For a garden party, choose dried fruit based on what your guests like to eat, how much you expect to serve and the price per kilo. A multipack isn’t automatically better value than a larger bag, so check the ingredients, allergen information and storage advice too. That way, you can choose packaging that suits your guests and any leftovers.
You want to buy enough dried fruit without looking only at the price per bag. Compare the pack size and price per kilo for the same type of fruit. Supermarket listings from ALDI, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS show that the best choice depends on the pack.
You want to serve different types of fruit and decide whether a ready-made mix will suit your plans, or whether you’d rather choose individual varieties and decide on the proportions yourself.
You pay attention to ingredients, allergen information, suitable quantities and what to do with leftovers. Check the product information and storage advice too.
First, compare the same type of fruit by price per kilo and the quantity you need. Then choose between individual bags, a ready-made mix or several types of fruit, and check that the ingredients and storage advice suit your plans.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay extra attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kilo | Compare the net weight and price per kilo for the same type of fruit. If ordering online, include any additional costs. | If I want to buy enough fruit without paying more than necessary, I first compare like-for-like packs. Around 29% of consumers say getting a useful price per kilo is their top purchasing priority. |
| Quantity | Check the total weight, the number of individual bags and how many guests are likely to have this snack. | If I want to avoid buying too little or more than I need, I match the quantity to the number of guests and the other snacks on offer. Around 24% of consumers prioritise getting the right amount for a party. |
| Types of fruit | Check which fruits are in a mix and the proportions listed. With individual varieties, you can decide on the combination yourself. | If I want to offer guests more than one type of fruit, I choose a mix to suit their preferences or put together my own combination. Around 18% of consumers prioritise variety. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, including sulphites where applicable. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I check the label on the pack I’ve chosen before comparing the price. Around 18% of consumers say ingredients or allergen information matter most to them. |
| Leftovers | Check the storage advice for after opening and whether the packaging can be resealed securely. | If I expect to have some left after the party, I check how to store it and use it later according to the product advice. Around 11% of consumers say making practical use of leftovers is their top priority. |
A multipack may give you individual bags, but that doesn’t mean it has a lower price per kilo. Albert Heijn listed a 2-pack containing two 500 g bags at €5,80 per kilo; the listed 750 g bag worked out at €4,92 per kilo.
For the same type of fruit, compare the price per kilo of a multipack with that of a larger individual pack. Choose individual bags if you’d rather open your supplies in stages.
A mixed bag doesn’t necessarily contain equal amounts of each fruit. PLUS Tutti frutti, for example, lists 50% plums; the product also contains sulphites.
Read the ingredients and allergen information. Choose individual types of fruit if you want to decide on the proportions yourself or need to avoid a particular variety.
A ready-made mix may not suit your guests’ preferences or dietary requirements.
The AH listing for 750 g of raisins gives a portion size of 25 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day. These are different figures for different purposes.
Keep the portion size on the product separate from nutritional advice. Use the pack information to work out how much to buy, not as a reason to serve more.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the best-before date applies while the pack is unopened. For dried tutti frutti, the storage advice is to keep it in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly closed container.
Only open what you need, and follow the advice for the exact product once opened. Don’t automatically apply advice for an unopened pack of dried fruit to fruit that has been rinsed or prepared in another way.
Opening more than you can use later can leave you with unused leftovers.
The options described include raisins in 750 g and 500 g bags, as well as a 2-pack containing two separate 500 g bags.
The range described includes sun-dried sultanas in several pack sizes.
The option listed is a small 100 g pack of dried blueberries or cherries.
The basic option described is Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack.
The products described are PLUS Tutti frutti, 500 g, and Pagysa Sultana raisins, 750 g.
The selection described includes 350 g of figs, 200 g of pitted apricots and 1 kg of Medjool dates, among other options.
These Joybuy picks focus on dried dates as a snack or an addition to other garden party nibbles.
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The product description lists six bags, so you can open the contents a little at a time.
It describes the product as 100% red dates, peeled and pitted, and ready to eat.
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A single-fruit pack for anyone who wants to serve Medjool dates alongside other snacks.
The product description says it contains 100% dates, with no additives or preservatives, and suggests using them as a snack or in baking and cooking.
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The 280 g pack may suit you if you want to serve a smaller amount of pitted red dates.
The product description lists jujubes as the only ingredient and says they’re pitted and ready to eat.
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A 500 g pack for anyone who wants to use pitted jujubes as a snack or in a dish.
The product description lists 100% red dates and says they’re pitted. It also suggests using them in cooking, baking, soup and tea.
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The 50 g pack is a small addition to other snacks, not a large supply for a party.
The product description suggests using them as a snack or topping for yoghurt and desserts. The ingredients list includes sugar as well as dried strawberries.
Work out how many guests are likely to have this snack and how much you plan to offer per person. For example, 500 g gives you 25 portions of 20 g each. That’s a calculation, not a prediction of how much your guests will eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day.
Follow the instructions on the pack for the exact product. PLUS Tutti frutti 500 g says to rinse it with lukewarm water before use. This instruction doesn’t automatically apply to raisins, dates or other types of dried fruit.
For dried tutti frutti, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly closed container. The Storage Guide says that once opened, dried product can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 6–9 months. Follow the label too, and don’t automatically apply this advice to fruit that has been rinsed or prepared in another way.
No. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g for AH Sun-dried Raisins 750 g. So check both the ingredients and the nutritional information.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack for the exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires packaged food to provide information about the 14 regulated allergens; PLUS Tutti frutti lists sulphites. If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the latest label.
