The uses of raisins

Raisins didn’t become popular in Europe until the 11th century when knights returning home from the Crusaders brought raisins back with them from the Mediterranean and Persia.

Raisins are one of the most popular types of dehydrated foods products. Raisins are dried fruit of various kinds of grapes that contain considerable sugar and are cured in the sun or in an oven.  As a dried fruit, they are a concentrated source of calories and nutrients, including vitamin B6, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and thiamin.

They are also high in dietary fiber and have no cholesterol. Today, raisins are made similarly the world around. The grapes are handpicked and spread in rows between the vines to dry in the sun. Their bloom – the coating of natural yeast that cling to all grapes – remains intact and the dried grapes turn almost black.

Raisin can be eaten as a snack, either alone or mixed with nuts and either dried fruits. They are stirred into yoghurt, added to cereal and oatmeal, used in breads and cakes.

Like other fruits, raisin should be washed thoroughly before they are used. They may then be soaked in warm water and stewed in exactly the same way as prunes.
The uses of raisins

Processing of Raisins

Processing of Raisins
Raisins are produced from grapes by sun during and artificial drying. In sun drying, the grapes are picked as bunches and placed in a single layer on wooden trays between the rows of grapes vines. The trays are tilted to face the sun. After they are partially dried, the grape bunches are turned and allowed to dry to the point where no juice can be pressed out. The trays are then stacked, and the air drying is continued in the shade until moisture content of about 17% reached. After drying, the raisins are placed in sweat boxes to equilibrate, or to even out, the moisture that is present, and then they are packed in retail size containers or in larger containers to be sold to the bakery trade.

In artificial drying, grapes are first dipped n 0.25 – 1 % lye (sodium hydroxide) solution at 200 – 212 degree F for 2 – 5 sec to remove a natural wax that impedes drying and to check or crack the skin of the grape to facilitate drying, They are then washed, placed on trays, and treated with sulfur dioxide to prevent enzymatic and nonenzymatic browning during drying. Hence instead of having the dark brown color of raisins that normally be expected, the raisins will be of a light yellow color when dried. Raisins are dried at temperatures not exceeding 165 degree F and at a low relative humidity. After the moisture content has been lowered to about 16 – 18%, the raisins are packaged in containers of various sizes to be sold at retail or for use by the food industry.
Processing of Raisins