sweet, sometimes tangy fruits are often enjoyed fresh but don't keep very long at room temperature. However, there are various methods of preservation and processing to enjoy them all year round. Discover how to store your grapes.

Before you begin:

We all know that pesticides are bad for our health. It's therefore best to choose grapes grown without phytosanitary products, organically or from your own vines.

Storing grapes in the fridge

Storage time: 5 days.

Method:

Place your grape clusters in the vegetable drawer of your fridge. To protect them from moisture, place them on absorbent paper or a clean cloth for a zero-waste approach. If you don't have a drawer, opt for an airtight container. Check your cluster from time to time, removing any damaged grapes. Take your grapes out of the fridge an hour before eating to release their flavour and aroma.

Storing grapes in a bottle

Storage time: up to 1 to 4 months

Method:

A simple method for long-term storage from a few weeks to several months.

1- Start by harvesting the grapes in the middle of a sunny day, with a piece of their woody climbing stem (branch).

2- Then remove any damaged berries with scissors, and take off a few others here and there to improve air circulation in the cluster.

3- Pour water into a glass bottle with a piece of activated charcoal.

4- Immerse the end of the woody climbing stem in the water, much like a bouquet of flowers, and let the cluster hang against the bottle. The storage time will be even better if the cluster is in a vacuum.

5- Then place the bottle and grapes away from light in a cool room (between 9 and 13°C), but without excessive humidity to avoid encouraging rot.

6- Regularly remove any damaged berries. You can then enjoy your grapes after several weeks and even up until Christmas under good storage conditions.

Note: To limit mould formation, the grape cluster should only be washed before consumption.

Storing grapes in preserving jars

Storage time: several months

Method:

This involves making a sterilised grape preserve, with syrup, much like you would preserve a fruit salad.

1- Wash the grapes and remove them from the clusters, then dry them in the sun or on a clean cloth.

2- Pour the grapes into a glass preserving jar (the ones with a rubber seal). Don’t forget to sterilise the jar and rubber seal before starting.

3- In a saucepan on the heat, bring 1 litre of water to the boil, dissolving 50g of granulated sugar in it.

4- Pour this boiling syrup directly over the grapes in the jars.

5- Then seal the jars and sterilise them by placing them in a large pot or steriliser filled with water. The water should boil for 20 minutes.

6- Your grapes will keep for several months before opening, and for a week in the fridge after opening.

Make raisins

Storage time: several months

Seedless grape varieties keep very well and for a long time when the berries are dried. Plus, raisins enhance yoghurts and cereals but are also delicious as an appetiser, for breakfast or as a dessert. There are countless recipes and dishes where they add flavour and indulgence: salads, tagines, couscous, cakes and other savoury treats! So, are you tempted?

→ Check out our tutorial: How to make raisins?

Other preservation ideas

There are plenty of recipes you can make with grapes to vary the flavours and pleasures, such as grape jam, grape juice or even the recipe for grape vinegar! And how can we forget delicious fruit pastes, tasty cakes, sweets and jellies, etc? Let your cravings and creativity run wild! You can also simply leave the clusters on the vine and pick them as you fancy over a good month. When the berries start to become overripe, it will be the birds' turn to delight in their flavours.