Grapes are a delicious, healthy snack that can be served on fruit trays, or be used as a side for a picnic. If your local grocery store is having a great sale, you may be wondering if you can stock up or if they go bad.

Quick Answer

Like other fresh produce, grapes can and do go bad fairly quickly. Grapes will only last for about 2 to 4 days if left on the counter at room temperature. If you store your grapes in the refrigerator, they can be good for about 5 to 10 days. If you store your grapes in the freezer, they can be good for about 10 to 12 months. This information applies to most colors and varieties of grapes.

Proper storage of your product is very important in helping it maintain its freshness. It is no different when it comes to keeping grapes fresh.

Do Grapes Go Bad? How Long Do Grapes Last?

Grapes do go bad and the amount of time in which that happens depends greatly on how they are stored. Read on to learn how long grapes last under different storage conditions.

How Long Do Grapes Last Outside?

Grapes are a very delicate fruit and should not be stored at room temperature. When stored at room temperature, they can get soft and moldy.

Grapes will become soft and moldy rather quickly especially if they were refrigerated before you bought them and then leave them out on the counter.

Since grapes are delicate and prone to become soft, grapes will only last on the counter at room temperature for about 3 to 5 days.

How Long Do Grapes Last In The Fridge?

Grapes have a much longer shelf life when stored in the cool temperatures of your refrigerator. This helps them retain their quality longer.

Whole grapes can stay good in the refrigerator for about 7 to 14 days. Proper storage plays a big part in helping the grapes last a little longer.

Cutting the grapes greatly reduces their shelf life. Once grapes have been cut, they will last in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days.

How Long Do Grapes Last In The Freezer?

To extend the shelf life even longer, grapes are one fruit that does well stored in the freezer.  All varieties of grapes can be frozen.

When stored properly, grapes stored in the freezer can be good for about 10 to 12 months but will remain safe to eat beyond a year.

To get your frozen grapes to last for 10 to 12 months, proper storage is very important. Please see the section on how to freeze grapes.

As you can see, grapes do not last very long when left at room temperature. The best way to store grapes for long periods is in the freezer.

How To Tell If Grapes Have Gone Bad: How To Know Grapes Are Fresh?

All grapes, no matter what color or variety you are shopping for have some characteristics that help you know they are fresh.

Feel them: Good grapes should be firm, plump, and securely attached to the stems.

Color of the grapes: The color of your grapes should be vibrant and consistent throughout the bag.

Assess the stem: In a bag of good grapes, the stem should be green and flexible.

Similarly, there are some tell-tale ways to determine your grapes have been gone or are nearing the end of their shelf life.

Feel them: Grapes that have gone bad or are starting to go bad can feel wet or shriveled at the stem. They can also become soft and squishy.

Color of the grapes: Grapes that are starting to go bad can turn darker in color. Sometimes grapes will turn brown no matter what color they were originally.

Asses the stem: If the stem of your grapes is dry and brittle, and the grapes are falling off on their own, these are signs the grapes are nearing the end of their shelf life.

Smell them: Grapes that are going bad or have already gone bad can have a smell that is similar to vinegar. This is because the grapes have begun to ferment and the smell is a warning that they are going sour.

How To Store Grapes?

For optimal shelf life, grapes should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Keep them cold: Grapes do the best when stored at around 40°F. If storing them in your fridge, try to place them towards the back of the fridge where it is a little cooler.

Keep away from odorous foods: Grapes can absorb the odors of other foods so keep them away from odorous foods such as onions.

Keep them in the original bag: The original bag is designed that way for a reason. The bag provides the perfect amount of ventilation and covering to help the grapes last.

Store them unwashed: Grapes should be stored unwashed because the extra moisture can speed up the rate of decay. Wash the grapes immediately before you eat them.

In the freezer: If you choose to freeze them, they should be stored in an airtight container. 

Can You Freeze Grapes? How?

With a little bit of prep work, grapes can be frozen which will help them last a lot longer. Read on to find out how.

Buy seedless grapes: You should try to avoid freezing grapes with seeds because it would not be pleasant to bite into a frozen seed.

Prepare them: To prepare grapes for freezing, they need to be washed, dried, and de-stemmed. You can wash them under cool, running water. Pat them dry with a clean towel. Each grape should be removed from the stem.

Pan freeze: Lay the grapes in a single layer on a baking tray. Place the tray in the freezer until the grapes are completely frozen. Freezing them in a pan first helps prevent them from clumping together for easier use later.

Bag and date them: Once the grapes have completely frozen, place them in a freezer bag and date it. Place the freezer bag of grapes back in the freezer for later enjoyment.

How To Thaw Grapes?

Grapes can be thawed out if needed, or they can be used still frozen.

Enjoy as they are: Frozen grapes are a great snack that can be enjoyed frozen. There is no need to thaw them out.

Use in a drink: Frozen grapes are great in smoothies or can be added to cocktails.

Place in the fridge: If you need your grapes thawed, you can place the freezer bag into the fridge overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grapes Shelf Life

Some of my grapes got moldy, can I eat the rest? If some of the grapes in a bag have gone moldy, it is okay to eat the rest. Look them over carefully and make sure they are not covered in mold. Wash the grapes you are trying to save before you eat them. If you do accidentally eat a moldy grape, you will most likely be fine. You might experience nausea or vomiting.

Some of my grapes are wrinkly: can I still eat them? Grapes can begin to shrivel when they lose moisture. This is dehydration, also called raisining. They are still safe to eat. If you don’t care for the texture, some things you can do with them are to dehydrate them, roast them, juice them, use them in a recipe, or freeze them.

Wrap-Up

As you can see, grapes last the longest in the freezer. If you can eat them within a couple of weeks, the best place to keep them is in the fridge. You should also know how to choose fresh grapes and watch out for bad grapes.