Should You Wash Grapes Before Storing Them?

"These bags may look simple, but Sharma explained they're actually small wonders of engineering. The perforated holes regulate the humidity inside the bag, allowing moisture to wick from the grapes without drying them out. The grapes we purchased came with an absorbent pad on the bottom of the bag; this helps prevent the grapes from sitting in still, puddled water, which, according to Sharma, can accelerate rotting."

"For this test, I rinsed the grapes under cold running water upon returning from the store, dried them with a clean kitchen towel, and placed them on a plate in the fridge. Grapes stored this way fared significantly worse than the control group. At the end of the week, this bunch had a mushier texture and showed signs of spoilage, like wrinkled skins and discoloration."

Six storage strategies were compared. A bunch left in its original perforated store bag with an absorbent pad remained plump, juicy, and free of mold after a week. Perforated holes regulate humidity and allow moisture to wick from grapes without drying them, while absorbent pads prevent fruit from sitting in puddled water that accelerates rotting. Rinsing grapes under cold water, drying them, and storing them on a plate produced mushier texture, wrinkling, and discoloration within a week. Washing damages the grape bloom and can shorten shelf life. Placing a paper towel under grapes can mimic an absorbent pad when needed.

Read at Bon Appetit