What is dried fruit and how is it made
The way the fruit is processed varies by manufacturer and variety. For example, Turkish dried apricots are dried in the sun for a week and then treated with sulfur dioxide to kill bacteria, protect them from insects and mold. The same element gives the finished dried apricots a bright orange color. In the process of dehydration, future dried fruits lose about 80-85% percent of moisture - to create one kilogram of dried apricots, about four kilograms of fresh fruit will be needed. Hence, the prices are quite high.
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Dried fruits become less juicy compared to fresh ones, they have a higher sugar concentration, but drying increases the shelf life of the product up to several months. Do not confuse dried fruits and candied fruits: the former are just dried fruits and berries, and the latter are boiled in sugar syrup, which adds calories, but not benefits. In such a snack, up to 70-75% of sugar, the consumption of which should be reduced.
Varieties of dried fruits
Most people know that raisins are made from grapes, and dried apricots are made from apricots. At the same time, tropical fruits (dried pineapples, kiwi, mango, papaya), and familiar fruits (dried apple, pear and orange slices), and berries (cherries, strawberries, blueberries) can become dried fruits. Apricot can also be dried in different ways - to make kaisa or apricot out of it. Kaisa is a whole fruit that has been dried without a bone, and the bone is not removed to create an apricot.
The benefits of dried fruits
Some are afraid of the concentrated sugar in dried fruits, but it should be borne in mind that due to the large amount of fiber, although it raises blood sugar, it does it more gently. Dried fruits will be a good alternative to industrial sweets. When properly processed and dried, they retain many nutrients, including antioxidants, some vitamins and minerals.
Australian scientists have studied several varieties of dried fruit, including raisins, dried currants, apricots and prunes. Their research confirmed that dried fruit retains a high concentration of copper, potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, and that folate is sufficient to cover the daily value from a single snack. At the same time, the content of vitamin C in dried fruits is significantly reduced. Dried fruits will help provide the body with polyphenols - active antioxidants, according to scientists from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
How to choose dried fruits
There are no universal rules here, so be guided by the knowledge about each specific type of dried fruit. Chemical processing is not prohibited, but in the case of the same Turkish dried apricots, sulfur dioxide can cause allergies and asthma attacks. If you don't want to risk it, choose a dark brown dried apricot. It is not as attractive in appearance as orange, but it does not contain harmful elements. Most countries adhere to standards that allow and even require the mandatory processing of dried fruits with chemicals. But one thing is theoretical prohibitions, another is real treatment with means in which harmful elements can exceed the norm.
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Some types of dried fruits should be included in the diet less often than others because of the way they are prepared. For example, figs and bananas are fried in low quality vegetable oils before drying, after which they are treated with phenolic solutions to preserve their bright color. The harm is obvious, and the benefits from them are no more than from dry black raisins, which do not need additives when drying. Remember the high sugar content: in raisins it is 59%, in prunes, 38%, in apricots, 53%, and in figs up to 43%. The daily intake of dried fruits should be limited to a handful.
Try not to buy too cheap dried fruits, most likely, they are of poor quality, and the manufacturer saved on timely transportation. It is best to take dried fruits and berries in a package, and not by weight. Make a choice in favor of opaque packaging that does not transmit light, specify the composition: it is preferable to buy dried fruits without preservatives, dyes and flavorings. You can store dried fruits in a sealed package for about a year; it is better to eat the contents of an open pack within a month.>