If you use dried fruit regularly at home, a bulk bag can be a good choice if you’ll use it all, compare the price per kilogram and store it properly once opened. If you only take dried fruit with you occasionally, a smaller pack may be more practical. Either way, check the ingredients and any allergen information, and choose a portion that suits how you’ll use it.
You use dried fruit regularly and portion out what you take with you. Compare the pack size and price per kilogram, and check whether you can store it properly once opened. Examples of available packs can be found at ALDI, Dirk and Jumbo; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre offers general storage advice for raisins.
You want something to take with you without much preparation and may prefer a smaller or resealable pack. A smaller bag isn’t automatically a measured portion: Jumbo lists several pack sizes in its sultana range, while ALDI describes a 200 g resealable fruit mix.
You choose based on the ingredients and distinguish between a single type of fruit, sweetened dried fruit and a fruit and nut mix. If you have a relevant allergy, check the label on the exact variant; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides information about allergen labelling on food labels.
First decide whether you want to stock up for several lunches or are mainly looking for a pack that’s easy to take with you. Then compare the pack size, price per kilogram and ingredients of the specific variant.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kilogram | Compare the price per kilogram for the same type of fruit and weigh it against how much you’ll use. | If you want to stock up for regular lunches, the price per kilogram matters alongside how much you’ll actually use. Around 39% of shoppers making this lunch-focused choice prioritise this consideration. |
| Taking it with you and portioning | Check the pack size and whether the packaging is resealable; a bag isn’t automatically a portion. | If you want to spend less time preparing food or take dried fruit with you on the go, a smaller or resealable pack may fit your routine better. Around 23% of shoppers are mainly looking for this convenience. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variant, and distinguish between fruit and fruit and nut mixes. | If, for example, you want to check for added sugar or an allergen that’s relevant to you, look at the ingredients of the specific product. Around 23% of shoppers prioritise what’s in the product. |
| Storing your supply | Check the storage advice and best-before date on the pack, and consider whether you’ll use all of it. | If you’re mainly looking for a quantity you can store properly and use up after opening, take this into account alongside the pack size. Around 15% of shoppers focus most on managing their supply. |
A larger pack doesn’t automatically offer better value per kilogram. It also means you’ll have more to store and portion out.
Compare the price per kilogram for the same type of fruit and consider how much your household is likely to use.
A mix may also contain nuts, so its ingredients differ from those of a bag containing just one type of fruit.
Before buying, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variant.
A large pack tells you how much you’re buying, not how much to have with each lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion of raisins for children.
Portion it out carefully and don’t use the whole bulk bag as a guide for a single lunch.
General advice on storing raisins doesn’t replace the instructions on the pack you’re buying.
Follow the label and don’t eat raisins that have gone mouldy.
Its range includes raisins, dried pineapple and fruit and nut mixes, giving you different types of dried fruit to compare.
Its sultana range is available in 250 g, 500 g and 750 g packs.
Its product listings include dried fruit and a dried fruit mix.
The options described include a 500 g bag of raisins and a smaller resealable cranberry or cranberry and raisin mix.
The products described include Pagysa sultanas in a 750 g bag and Smaakt Blue Thompson raisins in a 500 g organic variant.
Its range listings show different pack sizes and types of dried fruit, including a product called raisins in a 750 g pack.
This selection includes individual types of dried fruit as well as fruit or fruit and nut snacks, not just large bags containing one type of fruit. Check the pack size and ingredients for each product to see whether it suits taking with you, adding variety or stocking up.
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A pack of dried guava to consider if you’re looking for a smaller quantity of one type of fruit.
The product information lists sugar and a preservative; check the ingredients if they’re an important factor in your choice.
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A smaller pack of dried loquat to consider if you’d like to try a different type of fruit from raisins.
The product information lists sugar, syrup, preservatives and sulphites. Check the ingredient information on the exact pack.
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This small pack may suit you if you’re looking for a limited quantity of dried strawberries.
The product information lists sugar and says the pack can be resealed after opening.
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This five-pack may suit you if you’d like to combine different snacks, but it doesn’t contain dried fruit alone.
It includes nuts and banana chips, among other ingredients; the product information also lists prunes with sweeteners. Take extra care once the pack is opened: the product information says to refrigerate it and use it within one day.
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A combination of dates and walnuts for anyone who’d like to take fruit and nuts with them instead of a bag containing one type of fruit.
Contains walnuts; check the product information if allergens are a concern.
Compare the price per kilogram for the same type of fruit, then consider whether you need the larger quantity. Divide the pack price by its weight in kilograms to work out the price per kilogram; use the details for the specific variant when comparing.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives general storage advice of 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard. Follow the instructions on your own pack too; the general timeframe isn’t a guarantee for every variant.
No. Dried fruit with no added sugar may still contain sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that raisins are high in sugar and recommends a small portion for children; check the ingredients of the variant you choose.
Check the allergen information on the pack for the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly and correctly identified on the label; a product name alone can’t confirm whether it’s suitable for your allergy.
Soaking isn’t a standard step for raisins eaten as a snack. Follow any instructions on the pack of the product you’ve chosen.
