How to Wash Grapes and Avoid Chemicals In Your Diet

Washing produce ensures your food is healthy and free of unnecessary chemicals. Here’s how to wash grapes using two easy methods and convenient pantry staples.

You may be tempted to eat a few grapes on the way home after your grocery tip — but, as with all produce, you should wash grapes before eating them. Grapes belong to the dirty dozen, so learning how to wash grapes is important to remove layers of bacteria, pesticides, and germs. Furthermore, grapes are often packaged with sulfur dioxide during shipping, which gets on their skins.

Grapes are coated with a chalky or waxy film, which can look unappetizing. This layer is called the bloom, a natural coating that protects against moisture loss, bacteria, and disease. The bloom is not harmful to eat, though it may taste a bit bitter. Washing grapes can help improve their flavor. Once you wash the bloom off, you should eat the grapes within 24 hours.

How to Wash Grapes With Vinegar

Wondering how to wash fruit with vinegar? Here’s how to do it step-by-step. Remember, wash only the grapes you want to eat within the next day.

Materials: 

• Large bowl
• Homemade apple cider vinegar
• Water
• Colander

Instructions: 

1. Fill a bowl with a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
2. Add the grapes to the bowl and allow them to soak for 15-20 minutes.
3. Swish the grapes around the mixture using your hands to wash them.
4. Rinse with cold water through a colander before serving.

https://utopia.org/guide/can-you-freeze-grapes-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Cleaning Fruit With Salt and Baking Soda

Baking soda and salt act as an abrasive to remove grime and bacteria from the grape skin. Here is a quick and straightforward method.

Materials: 

• Colander
• Large bowl
• 2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking soda

Instructions for how to wash grapes:

1. Remove the grapes from the stem and rinse them through a colander with cold water.
2. Add them to a bowl and sprinkle them with 2 teaspoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
3. Shake the bowl vigorously from side to side for approximately 30 seconds to scrub the grapes.
4. Rinse thoroughly under cool water, and use your hands to ensure all traces of salt are gone.

Read more: 

• Egg Wash Recipe to Preserve Fruit and Vegetables
• 7 Healthy Lunch Box Menus for Kids
• How to Keep Your Produce Fresher for Longer

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