Red seedless grapes from the cultivar Monukka were purchased from a local producer (Tras-os-Montes, Portugal). Grape clusters were cut into smaller pieces and the biggest peduncles were removed. Grapes were blanched in hot water (~99 C) and for approximately 15 s. Determination of the grapes' initial water content (grapes with small peduncles) was performed according to the AOAC method 984.25 [14]. The grapes' initial dimensions (longitudinal, vertical and equatorial directions) were measured using a sliding vernier calliper (Measy 2000 Typ 5921, Swiss) and Brix values of fresh grapes (g sucrose/100 g solution) were determined in triplicate with a hand refractometer (Atago, Tokyo, Japan).