Can You Freeze Grapes?

What happens when you freeze grapes

A grape is a taut skin around water, and freezing bursts the inside while the skin holds. Eaten frozen, that is the appeal — they turn into little sorbet marbles and everyone in the house finds the bag. Let one thaw and you get a wrinkled, weeping thing that is good for a smoothie and not much else. USDA’s window here is far shorter than other fruit gets, so freeze grapes to eat within weeks, not to bank a harvest.

How to freeze it right

1. Pull the grapes off the stems and discard any that are soft or split.
2. Rinse, then dry them completely — surface water welds them into one clump.
3. Freeze them loose on a tray, then bag them with the air pressed out.
4. Date the bag and treat it as a snack supply, not a reserve.

Thawing and using it

Eat them frozen; that is the point. They also work as ice cubes that don’t water down white wine or lemonade, and a handful will thicken a smoothie. If you need them thawed for cooking, thaw them in the fridge and expect purée.

Can you refreeze it?

Once grapes have thawed they are finished — refreezing turns them mealy and cloudy, so there is nothing to save. Take out a handful at a time and put the bag straight back.