Thread: Handling grapes

"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FRmmk.4171$[email protected]..
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander
> and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry
> no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are
> getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
> for
> awhile?
>

Eat them faster.

On Aug 6, 3:22*pm, "Phluge" <phlu...@yafarthoo.com> wrote:
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
> awhile?

Wash them right before you eat them.

Cindy Hamilton

On Aug 6, 3:22 pm, "Phluge" <phlu...@yafarthoo.com> wrote:
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu

Have them dry-cleaned.

Phluge wrote:
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
> awhile?

I can't say I've ever had grapes "take forever" to dry nor get brown
spots from being damp those few minutes it takes before they are dry.
Are you washing them with...plain water? Could you be bruising them
unnecessarily while washing them?

"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FRmmk.4171$[email protected]..
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander
> and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry
> no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are
> getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
> for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu
>
>

Gently in the salad spinner.

"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FRmmk.4171$[email protected]..
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander
> and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry
> no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are
> getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
> for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu
>
>

Only was the amount that you will use at the time you are washing them.

"Phluge" <phlu...@yafarthoo.com> wrote:
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.

Rinse, drain, place into bowl with a wad of paper towel at the bottom,
cover loosely. My fridge is frost free, washed produce becomes dry in
20 minutes. Only time grapes become brown is because they somehow got
forgotten, but that could take a couple weeks. Only thing else is
you're buying old grapes... some folks buy that marked down "used"
produce.

On Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:22:18 -0500, "Phluge" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
>set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
>matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
>brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
>turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
>How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
>awhile?

I don't wash them until I want to eat them... just keep them in the
fridge in the bag you got them in and wash them one portion at a time.

"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FRmmk.4171$[email protected]..
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander
> and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry
> no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are
> getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
> for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu


Put them in a salad spinner and spin gently.


--
Old Scoundrel

(AKA Dimitri)

"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FRmmk.4171$[email protected]..
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander
> and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry
> no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are
> getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
> for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu
>
>

I wait until shortly I'm ready to eat before I wash *any* fruit. With
grapes, that sometimes means that I will wash one rather big "stem" of
grapes, so some of them go back in the refrig. I have never had them turn
brown if I eat them within a reasonable period of time (and I will put them
in the refrig. while still wet, but uncovered).

MaryL

In article <FRmmk.4171$[email protected]>,
"Phluge" <[email protected]> wrote:

> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu

I wash them, let them drain a bit in a colander, then put them into a
jar in the refrigerator. I don't have the problem you experience.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller , blahblahblog is back and
is being updated quite regularly now. Check the peach jam
and the corn relish entries, added on August 6.
"rec.food.cooking Preserved Fruit Administrator
'Always in a jam. Never in a stew.'" - Evergene

Melba's Jammin' wrote:

>> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
>> awhile?
>>
>> Pflu
>
> I wash them, let them drain a bit in a colander, then put them into a
> jar in the refrigerator. I don't have the problem you experience.
>
Are you pulling them all off the stems to get them to fit in the jar?
Do you close the jar? Is there some advantage of this storage jar?

"Goomba" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> Melba's Jammin' wrote:
>
>>> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh
>>> for
>>> awhile?
>>>
>>> Pflu
>>
>> I wash them, let them drain a bit in a colander, then put them into a jar
>> in the refrigerator. I don't have the problem you experience.
> Are you pulling them all off the stems to get them to fit in the jar?
> Do you close the jar? Is there some advantage of this storage jar?


Of course she puts them in a jar. Barb puts EVERYTHING in a jar. But in this
case I hope she leaves out the sugar, Sur-Jell and whatever else she usually
adds to the fruit!

But I had the same questions as Goomba. So ... ?

Felice

In article <[email protected]>,
Goomba <[email protected]> wrote:

> Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> > I wash them, let them drain a bit in a colander, then put them into a
> > jar in the refrigerator. I don't have the problem you experience.
> >
> Are you pulling them all off the stems to get them to fit in the jar?
> Do you close the jar? Is there some advantage of this storage jar?

Sorry -- I left out details. I pull them from the stems, rinse them,
drain them and put them in the jar (quart or pint size, depending on,
duh, how many grapes ;-)

Sometimes I cover, sometimes I don't. Usually do.

Advantage is that I can see them readily and remember to eat them. If
they're in a produce drawer, they might as well be in NeverNeverLand
unless I'm jonesing for grapes.

I do the same with the loverly Washington bing cherries I've been buying
for a couple weeks. Those never last more than two days regardless of
the size of the jar. :-/ Jeez, I love fruit!
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller , blahblahblog is back and
is being updated quite regularly now, most recently 8-7-2008.
"rec.food.cooking Preserved Fruit Administrator
'Always in a jam. Never in a stew.'" - Evergene

In article <[email protected]>,
"Felice" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Goomba" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]..
> > Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> > Are you pulling them all off the stems to get them to fit in the jar?
> > Do you close the jar? Is there some advantage of this storage jar?
>
>
> Of course she puts them in a jar. Barb puts EVERYTHING in a jar. But in this
> case I hope she leaves out the sugar, Sur-Jell and whatever else she usually
> adds to the fruit!
>
> But I had the same questions as Goomba. So ... ?
>
> Felice


Hi, Fleece!! Have you been looking at my website (link below)?
IBeHavingJarringExperiences!!

I picked up the tomatoes with which to make my Tomato Stuff -- likely to
be done on Saturday; it won't hurt these guys to sit outside and ripen
up a titch more.

I put parsley in a jar, too. No water, just a paper towel in the bottom
of the jar (if I'm closing the jar). Mostly I treat my parsley and
basil (from my own pots) like flowers. Stick 'em in a vase of water and
let them set on the counter. I've a shipload of both this summer. I
made some pesto a couple nights ago. I wept, it vas so goood.

BTW, a folder paper towel in the bottom of the glass jar for the grapes
is a good idea. It will avoid any drippy water pooling in the bottom of
the jar.

Stick with me, Kiddo; I've got a million good ideas.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.mac.com/barbschaller , blahblahblog is back and
is being updated quite regularly now, most recently 8-7-2008.
"rec.food.cooking Preserved Fruit Administrator
'Always in a jam. Never in a stew.'" - Evergene

"Melba's Jammin'" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
>
> Hi, Fleece!! Have you been looking at my website (link below)?
> IBeHavingJarringExperiences!!
>
> I picked up the tomatoes with which to make my Tomato Stuff -- likely to
> be done on Saturday; it won't hurt these guys to sit outside and ripen
> up a titch more.
>
> I put parsley in a jar, too. No water, just a paper towel in the bottom
> of the jar (if I'm closing the jar). Mostly I treat my parsley and
> basil (from my own pots) like flowers. Stick 'em in a vase of water and
> let them set on the counter. I've a shipload of both this summer. I
> made some pesto a couple nights ago. I wept, it vas so goood.
>
> BTW, a folder paper towel in the bottom of the glass jar for the grapes
> is a good idea. It will avoid any drippy water pooling in the bottom of
> the jar.
>
> Stick with me, Kiddo; I've got a million good ideas.

Glad to have the clarification on the grapes. The first report sounded
loony.

I also treat parsley and basil as flowers, as well as cilantro or any other
fresh herbs. Works just fine. Asparagus, too.

Dinner tonight: Dredged some green tomaters in flour and cornmeal dosed with
chili and cayenne, fried 'em in bacon fat, and then made a milk gravy with
the bacon fat and the rest of the seasoned flour. My Alex, were they good!
I'll be surprised if I live through the night.

Fleece

Phluge wrote:
> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in a colander and
> set them out to dry -- it seems like they take forever to thoroughly dry no
> matter how much you turn them, and by the time they do dry they are getting
> brown spots, it seems from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they just
> turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same thing.
>
> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay fresh for
> awhile?
>
> Pflu
>
>
"Wash" ?

Dave wrote on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:45:00 -0700:

> Phluge wrote:
>> You bring home a bunch of seedless green grapes, wash them in
>> a colander and set them out to dry -- it seems like they take
>> forever to thoroughly dry no matter how much you turn them,
>> and by the time they do dry they are getting brown spots, it seems
>> from the water (dry grapes don't do this, they
>> just turn brown from age). Put them in the fridge, same
>> thing.
>>
>> How do you handle grapes so you can wash them and they still stay
>> fresh for awhile?
>>
If the grapes are good and ripe, I like them frozen. Wash them, allow to
dry and they keep a long time and they are very good eaten *frozen* as a
snack!
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not