All about grapes

For the month of May we are featuring grapes! A perfect sweet snack, great for grab and go, grapes are crisp, delicious and in your grocery store all year round. There are 3 main types of grapes: white/green, red/purple and blue/black.  Each of these varieties has a slightly different level of sweetness and juiciness.

Because grapes do not ripen after picking, look for fruit and its peak of ripeness.  Always avoid wrinkled or sticky grapes. Select grapes that are plump. And check that they are firmly attached to green stems. The one exception to this rule is the Emperor variety, as it is attached to a brown, woody stem.

To store your grapes, keep them in the fridge, unwashed, in a perforated plastic bag.  Often, they are already sold in perforated bags in your grocery store. When stored this way, grapes will keep for about 1 week.

Rinse your grapes well before serving. For best flavour, serve them at room temperature.

Did you know that grapes freeze well?  This means they can be stored for long periods of time. Simply wash the fruit, dry with paper towel, remove stems and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid then store in a freezer bag. Prepared this way, grapes will last up to a year. For an interesting taste sensation, eat the grapes frozen!

Grapes are most often eaten as-is and make a delicious addition to fruit or vegetable salads. Grapes also create exceptional flavour balance when added to a cheese tray.  About 100g of grapes have only 69 calories. Grapes contain flavonoids which are phytochemicals that help to keep you healthy and may also help prevent some types of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Here are some of our favourite grape recipes!

Dip and Dive: A super fun snack for kids and adults!

Fruit Salad with Savoury Dressings from Chef Michael Smith: A deliciously balanced dessert with sour, spicy and cool flavours.

Broccoli salad with honey-mustard chicken and grapes from Cake + Whisky: This salad has the perfect mix of ingredients under a punchy mustard dressing. Perfect side for half your plate!

Lightened up Chicken Waldorf Salad from Samantha’s Kitchen Table:  This salad is perfect for a summer sandwich or with a side of crackers!

Share some of your favourite grape recipes with us!