How to determine if grapes are spoiled

Judging whether grapes have spoiled can be comprehensively evaluated by observing their appearance, smelling their aroma, touching their texture, inspecting their stems, and tasting their taste.

1. Observe appearance

Fresh grape skins should present a uniform color and be covered with natural white frost on the surface. Rotten grapes may have local moldy spots, darkened or yellowed skin color, and wrinkled skin that loses its luster. Mold usually spreads from the fruit stem, presenting as grayish green or white flocculent material. If there are individual fruits in the whole bunch of grapes that have noticeably softened and rotted, it may indicate the growth of bacteria.

2. Smell

Normal grapes have a fresh fruity aroma, but after spoilage, they will emit a fermented wine or sour rot smell. Gently sniff the grapes near the tip of your nose. If you smell a pungent odor or obvious alcohol smell, it indicates that they have started to rot. Moldy grapes may produce a earthy or moldy odor, which is particularly noticeable when opened in sealed packaging.

3. Touch the texture

Gently pinch the grapes with your fingers, and the fresh fruits are full, firm, and elastic. Rotten grapes may feel soft or sticky to the touch, and juice may seep out when pressed. The flesh loses elasticity and becomes sponge like, and the skin and flesh separate. This type of grape is no longer suitable for consumption. Pay attention to checking whether there is any mucus on the surface of grapes, which is a typical manifestation of bacterial growth.

4. Check the stem.

The stem of healthy grapes is greenish green and flexible, but if it deteriorates, the stem will dry up, turn brown, and easily break. Fresh grape stems are tightly connected to the fruit, making them less likely to fall off during light lifting. If the stems of the entire bunch of grapes shrink and turn black, or if a large number of fruits fall off, it indicates that the storage time is too long. The moldy fruit stem will produce a black powdery substance.

5. Taste

Carefully try suspicious grapes, fresh flesh is sweet and juicy. Rotten grapes have a bitter or overly sour taste and may be accompanied by an unpleasant odor. Slightly spoiled grapes may only have a peculiar odor on the skin, but the flesh is still edible; If the flesh becomes astringent or has a burning sensation, immediately spit it out and rinse your mouth. Children and immunocompromised individuals should avoid trying suspicious grapes. When storing grapes, they should be kept dry and ventilated, and refrigerated for no more than 5 days. Gently rinse with running water during cleaning to avoid damaging the protective layer of the fruit peel. When purchasing, choose grapes with tightly packed grains and intact fruit frost, and avoid purchasing products with condensation of water vapor inside the packaging. If spoiled grapes are found, they should be discarded in a timely manner to avoid contaminating other fruits. Pay attention to observing the changes in grape condition in daily life to ensure safe consumption.