Choose a large bag if you’ll also use the stock at home and can weigh out a small amount to take with you. A multipack of individual bags is a better fit if you prefer to open your stock gradually. A multipack doesn’t necessarily contain travel-sized portions, so compare the price per kilo with that of a larger single pack. Check the ingredients and storage instructions too, and if you’re travelling abroad, check the import rules for your destination.
You use dried fruit at home and take a small amount with you to Schiphol. Compare the pack sizes and prices per kilo of products from retailers such as Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI with how much your household actually gets through.
You want to know in advance how much a pack contains and how to store it. A resealable bag can be handy, but a multipack bought for stocking up doesn’t automatically contain small portions for on the go.
You pay attention to ingredients, keeping portions small and product-specific allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a small amount of dried fruit. For Albert Heijn’s soaked apricots, sulphites and refrigeration after opening are also relevant.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Value per kilo | Compare the same type of fruit by net weight and price per kilo, and consider how much you use at home. | If I’m considering a bulk pack, I want to know whether I’ll really use all of it, so I compare the price per kilo. Price per kilo is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Taking it with you and portioning | Check the size of the individual bags and whether the packaging is resealable; a multipack isn’t necessarily a portion-sized pack. | If I want to take something with me and portion it easily while I’m out, I look at the size and packaging. Convenience is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and portion size | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, and take a small amount with you. | If I’m considering the ingredients, allergens or portion size, I want to be able to check the packaging myself. The ingredients are the main priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Stock and storage | Follow the storage instructions before and after opening, and think about how much you’ll use before you leave. | If I open packs gradually, I want to know whether I can store the contents at home and while travelling in line with the label. Stock management is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Hand luggage and destination | Distinguish between solid, liquid and spreadable foods, and check your destination’s rules when travelling across borders. | If I want to take food on a flight or across a border, I want to know which rules apply to my product and destination. This is the main priority for around 12% of consumers. |
Buying several bags together doesn’t automatically mean you’ll pay less per kilo than you would for a larger single pack.
Compare the price per kilo for the same type of fruit, using the net weight as your basis.
A multipack also means more stock overall, which you may not use in time.
The Albert Heijn soaked apricots reviewed here need to be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C and have a limited shelf life.
Choose this variety only if you can follow the storage instructions and the ingredients suit your preferences.
Once opened, this variety needs to be refrigerated and requires a little extra planning.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that dried fruit contains a lot of sugar, even without added sugar, and recommends eating a small amount.
Weigh out or pack a small portion in advance, and leave the rest of the stock at home.
Being allowed to take food in your hand luggage doesn’t automatically mean you can bring it into your destination country. Netherlands Worldwide advises checking with the destination country’s customs authority about food.
Check your destination’s import rules before taking food across the border.
The range reviewed includes a single 750 g bag of raisins, a multipack for stocking up and soaked apricots.
The 500 g Jumbo Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins reviewed here are a bulk option that you can portion yourself.
The product page confirms a dried fruit mix as a product category.
The products reviewed include TRADER JOE'S 500 g raisins and a range of mixes in resealable 200 g packs.
The 375 g PLUS Sultana raisins reviewed here come in a smaller pack than the 500 g and 750 g bags reviewed.
The 750 g pack of raisins reviewed here is worth considering if you’re looking for a larger bag to stock up on.
This selection includes raisins, dried loquat, and mixed fruit and nut snacks. Check the ingredients, pack size and storage requirements for each product.
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A bag of raisins to enjoy at home, with enough to weigh out a small amount to take with you.
The product information states that it contains 100% dried grapes and recommends sealing the pack tightly after opening.
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A smaller pack of dried loquat to take with you; the product information describes it as ready to eat.
The ingredients list includes sugar and sulphites. Bear this in mind when checking ingredients or allergens.
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A mixed bundle of five individual snacks, including banana chips, raisins, dates and plums; it isn’t a pack containing only dried fruit.
The product information lists tree nuts and aspartame (E951) in the plums. Refrigerate after opening and consume within one day.
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A smaller fruit and nut snack for anyone looking for walnuts as well as dried fruit.
The ingredients list includes grey dates and walnut kernels, so the product contains walnuts. The product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry place.
According to Schiphol’s information, solid foods are generally allowed. Liquid and spreadable foods are subject to the liquids rules. Follow the instructions from security and your airline’s requirements too.
You’ll need to consider the finished preparation, not just the dried fruit. The Dutch Government states that liquids and gels must be in containers of no more than 100 millilitres and carried in a transparent, resealable bag with a maximum capacity of 1 litre.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion of raisins or currants as a snack, as dried fruit contains a lot of sugar. So take a small amount with you rather than treating the bulk bag as a single portion.
No, follow the label on the exact pack. The Albert Heijn soaked apricots reviewed here need to be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C and have a limited shelf life; general storage advice doesn’t replace the product-specific instructions.
Follow the instructions on the packaging. For tuttifrutti, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. Also check the product label and use-by date.
