Who are these pack formats suitable for?

Making your own portions for lots of guests

You want to prepare bowls or individual portions, tailoring the amount to the number of guests and any plans for using leftovers.

Handing out portions without repacking

You want to hand out individual boxes of raisins and choose a pack with enough boxes for everyone.

Considering ingredients and allergies

You want to check the ingredients to suit your preferences or in light of guests’ reported allergies. The information on the exact pack is important.

What should you look for in dried fruit for a birthday?

Start by estimating how much you’ll use, then decide whether you’ll portion it yourself, hand out individual boxes or offer several types of fruit.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Quantity for the party Check the net weight and match the quantity to the number of guests and how much you’ll actually use. I want enough for my guests without being left with lots of unused fruit afterwards. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a practical quantity and pack size.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack. If guests have dietary preferences or reported allergies, I start with the ingredients list. Around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredient choices like these.
Handing out portions Check how many boxes are included, or decide how many individual portions you want to make yourself. I want to hand out portions straight away rather than pack everything myself. Around 19% of consumers prioritise convenience when handing out portions.
Different types of fruit Check which types of fruit are in a mix, and don’t compare it as though it were a single type of fruit. For a party with plenty of choice, I want to offer more than one type of fruit. Around 13% of consumers prioritise variety between types of fruit.
Leftovers after the party Choose a pack with possible later use in mind, and follow the storage advice on the pack. I consider what we’ll use at home after the party. Around 12% of consumers make using leftovers their main consideration.

Common pitfalls when choosing a pack

  • Choosing a large bag without thinking about leftovers

    A larger pack means you’ll need a plan for what’s left after the party.

    Match the quantity to your party and decide in advance whether you’ll use the rest later.

  • Not checking the ingredients before handing it out

    Added sugar may affect your choice of product. Allergen information is important if any guests have reported an allergy.

    Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.

  • Applying general storage advice to every type of fruit

    General storage advice for dried apricots doesn’t necessarily apply to softened apricots or other varieties.

    Follow the storage advice on the pack for the specific product.

Supermarket brands and product ranges for reference

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists softened dried apricots in multipacks.

  • The same product is shown in packs of two and four.
  • These are softened apricots, so this doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about packs of other types of fruit.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists sultanas in different bag sizes, as well as small boxes of raisins for sharing.

  • The bag sizes listed are 250, 500 and 750 g; the sharing pack contains 14 boxes.
  • Bags and individual boxes differ in format and contents, so they aren’t directly comparable.

Lidl

Lidl sells dried fruit under the Alesto range, including mango strips.

  • The range includes several types of dried fruit.
  • Check the pack and ingredients for each product; descriptions of flavour are claims made by Lidl.

ALDI

ALDI lists Trader Joe’s sun-dried apricots and prunes in 250 g packs.

  • The products listed offer two different types of fruit.
  • Apricots and prunes are different products from raisins; compare packs based on the type of fruit you want.

PLUS

PLUS lists 375 g of sultanas, 750 g of Pagysa sultanas and 500 g of tutti frutti.

  • The range includes both sultanas on their own and a mix of dried fruit.
  • Pagysa and PLUS are different pack brands; also check the ingredients in the mix.

Dirk

Dirk lists 750 g of raisins and 375 g of 1 de Beste sultanas.

  • The product listings show two different pack weights.
  • The 750 g bag listing doesn’t identify the pack brand as 1 de Beste.

Dried fruit at Joybuy

This Joybuy selection is a small fruit treat with different types of fruit, not a large pack of plain dried fruit for portioning yourself.

HuaWeiHeng cheese-flavoured freeze-dried fruit mix, 28g

HuaWeiHeng cheese-flavoured freeze-dried fruit mix 28g

This small pack may work as a treat containing strawberry and mango, but it isn’t a large quantity for portioning yourself.

Strawberry and mango together make up at least 50% of the contents.

The product has a sugar coating and lists soya and milk as allergens. Check the product information if any guests have dietary requirements.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I work out how many packs I need?

For individual sharing boxes, first count the number of recipients and compare it with the number of units in each pack. Jumbo lists a pack containing 14 boxes; with bags, you decide how many portions to make. The weight of a bag or box doesn’t automatically determine the portion size.

What should I look for in the ingredients and allergen information?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products; listed allergens include sulphites, nuts and peanuts. This doesn’t mean that every pack is suitable for every guest.

Does dried fruit with a fruity name always contain no added sugar?

No. Check the product’s ingredients list. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists dried fruit with added sugar as a product outside the Wheel of Five; this fact alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy or what it tastes like.

Can I store opened dried apricots after the party?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives general storage advice of 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard for dried apricots. Also follow the advice on your pack, and don’t automatically apply that storage period to softened apricots or other varieties.

How many portions can I get from a large bag?

Divide the net weight by the portion weight you choose, using grams for both. A 750 g bag contains more than a 250 g bag, but the number of portions depends on the size of the portions you make.