You may prefer green, red, or deeply purple-black grapes, but buying a great bunch at the store isn't as simple as looking for your preferred color. Grapes of all shades may be colored slightly differently, depending on their stage of ripeness, and these are the specific hues to look for to make sure you don't buy overripe grapes.

Each color of grape has its own ideal shade that indicates a perfectly fresh and sweet fruit, and The Kitchn says that green grapes should have a more yellow hue, while red grapes should have no trace of green, with a full purple-red color throughout. Black grapes should have a deep and rich purple color that isn't too light.

Another good sign to look for is a white, powdery skin on the grapes, which is called bloom; this "powder" is not only perfectly edible, but helps to keep the grapes fresh. Signs to avoid include grape bunches that look wet and soggy, individual grapes that look shriveled, or a stem that's brittle and unyielding, rather than bendable.