The top benefits, nutritional values, Uses and storage of raisin

The top benefits, nutritional values, Uses and storage of raisin

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Raisins are sweet in flavor. It is created by drying grapes, either in the sun or in driers, which turns the grapes into golden, green, or black dried fruit gems. This process helps in manufacturing raisin.

The health benefits of raisins include improved digestion, bone health, iron levels, acidosis, fever, and sexual dysfunction. They have also been known for aiding in a healthy weight gain, as well as for their positive impact on eyes, teeth, and hair.

Treat Bloating

Raisins contain fiber that protects from intestinal diseases, bacterial growth, and discomfort from bloating. It also sweeps out toxins and harmful materials from the digestive tract.

Prevent Acidity

Raisins contain magnesium and potassium which helps in the treatment of acidosis. These minerals are two of the most common components of antacids because they are considered basic on the pH scale.

Rich in Iron – Treat Anemia

Raisins contain iron which helps in treating anemia. It also contains vitamin B and copper which helps in the formation of new blood and production of new blood cells respectively.

Promote Dental & Oral Health

Raisins strengthen and help to remineralize tooth enamel as it contains calcium in it. It also contains boron and oleanolic acid which helps in promoting strong teeth and protects your teeth from decay, cavities, and brittleness.

Rich in Antioxidants

Raisins contain a lot of antioxidants like catechins and polyphenolic phytonutrients which protect against the damage caused by free radicals, macular degeneration. Thus, reducing the risk of cancer.

Promote Bone Health

Raisins contain boron, calcium, and potassium which reduces the risk of osteoporosis strengthens bones, and promotes bone growth. It particularly helps in preventing menopause induced osteoporosis in women and very beneficial for bones and joints.

Increase Fertility

Raisins contain arginine which helps in treating erectile dysfunction and asthenospermia (a condition for reduced sperm motility). It also that increases the levels of sperm motility.

Improve Skin Health

Raisins contain vitamin C and antioxidants which helps in keeping the skin radiant, taut, and youthful. It has strong germicidal properties thus preventing conditions like psoriasis and acne.

Promote Hair Health

Raisins promote shiny and thick black hair as it contains vitamin C that prevents cell damage. It contains anti-inflammatory properties thus, preventing scalp irritation, dandruff, and flakiness.

Promote Good Sleep

Raisins contain iron which helps in treating insomnia. Thus, providing you a good sleep at night.

Control Cholesterol Levels

Raisins reduce cholesterol levels in the body thus, promoting good cardiac health. As it contains high levels of potassium, fiber, polyphenols, phenolic acid, tannins, and antioxidants.

Reduce Hypertension

Raisins contain potassium which decreases high blood pressure and reduces the tension of blood vessels. Thus, reducing hypertension.

Promote Weight Gain

Raisins contain glucose and fructose which promote healthy weight gain without accumulating unhealthy amounts of cholesterol.

Raisins can help gain weight in a healthy way since they are full of fructose and glucose. They form an ideal part of a diet for athletes or bodybuilders who need a powerful boost of energy, or for those who want to put on weight

Promote Kidney Health

Potassium in raisins can help prevent the formation and reoccurrence of kidney stones.

Increase Nutrient Uptake

Raisins have a rich content of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals such as selenium and phosphorus, which facilitate absorption of other nutrients and proteins in the body. Including them in your diet helps improve your overall energy and immune system strength.

Eat them at any time of day. They goes well with every dish.

Ways to use raisins

Included them as part of your daily diet in a number of creative and healthy ways:

  • Sweet crunch: You can sprinkle them on salads, peanut butter-slathered celery sticks, fruit bowls, or make them a part of your homemade trail mix.
  • Salads: Broccoli salad with raisins, as well as carrot raisin salad are popular recipes.
  • Breakfast: Add them to sweeten your oatmeal or smoothie bowl instead of sugar or syrup.
  • Dinner: They make a delightful addition to mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, or other side dishes. In the Middle East, they are sprinkled on rice dishes.
  • Natural sweetener: You can use them in muffins and pancakes to sweeten it if you are trying to avoid or cut back on refined sugar.
  • Snack: The dried fruits, in their raw form, are a healthy snack option for people of all ages. Chocolate-covered raisins, as well as yogurt-covered raisins, got popularized for a quick energy burst.
  • Enjoy them as a snack, all alone without any additions.
  • Sprinkle over to enrich fruit salads and ice creams, desserts, etc.
  • Add to bakery items like chocolates, cookies, muffins, bread, puddings, biscuits, cakes, waffles, etc.
  • In Iran, India, Pakistan and other South Asian regions where they are popular as kishmish (sultanas) added to various sweet delicacies.
  • They can be enjoyed with other dry fruits (apricots, dates, prunes) and nuts like almonds, cashew, macadamia…etc.

How to buy and store raisins

Raisins should be stored in an airtight container in a cool and dry area. They can be stored for 6 months. Do not buy raisins which are not fresh. Do not buy raisins that contain insects or affected by sunburn.

Season in which raisins are available

Raisins are available all year round

How to make Sevian

Ingredients

3.5 oz/100 gms Sevian or thin Vermicelli (brown)

 1 # 12 oz can evaporated milk

 6 cups milk ( plus extra to thin once cooled)

 1/2 cup sugar

 2 whole cloves

 1-1/4 tsp powdered cardamom

 1-1/2 tsp ghee

 3 tbsp sliced almonds

1/2 tsp ghee to saute almonds

2 tbsp shelled pistachio nuts, for garnish

1 tsp Rosewater (optional)

Preparation

Sevian – If your sevian is in 11-12″ long lengths, with a pair of kitchen shears cut into 4 equal parts. Set aside.

Cashews halves (if using) – In a saute pan, heat ghee till hot but not fuming. Add almonds and stir constantly for about 2 minutes until it is golden brown. Remove to a bowl and set aside.

Almonds – In a saute pan, heat ghee till hot but not fuming. Add almonds and stir constantly for about 2 minutes until it is golden brown. Remove to a bowl and set aside.

Cooking Method

In a heavy bottom saute pan, on low heat, heat the ghee till hot but not fuming. Add the cloves. As soon as they swell up, add the vermicelli.

 Saute for 2-3 minutes until the vermicelli is a golden brown. There will be a distinct glistening on the vermicelli & it will release a scent. Stir constantly during this process. Watch for strands vermicelli turning brown quicker than others.

 Add all the milk. Increase heat to medium & bring to simmer.

 Lower heat immediately and stir regularly for about 20 minutes. The vermicelli will have expanded and the milk should show signs of slight thickening.

 Add the sugar, almonds & cardamom powder and then stir it.

 Taste and adjust seasonings.

 Simmer for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat. Add rose water and stir.

Garnish with sliced pistachios.  Serve warm or hot.

 Note

 It is very important to be at hand stir. If the milk sticks to the bottom of the pan as it thickens, it will give out a burnt milk smell and the entire will have to discard.

 As the Sevian sits it will thicken. So you may add as much as 1/2-1 cup of milk to thin but only do so once warmed. Also once again taste and adjust the sugar if needed.

 How to make Raisins Gojju (curry)

Ingredients

Raisins (soaked overnight) 1 cup

Sugar 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Lemon juice 2 tsp

Tempering

Oil 2 to 3 tsp

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds 3/4 tsp

Pepper powder 1/2 tsp

Red chillies (broken)  2

Curry leaves few

Method

Mash soaked raisins with a spoon(can even be coarsely grinded in a blender). Heat oil in a kadai, add mustard seeds. When it splutters, add cumin seeds and pepper powder (can add 1 tsp of whole pepper if the powder is not available). Now add red chilies. When it becomes dark red, add curry leaves. Now add Raisins, sugar, salt, and little water. Cook for 5 mins and remove from heat. Now add lemon juice and mix well. Serve as a side dish with rice or Indian bread.

This serves as the best side dish with Khara Pongal. Khara means spicy in the Kannada language. This dish is prepared specially during the Makar Sankranti festival in Karnataka and the Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu.

Safety profile

There are a few risk factors in excessive consumption of raisins.

  • Weight gain: They are quite high in calories, which can increase weight quickly if you are not careful with portion sizes.
  • Diabetes risk: Dried fruits contain the highest content of fructose (fruit sugar), which has been linked with high levels of triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides can increase your chances of developing diabetes.
  • Allergy: Some people have allergic reactions. They range from wheezing, breathing problems, diarrhea, and even fever, in some cases.

Fun facts about raisin:

  • Half of the world’s supply of raisins come from California.
  • Raisin colors vary by the drying process. For example, a dark purplish/black raisin is sun-dried. A light to medium brown raisin is mechanically dehydrated in special drying tunnels. A golden to bright yellow raisin is mechanically dried and treated with sulfur dioxide to retain color and a green raisin is dried by air in adobe houses.
  • March 24th is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day.
  • April 5th is National Raisin & Spice Bar Day.
  • April 30th is National Raisin Day.
  • Cool storage is the best way to keep raisins. They must be put in a sealed container and refrigerated after removing the package. Raisins will retain their flavor, color, and nutritive value if stored in the refrigerator. They survive for a longer duration if frozen. Raisins will thaw quickly at room temperature. If raisins become dry due to improper storage, rinse them in tap water to dissolve the sugar crystals and restore the moisture.
  • California discovered the commercial potential of raisins quite by accident. In 1873, a freak hot spell withered the grapes on the vine. One enterprising San Francisco grocer advertised these shriveled grapes as “Peruvian Delicacies” and the rest is history. California is now the world’s leading producer of raisins.

Things you didn’t know:

  • It takes more than 4 tons of grapes to produce 1 ton of raisins.
  • The finest raisins are considered to come from Malaga in Spain.
  • Golden raisins are made by treating the raisins with a lye solution, sometimes with lye and then burning sulfur, and sometimes with sulfur dioxide.
  • Fresno, California is the Raisin Capital of the World.
  • The California Dancing Raisin was introduced in 1984 by the California Raisin Industry marketing staff to increase awareness and demand for California raisins.
  •  The word “raisin” dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French. In modern French, raisin means “grape”, while a dried grape is a raisin sec, or “dry grape.”
  • . Raisin varieties depend on the type of grape used and are made in a variety of sizes and colors, including green, black, brown, blue, purple, and yellow.
  •  Seedless varieties of raisins include the sultana, the Greek currants and Flame grapes
  •  Raisins are traditionally sun-dried, but may also be water-dipped and artificially dehydrated.

More things about Raisin:

  • “Golden raisins” are treated with sulfur dioxide after drying to give them their golden color.
  •  Black Corinth or Zante currant are miniature, sometimes seedless raisins that are much darker and have a tart, tangy flavor. They are often called currants.
  • . Muscat raisins are big compared to other varieties, and they’re also sweeter.
  •  Several types of raisins produced in Asia are available in the West only at ethnic grocers. For example, monukka grapes can only be found at specialty stores.
  •  Global raisin production in 2016 was 1.2 million metric tons, with the United States as the top producer, contributing 24% of the global harvest.
  • Half of the world’s supply of raisins are grown in California.
  • California discovered the commercial potential of raisins by accident. In 1873, a freak hot spell withered the grapes on the vines and one enterprising San Francisco grocer advertised these shriveled grapes as “Peruvian Delicacies” which is what attracted so much attention.
  •  It takes more than 4 tons of grapes to produce 1 ton of raisins.
  • The California Dancing Raisin was introduced in 1984 by the California Raisin Industry marketing staff to increase awareness and demand for California raisins.

Brain boosters:

  • It’s believed that humans discovered raisins when they happened upon grapes drying on a vine. History books note that raisins were sun-dried from grapes as long ago as 1490 BC.
  • Crusader knights first introduced raisins to Europe when they returned home from the Mediterranean. Packing and shipping techniques were good enough to ship raisins throughout northern Europe
  •  In the 14th century, raisins became an important part of European cuisine. Spaniards perfected viticulture, or grape growing, and Roman physicians prescribed raisins to cure anything from mushroom poisoning to old age.
  •  In the 18th century, Spanish missionaries in Mexico moved into California and helped the farmers grow grapes for wine.
  •  In 1876, Scottish immigrant William Thompson grew a seedless grape variety that was thin-skinned, seedless, sweet, and tasty. Today, 95% of California raisins are made from Thompson seedless grapes.
  • In the late 1800s, Armenians descended from the first founders of vineyards in Persia began settling in the San Joaquin Valley. The area now supplies raisins for nearly half the world, making it the largest producer anywhere.
  •  The best raisins are considered to come from Malaga in Spain.

Links to some best Amazon products:

Ziofit Indian Long Raisins, 200g (Buy 1 Get 1 Free)

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Happilo Premium Afghani Seedless Black Raisins, 250g (Pack of 2)

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Natureland Organics Raisins / Kismis 250 Gm – Organic Raisins

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