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    Home » Kitchen Tips

    The Best Way to Serve Grapes: Clusters

    Published: May 11, 2021 · Modified: May 12, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    Prepping grapes for easy serving is a must-have skill. Whether you’re feeding little ones or prepping an elegant fruit tray for friends, dividing a bunch of grapes into smaller clusters makes for a prettier presentation and easier eating.

    Learn the best way to serve grapes to family and friends. These grape clusters are nice for packing in picnics, tucking into charcuterie trays, or adding to a Ploughman’s Lunch.

    white platter of melon slices and green grape clusters. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Do This
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Special consideration for children under 5:
    • FAQs
    • Great Party Recipes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • The Best Way to Serve Grapes

    Have you ever opened the fridge only to see a large grape cluster skeleton, sitting there in a bowl with a few sad grapes attached? That’s so sad and depressing. A little annoying, too.

    You definitely don’t want to serve grapes like that. Instead, clusters are the way to go!

    Snatch up your favorite grapes on sale and then make sure to prep them as soon as you get home for easy serving.

    Why Do This

    You’ll eat the produce you buy. There is just something about having fruits and vegetables already cut up and ready to serve that seems to make a huge difference in how much and how often kids will gobble it down. Having grape clusters ready to go makes it ready available for eating and a great way to increase your chances of getting 8 servings a day into each child.

    It’s prettier. Have you ever come across a bowl of grapes where someone has picked off most of the grapes and left a twiggy skeleton behind? So not appealing. Cutting grape clusters makes for a prettier fruit platter.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s a quick trick for prepping grapes I learned in college when I worked in catering that makes grapes easy to serve but also helps you avoid a master grape skeleton in the closet, I mean, refrigerator:

    • washed green grapes in a large wooden bowl on a red cloth.
    • woman cutting off a cluster of grapes into the palm of her hand with kitchen shears.

    1. Wash the grapes in a vinegar-water bath.

    It’s amazing how much dirt can cling to grapes. There are so many nooks and crannies. Place the grapes in a large bowl, spray with vinegar — white vinegar is cheap and great for cleaning as well — and fill the bowl with water.

    Swish the grapes about in the water and drain. You’ll see bits of silt and dirt at the bottom of the bowl, evidence that you cleaned some gunk off.

    2. Cut the grapes into smaller clusters or bunches.

    With kitchen scissors, divide the grapes into smaller clusters. You can customize the size of each to the folks you’re serving (bigger bunches for adults, smaller for kids above the age of five*) or to coordinate with what else you’re serving. If you’re serving other fruits, then smaller clusters will suffice for everyone.

    A palm-size cluster is a good starting point.

    For quick, family serving, lay out the clusters on a serving tray or rimmed baking sheet. If you’re going to serve other fruit, you can lay it all out on a nice tray. Since grapes are available year-round, they make a stunning addition to a winter fruit tray.

    Special consideration for children under 5:

    *NOTE: It’s recommended that children under the age of 5 should not be served whole grapes, but instead be served grapes that have been cut in half or quarters as whole grapes can be a choking hazard.

    Instead of serving a cluster, remove the grapes from the stem and slice them in half with a sharp knife.

    grape clusters laid out on small sheet pan atop a red cloth.

    FAQs

    When is grape season?

    Since grapes grow worldwide, they are available year-round thanks to imports. But the peak season is going to be late summer to fall.

    How do you choose good grapes?

    Select grapes that are plump, well colored, and firm.

    How should you store grapes?

    Store grapes in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. Wash well with a vinegar rinse before serving.

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    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    green grapes and cantaloupe on a white serving platter.
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    5 from 1 vote

    The Best Way to Serve Grapes

    Learn to cut a bunch of grapes into smaller clusters for serving
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 78kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $1.99

    Equipment

    • heavy duty sheet pan
    • spray bottle
    • kitchen shears

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb grapes
    • white vinegar for rinsing the grapes

    Instructions

    • Place the grapes in a large bowl and fill the bowl with a little bit of vinegar and water so you can kill off any germs and bacteria before you serve the fruit.
    • Cut off the grape bunch into smaller, serving-size clusters. Arrange on a tray to serve.
    • Serve the grapes immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
    Choose grapes that are plump and firm with even coloring.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 4 ounces of grapes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    This post was originally published on April 28, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « The Easy Way to Cut a Pineapple
    Easy Blueberry Pie with Frozen Blueberries (81 cents/serving) »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn

      April 28, 2009 at 9:12 pm

      Frozen grapes have always been a favorite snack around here, too. Lately I’ve been throwing some into smoothies 🙂 Yum.

      Reply
    2. The Bertone's

      April 28, 2009 at 8:00 pm

      Awesome trick! I think I might try that.. and check out my target price.. we love grapes too!

      Reply
    3. Ashley

      April 28, 2009 at 4:35 pm

      That is such a great idea! I just found grapes for $0.49/lb and got two big bags full. I need to go make some mini bunches!

      My daughter loves cheese. Instead of spending a fortune on string cheese I just buy blocks of cheddar or mozzarella and cut it into sticks. It’s easy for her to grab for a quick healthy snack.

      Reply
    4. Lori

      April 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm

      Oh we love grapes at my house too!! In the spring and summer, I wash them, dry them off, then pop them in the freezer. We eat them frozen and they are DELICIOUS!!! Very refreshing! I especially like to freeze them if we get them off the “clearance” table and they’ll go bad soon.

      Reply
    5. BLAZER PROPHET

      April 28, 2009 at 5:20 am

      Oops- I'm a husband & father.

      Reply
    6. BLAZER PROPHET

      April 28, 2009 at 5:19 am

      One thing I learned to keep grapes crispy was to pull them off the stems, place them in a contained of water to where they float, cover and keep refridgerated.

      Reply

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