For a large family shop, compare dried fruit using the same 30g serving rather than choosing by bag size. Tesco Groceries and Whitworths list apricot examples at 47–57 kcal per 30g, while Sainsbury's lists a mixed dried fruit containing candied peel at 97 kcal per 30g. A larger pack needs to fit your household's use and its opened-pack storage instructions; check ingredients and sulphites as well as calories.
If dried fruit goes into shared breakfasts, baking or packed meals, compare serving information and opened-pack storage alongside pack size. Tesco Groceries specifies a one-week period after opening for its 500g ready-to-eat apricots; that instruction should not be assumed for other packs.
A 30g comparison distinguishes the products more clearly than their bag sizes: Tesco Groceries and Whitworths list apricot examples at 47–57 kcal, while Sainsbury's mixed dried fruit containing candied peel lists 97 kcal.
Sulphite declarations matter when selecting dried fruit for someone with a sensitivity. Whitworths Favourites Apricots lists sulphur dioxide, while Tesco Groceries describes Crazy Jack Organic Soft Apricots as free from sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Check the current label of the pack you intend to buy.
Start with a common serving weight, then check whether the ingredients, pack format and storage instructions fit how your household will use the fruit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per serving | Compare stated energy at the same weight, such as 30g. Tesco Groceries and Whitworths list apricot examples at 47–57 kcal per 30g; Sainsbury's lists its candied-peel mixed dried fruit at 97 kcal per 30g. | I want to tell whether a larger serving, rather than the fruit itself, explains a difference in the calories shown on two labels. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list for candied peel, syrup and sugar. Sainsbury's 500g mixed dried fruit contains candied peel made with glucose-fructose syrup and sugar; its ingredients differ from the listed partially rehydrated apricots. | For fruit eaten on its own, I would choose according to its actual ingredients, not assume a baking mix and an apricot pack are interchangeable. |
| Pack and storage | Check the total weight and the instructions after opening. Tesco Groceries says to reseal and refrigerate its 500g ready-to-eat apricots and use them within one week of opening. | A large bag makes sense for us only if we can use it as instructed; smaller portions may be easier to set aside for meals. |
| Allergens and stones | Check the current sulphite declaration and any warning about remaining stones or pits. Whitworths Favourites Apricots lists sulphur dioxide; the Tesco Groceries listing for Crazy Jack Organic Soft Apricots states that it is free from sulphur dioxide and sulphites. | Someone in my household needs the allergen label checked, and I want to inspect fruit carefully where stones may remain. |
At 30g per serving, Tesco Groceries and Whitworths list apricot examples at 47–57 kcal, while Sainsbury's mixed dried fruit containing candied peel lists 97 kcal.
Compare energy at the same weight and read the ingredients before choosing a fruit for regular snacking or cooking.
Tesco Groceries instructs shoppers to reseal, refrigerate and use its 500g ready-to-eat apricots within one week after opening.
Check the instructions on your chosen pack against how quickly your household expects to use it.
If that pack cannot be used within its stated period, some of the fruit may go to waste.
The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphur dioxide and sulphites as ingredients used in some dried fruit and notes a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma.
Where sulphites are a concern, read the current allergen declaration for the specific product rather than relying on its name.
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion and advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Set out the amount intended for a meal instead of using an open bag as an all-day snack.
These examples show how pack formats and product labels can change the choice; they do not describe every product sold under each brand.
Tesco Groceries lists Ready To Eat Apricots in a 500g pack.
Whitworths lists both Favourites Apricots and dried-fruit multipacks with 30g portions.
Sainsbury's lists larger own-label dried-fruit formats, including a 500g mixed-fruit pack.
Marks & Spencer lists several larger dried-fruit formats, including 750g apricots and 1kg Turkish sultanas.
Tesco Groceries lists Sunsweet Stoned Prunes in a 500g pack for households considering prunes instead of apricots.
These Joybuy options cover prunes, red dates, apricots and portion-packed blueberries for a household shop. Their pack formats are not a substitute for comparing calories and ingredients on the labels.
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A 500g pitted-prune pack to consider if your household uses prunes regularly. Check its current nutrition and ingredient labels against the serving size you plan to use.
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The 30g sachets provide a defined portion within a 900 g pack. Check the energy declaration before choosing the dates for a calorie-focused shop, and take care when serving fruit containing pits.
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This 300g apricot pack is smaller than the larger household formats discussed above. Joybuy lists 327 kcal per 100g for this product; compare it on a common serving weight before assuming it matches the calories of the other apricots in this article.
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The 16g packs provide individual portions, though the total pack weighs 256g. Check the current ingredients and energy per serving if calories or added sugar are deciding factors.
Use the same weight for each product; 30g works for comparing the Tesco Groceries, Whitworths and Sainsbury's examples above because their listings state energy per 30g. The NHS also says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion.
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Its advice applies even though a 30g serving can count towards 5 A Day.
No. Whitworths lists sulphur dioxide in Favourites Apricots, whereas Tesco Groceries states that Crazy Jack Organic Soft Apricots are free from sulphur dioxide and sulphites. Check the current pack when sulphites matter to your household.
Follow the instructions on that specific pack. Tesco Groceries says to reseal and refrigerate its 500g Ready To Eat Apricots and use them within one week of opening; other dried fruit may have different instructions.