Households using dried fruit regularly
A larger bag gives you fruit to divide between meals or recipes. Choose a size you expect to use while the contents remain in good condition, and allow for portioning it yourself.
Who might use each format?
Packed-meal planners
Individual packs are ready to put in a packed meal; a larger bag needs dividing first. Check each pack’s weight rather than assuming it matches the NHS reference of 30g for one dried-fruit 5 A Day portion.
Shoppers looking for a mixed-fruit blend
A blend may suit a recipe calling for several fruits. Sainsbury’s mixed dried fruit, for example, contains sultanas, raisins, currants and candied mixed peel, so it serves a different purpose from a bag of plain raisins.
What should you check before buying?
Start with when the fruit will be eaten, then compare the fruit type, total pack weight and the work involved in making portions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Eating occasion | Decide whether the fruit is for a meal or a standalone snack. The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. | If elevenses is separate from a meal, I’ll choose something other than dried fruit for that occasion. Dried fruit could go with a packed lunch instead. |
| Pack format | Compare the total weight, number of individual packs and weight of each pack. A larger bag requires you to make your own portions. | Ready-separated packs would simplify packing a meal; otherwise, I can divide a larger bag at home. |
| Portion weight | Read the weight of an individual pack. The NHS uses 30g of dried fruit as its reference for one 5 A Day portion; a 14g pack does not meet that weight on its own. | I want to know how much fruit each packet contains, rather than treating every small pack as the same serving. |
| Ingredients | Check whether the pack contains plain raisins or sultanas, a mixture of fruits, or other listed ingredients. Compare nutrition figures using the serving sizes printed on the packs. | For a recipe, I may want a mix with candied peel. If I want plain raisins for a packed meal, I’ll check that the ingredient list matches. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating a mixed-fruit bag as plain raisins
Sainsbury’s 1kg mixed dried fruit contains sultanas, raisins, currants and 14% candied mixed peel, according to its product listing. That composition matters if you intend to portion plain fruit for meals.
Read the ingredients before choosing a large bag; pick a mixture when its particular fruits and peel suit the intended use.
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Assuming portion packs are intended for between-meal eating
Convenient packaging does not change the NHS advice to eat dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Put a portion pack with a packed meal, or choose another type of food for a standalone elevenses snack.
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Assuming every small packet is a full 5 A Day portion
Tesco’s listed raisin multipack contains twelve 14g packets. The NHS reference for one dried-fruit 5 A Day portion is 30g.
Use the packet’s stated weight when planning what to pack; do not infer a serving size from the packaging format.
Brand ranges to compare
Tesco
Tesco lists seedless raisins in both a 1kg bag and a multipack of twelve 14g portions.
- The two formats let you choose between portioning from a bag and using ready-separated packs.
- The 14g packet weight is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit portion reference.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists 1kg plain raisins and a 1kg mixed dried-fruit bag.
- The mixed bag lists sultanas, raisins, currants and candied mixed peel for shoppers who want that combination.
- Its mixed bag is not interchangeable with plain raisins when the ingredients matter to your recipe or packed meal.
Whitworths
Whitworths includes Sunny Raisins in its dried-fruit range and presents them in portioned packs.
- Whitworths lists raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients for Sunny Raisins.
- A portioned format does not change NHS advice to have dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals.
M&S
The M&S fruit-snack catalogue includes 500g raisins, 1kg Turkish sultanas, apricots and prunes.
- The listed fruit types and pack sizes give shoppers alternatives to plain raisins.
- Check the selected store for the current range before planning a particular purchase.
Dried-fruit options on Joybuy
These options include larger bags of raisins and sultanas, individually packed raisins and red dates, and portioned dried blueberries. They represent different fruits and pack formats, so compare the stated weights and ingredients for the meal you are planning.
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Hao Xiang Ni Ready-to-Eat Red Dates, 900 g (30 x 30 g sachets)
The thirty separate 30g sachets offer a ready-divided format for packed meals; these are red dates, not raisins. The NHS advises having dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a standalone between-meal snack.
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Organix Goodies Raisins 12+ Months, 12 x 14g
Twelve separate 14g packs can go into packed meals without dividing a larger bag. Each pack is smaller than the NHS 30g reference for one dried-fruit 5 A Day portion; check the current label for ingredients and suitability.
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Morrisons Raisins, 500g
This 500g raisin bag suits someone willing to divide fruit for meals or use it in a recipe, rather than relying on ready-separated packets. Check the ingredients on the pack if a particular composition matters.
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Morrisons Sultanas, 500g
This 500g bag offers sultanas for meals or recipes when you are happy to portion them yourself. Choose it for sultanas rather than assuming it has the same fruit or ingredients as a raisin bag.
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Three Squirrels Daily Blueberry Dried Snack, 256g (16 x 16g packs)
The sixteen 16g packs offer a different fruit from the raisin options in a ready-divided format. Check the current ingredients and nutrition panel if you want to compare them with plain dried fruit.
Questions about portions and packs
How much dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion?
The NHS states that 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion, equivalent to around 80g of fresh fruit. Check an individual packet’s weight rather than assuming one packet equals that amount.
Does dried fruit suit a standalone elevenses snack?
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes, not between meals, to reduce tooth-decay risk. If elevenses is a separate snack, consider another type of food and keep dried fruit for a meal or packed lunch.
Is a mixed dried-fruit bag the same as a plain-raisin bag?
No. Sainsbury’s lists its 1kg mixed dried fruit as sultanas, raisins, currants and 14% candied mixed peel. Check the ingredients when choosing fruit for a particular recipe or packed meal.
When are individual raisin packs useful?
They are useful when you want portions ready to put in a packed meal without dividing a larger bag. Check the weight of each packet: Tesco’s listed twelve-pack contains 14g per packet, below the NHS 30g dried-fruit portion reference.
What should I check for a food allergy or intolerance?
Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact pack before buying or eating it. Do not assume that a mixed, coated or differently branded fruit product has the same ingredients as plain raisins.