For a measured addition to dinner, the Whitworths and ASDA apricots in the cited product listings have fewer declared calories per 30g than Tesco Seedless Raisins; dried fruit is not automatically a low-calorie ingredient. If pack size matters for your student budget, compare how much you will use across several meals, then check the current nutrition and ingredient labels rather than assuming every apricot, raisin or fruit mix is alike.
If you use dried fruit in rice, couscous or a curry, measure the amount going into the dish. The NHS uses 30g of dried fruit as one 5 A Day portion, which also gives you a consistent amount for comparing nutrition labels.
Fruit type and preparation both matter. Whitworths lists 47kcal per 30g for Favourites Apricots, while Tesco lists 83kcal per 30g for Seedless Raisins. Compare the particular packs you are considering, not just their fruit names.
A larger pack may make sense if you will use the fruit repeatedly; a smaller one may better match an occasional recipe. Check pack size alongside the amount you intend to add to each dinner.
Start with a comparable portion, then check what is in the pack and whether its size fits your cooking plans.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion calories | Compare kcal for the same weight. If a label gives kcal per 100g, use 30% of that figure for a 30g comparison. ASDA lists 182kcal per 100g for its Apricots 200g, equivalent to 54.6kcal per 30g. | I want a small addition to dinner and need to know how many calories the amount I use contributes. |
| Ingredients | Read the full list for candied peel, syrup or coatings. Sainsbury’s lists candied mixed peel containing glucose-fructose syrup and sugar in its Mixed Dried Fruit, which declares 97kcal per 30g. | For a savoury dish, I may want fruit without a coating or candied ingredients that the recipe does not call for. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack weight with the number of portions you expect to use. Check any storage instructions for the particular product after opening. | If dried fruit appears in only one dinner, I want a pack size that fits that plan; for repeated meals, I may need more. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact pack. ASDA’s Apricots 200g listing declares sulphur dioxide/sulphites; coatings can introduce other ingredients. | I need to check the label for any ingredient or allergen relevant to me before adding the fruit to a shared meal. |
Pack portions can differ. Whitworths lists 47kcal per 30g for Favourites Apricots, while Sainsbury’s lists 97kcal per 30g for Mixed Dried Fruit.
Compare the labels at the same weight, using kcal per 100g to work out a 30g figure when necessary.
Sainsbury’s Mixed Dried Fruit contains candied peel, while Tesco’s yoghurt-flavoured coated raisins contain a coating listed as 64% of the product. Their ingredient lists differ from those of plain raisins.
Choose by the ingredients your dinner recipe calls for, and compare the nutrition labels before substituting one product for another.
ASDA’s Apricots 200g listing declares sulphur dioxide/sulphites. A fruit coating may also contain ingredients that matter to someone eating the meal.
Read the current ingredients and highlighted allergen information on the pack, particularly when cooking for someone with an allergy or sensitivity.
Whitworths lists its Favourites Apricots at 47kcal per 30g as sold, making this specific product a useful label reference when comparing measured portions.
Tesco Seedless Raisins 1Kg provides a large-pack raisin reference for cooking. Tesco declares 83kcal per 30g for this product.
ASDA Apricots 200g lists 182kcal per 100g, equivalent to 54.6kcal for a 30g comparison.
Sainsbury’s Mixed Dried Fruit is a different ingredient choice when a recipe calls for a mix that includes candied peel. Its listing declares 97kcal per 30g.
These apricot, raisin and sultana packs are options to consider as measured additions to a student dinner. Check each pack’s current nutrition and ingredients: the calorie figures for the Whitworths, ASDA and Tesco products above do not describe these Joybuy products.
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Consider these apricots for a measured addition to couscous or a savoury rice dish. Check the pack’s kcal per 30g and sulphite declaration, and check the fruit for stones before adding it to a meal.
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The 500g pack is worth considering if raisins will feature in several meals. Measure the amount used and read this product’s nutrition label rather than applying the figures for Tesco raisins to it.
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This 100g raisin pack may fit a recipe that needs a smaller quantity. Compare its own kcal per 30g and ingredient list with other raisins before choosing it for a lower-calorie dinner addition.
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Sultanas offer another dried-grape ingredient for rice or couscous dishes. If the 500g pack fits your cooking plans, check its own portion calories and ingredients before comparing it with raisins or apricots.
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These dried apricots are an option for a savoury recipe, but the lower calorie figures for other apricot products should not be applied to this pack. Check its own kcal per 30g and allergen information before buying.
Not automatically: compare the amount you will use and the label for that product. Whitworths lists 47kcal per 30g for Favourites Apricots, Tesco lists 83kcal per 30g for Seedless Raisins, and Sainsbury’s lists 97kcal per 30g for Mixed Dried Fruit. Those figures describe different products, not every pack of each fruit.
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one portion of 5 A Day, equivalent to around 80g of fresh fruit. It advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay. For shopping comparisons, 30g is also a useful common weight when pack serving sizes differ.
Estimate how much dried fruit each recipe needs, then compare that total with the pack size and its after-opening storage instructions. A large raisin pack and a small apricot pack serve different cooking plans; pack size alone does not tell you which has fewer calories per portion.
Yes, particularly if sulphites are relevant to you or someone sharing the meal. ASDA’s Apricots 200g listing declares sulphur dioxide/sulphites. Read the current pack’s ingredients and allergen information rather than assuming every dried-apricot product has the same formulation.