Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried to remove some of the fruit's moisture, either naturally or through use of a machine, such as a food dehydrator. Raisins, prunes and dates are examples of popular dried fruits. Other fruits such as apples, apricots, bananas, cherries, cranberries, figs, kiwifruit, mangoes, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes can be dried. Some products sold as dried, like papaya and pineapples are actually candied fruit. Dried banana are sometimes fried.

The need for having a healthy and tasty snack in between our regular food time can be satisfied with the consumption of dry fruits and nuts. They fully satisfy the taste buds, and one need not worry about gaining weight!

Nutrition

Drying preserves fruit, even in the absence of refrigeration and significantly lengthens its shelf life. When fresh fruit is unavailable, impractical or out of season, dried fruit can provide an alternative. It is often added to baking mixes and breakfast cereals.

Like fresh fruit, dried fruit can be rich in vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, pantothenic acid) and dietary minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper, manganese).^[1]

Since dehydration may result in water loss up to seven parts out of eight, dried fruit has a stronger flavor than its fresh counterpart. It takes about eight pounds of fresh fruit to make one pound of dried fruit. Ocean Spray made the raisins famous by drying cranberries and adding sugar to make them plump and sweet. Dried fruit can also be infused with fruit concentrate, like at Kariba Farms. Some dried fruit can be enjoyed without adding any sugar or fruit concentrate, including mangos and cherries. ^[2]

Various Types of Dry Fruits

Cashew Nut, Raisins, Apricot, Chestnut, Walnut, Prunes, Dried Peaches