Raisins

Preparation, uses, and tips

Soft, sweet, and bite-sized, raisins make a deliciously healthy out-of-hand treat. They can be added to muesli and trail mix, used to add colour and sweetness to salads, and are frequent additions to candy, hot cereals, cookies, muffins, and breads.

Before using raisins in baked goods, plump them by soaking them in water for 15 minutes or simmer them for a few minutes. For dessert dishes, raisins can be plumped in wine. Plumping raisins helps keep them from becoming overly dry when baked.

Buying and storing tips

Raisins can be stored, tightly wrapped, at room temperature for a few months. For prolonged storage (up to one year), they should be refrigerated in a tightly sealed plastic bag.

Look for plump raisins that show no signs of being overly dry or with visible sugar crystals.

Varieties

The most common grapes used for raisins are Thompson seedless, Zante, and Muscat.

Both dark and golden seedless raisins (also called sultanas) are made from Thompson seedless grapes. The dark raisins are sun-dried for a few weeks, which produces their dark colour and shriveled appearance, whereas golden raisins have been oven-dried to avoid the darkening effect of the sunlight. Like other dried fruits, some golden raisins have been treated with sulphur dioxide to prevent darkening.

The tiny seedless Zante grapes produce the dried currants generally found on grocery store shelves.

Muscat grapes create a large, dark brown, and very fruity-tasting raisin. These raisins are the variety most often used for holiday baking, such as fruitcakes.

Nutrition Highlights

Raisins (seedless), 50 raisins (26g)
Calories: 78
Protein: 0.83g
Carbohydrates: 20.5g
Total Fat: 0.12g
Fiber: 1.04g

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.