The Powerhouse Ingredient To Help You Wash Grapes The Right Way

Most produce is simple enough to wash with cool, running water because of its size and shape, but some fruits like grapes are a different matter. While you could attempt diligently scrubbing every individual grape, that is quite the chore, and it's unlikely you will get them all. These juicy fruits need extra special attention to guarantee they are free of any unwelcome bacteria or pesticides, and you probably have an ingredient currently sitting in your pantry that will get the job done right.

To make sure every single grape gets cleaned thoroughly, reach for some baking soda. This versatile pantry staple can take the bitterness out of tomatoes, helps baked goods rise to perfection, and makes homemade hummus creamier. Still, it is frequently overlooked as an ingredient for cleaning produce, which is unfortunate.

Even when we buy produce at the right time of the day, check for any imperfections, and assess the quality with a little squeeze, one thing no one can assume is that it comes home clean. Grapes are no exception and often have some pesticide residue that needs to be removed — which baking soda is especially good at. By making a baking soda solution with water, you can get a cleaning agent into every nook and corner of the bunch simultaneously, ensuring all the grapes have been sufficiently washed.

You don't need to use much baking soda to clean grapes. Just one teaspoon of the pantry staple mixed with two cups of cold water will do the trick. Let the grapes bathe in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse them under running water. Don't skimp on the rinsing time, though, as baking soda has a slightly salty taste you probably don't want on your produce.

If you are all out of baking soda, you can use another ingredient in its place. A mix of one part white vinegar and three parts water also works at effectively cleaning your grapes in the same 10 to 15-minute soak time. They will be free of bacteria and pesticides but don't forget to wash the taste of vinegar off your fruit with a quality rinse.

Although you might be tempted to wash them straight away upon returning from the store, hold yourself back. Cleaning them with anything wet introduces moisture to the bunch, which can eventually lead to bacterial growth. Grapes typically last two weeks in the fridge, and if you want them to be good for that entire timeframe, they should only be washed when you are ready to enjoy them, no matter what ingredient you use to clean them.