Craisin
Encyclopedia
Dried cranberries
are made by partially dehydrating
fresh cranberries, a process similar to making grapes into raisins. They are popular in trail mix
, salads, and breads, with cereals or eaten on their own. Dried cranberries are sometimes referred to as "craisins," though the word "craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
and cannot be officially applied to dried cranberries from other manufacturers.
Most commercially-produced dried cranberries contain added sugar
, to balance the fruit's extreme tartness. They may also be coated in very small quantities of vegetable oil to keep them from sticking together. Natural food stores tend not to use this addition and, additionally, often choose not to coat them with sulfur
as a preservative
.
Many home recipes for dried cranberries involve allowing the cranberries to sit overnight in a water and sugar solution, prior to freeze-drying or air-drying. This can deprive the cranberries of some natural nutrients that would be contained in fresh cranberries.
As with all fruit, drying cranberries drastically increases the number of calorie
s per unit of weight (e.g., ounces or grams) or volume (e.g., cup). This is because removing the water reduces the fruit's size and weight. By reducing water content, the dried cranberries are less filling and people tend to eat more.
and antioxidant
s). However, commercial drying processes substantially reduces the amount of vitamin A
and vitamin C
. The nutrient density is also reduced if sugar is added.
The nutrition facts for 1/3 cup (40 g) of dried cranberries are as follows:
Calories: 123 kcal
Fat: 0.6 g
Sodium: 1 mg
Total Carbs: 33 g
Dietary Fibre: 2 g
Sugars: 22 g
Protein: 0 g
Dried cranberries contain no cholesterol, saturated or trans fats. Consuming dried cranberries will supply very little amounts of an individual's daily requirement for vitamins and minerals. The most substantial daily amount supplied is the mineral is manganese at 5% daily recommended intake. Having 1/4 cup of dried cranberries will supply one serving of fruits and vegetables. The Canadian food guide recommends 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily to reduce stroke, heart disease, cancer risks. In Canada, Ocean Spray "Craisins" are given the Health Check
symbol. This symbol is only given to food products that meet the registered dieticians nutrient requirements. In Canada, Craisins are also considered to be a nut free product. However, in the United States, Craisins are not considered to be a nut free product because of their Trail Mix product that includes nuts.
Cranberries with minimal processing contain the highest amount of antioxidants. However, antioxidants still remain in dried cranberries. Some antioxidants include phenolic acids
, flavinoids, proanthocyanidins
, and anthocyanin
. All are important anti-inflammatory compounds. It is the anthocyanin that provides pigment to supply cranberries with their robust red color.
The added sugar can be a drawback for this product. Essentially, the sugar is added to improve texture, water content, and to reduce tartness. Dried cranberries made with less sugar may be helpful for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Because less sugar is added, there is a lower glycemic index and thus less of an insulin response occurs. Although, this has not been the case in recent studies of participants with higher response times on glycemic intake/glucose output testing batteries.
Cranberries also have an anti-adhesion
quality that keeps certain bacteria from sticking to cells in the urinary tract, the mouth and stomach. They reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections.
Because dried cranberries are a dried fruit
, spoilage is less of a concern than for fresh fruit. Dried cranberries can be a great product to take while traveling because of their extended shelf life.
Dried cranberries can also come covered in chocolate.
Cranberry
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right...
are made by partially dehydrating
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
fresh cranberries, a process similar to making grapes into raisins. They are popular in trail mix
Trail Mix
Trail mix is a combination of dried fruit, grains, nuts, and sometimes chocolate, developed as a snack food to be taken along on outdoor hikes....
, salads, and breads, with cereals or eaten on their own. Dried cranberries are sometimes referred to as "craisins," though the word "craisin" is a registered trademark of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
Ocean Spray (cooperative)
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative of growers of cranberries and grapefruit headquartered in Lakeville/Middleborough, Massachusetts. It currently has over 600 member growers . The cooperative employs about 2,000 people, with sales of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2005...
and cannot be officially applied to dried cranberries from other manufacturers.
Most commercially-produced dried cranberries contain added sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, to balance the fruit's extreme tartness. They may also be coated in very small quantities of vegetable oil to keep them from sticking together. Natural food stores tend not to use this addition and, additionally, often choose not to coat them with sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
as a preservative
Preservative
A preservative is a naturally occurring or synthetically produced substance that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, wood, etc. to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesirable chemical changes....
.
Many home recipes for dried cranberries involve allowing the cranberries to sit overnight in a water and sugar solution, prior to freeze-drying or air-drying. This can deprive the cranberries of some natural nutrients that would be contained in fresh cranberries.
As with all fruit, drying cranberries drastically increases the number of calorie
Calorie
The calorie is a pre-SI metric unit of energy. It was first defined by Nicolas Clément in 1824 as a unit of heat, entering French and English dictionaries between 1841 and 1867. In most fields its use is archaic, having been replaced by the SI unit of energy, the joule...
s per unit of weight (e.g., ounces or grams) or volume (e.g., cup). This is because removing the water reduces the fruit's size and weight. By reducing water content, the dried cranberries are less filling and people tend to eat more.
Benefits
Dried cranberries contain the same nutrients as fresh cranberries (notably dietary fiberDietary fiber
Dietary fiber, dietary fibre, or sometimes roughage is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components:* soluble fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and* insoluble fiber that is metabolically inert, absorbing water as it...
and antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...
s). However, commercial drying processes substantially reduces the amount of vitamin A
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a vitamin that is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal, that is necessary for both low-light and color vision...
and vitamin C
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
. The nutrient density is also reduced if sugar is added.
The nutrition facts for 1/3 cup (40 g) of dried cranberries are as follows:
Calories: 123 kcal
Fat: 0.6 g
Sodium: 1 mg
Total Carbs: 33 g
Dietary Fibre: 2 g
Sugars: 22 g
Protein: 0 g
Dried cranberries contain no cholesterol, saturated or trans fats. Consuming dried cranberries will supply very little amounts of an individual's daily requirement for vitamins and minerals. The most substantial daily amount supplied is the mineral is manganese at 5% daily recommended intake. Having 1/4 cup of dried cranberries will supply one serving of fruits and vegetables. The Canadian food guide recommends 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily to reduce stroke, heart disease, cancer risks. In Canada, Ocean Spray "Craisins" are given the Health Check
Health Check
Health Check is an evidence-based food information program created and administered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The program aims to help Canadians make informed and healthy eating decisions through education, awareness campaigns and the placement of the Health Check logo on the...
symbol. This symbol is only given to food products that meet the registered dieticians nutrient requirements. In Canada, Craisins are also considered to be a nut free product. However, in the United States, Craisins are not considered to be a nut free product because of their Trail Mix product that includes nuts.
Cranberries with minimal processing contain the highest amount of antioxidants. However, antioxidants still remain in dried cranberries. Some antioxidants include phenolic acids
Phenolic acid
Phenolic acids are a type of organic compounds. Included in that class are substances containing a phenolic ring and an organic carboxylic acid function ....
, flavinoids, proanthocyanidins
Proanthocyanidin
Proanthocyanidins, also known as OPCs or condensed tannins, are a subgroup of the flavonoid class of polyphenols...
, and anthocyanin
Anthocyanin
Anthocyanins are water-soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple, or blue according to pH...
. All are important anti-inflammatory compounds. It is the anthocyanin that provides pigment to supply cranberries with their robust red color.
The added sugar can be a drawback for this product. Essentially, the sugar is added to improve texture, water content, and to reduce tartness. Dried cranberries made with less sugar may be helpful for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Because less sugar is added, there is a lower glycemic index and thus less of an insulin response occurs. Although, this has not been the case in recent studies of participants with higher response times on glycemic intake/glucose output testing batteries.
Cranberries also have an anti-adhesion
Adhesion
Adhesion is any attraction process between dissimilar molecular species that can potentially bring them in close contact. By contrast, cohesion takes place between similar molecules....
quality that keeps certain bacteria from sticking to cells in the urinary tract, the mouth and stomach. They reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections.
Uses
Dried cranberries can be used as an addition in salads, oatmeal, cookies, muffins, loaves, breads and trail mix. They can act as a direct replacement for raisins or any dried fruit.Because dried cranberries are a dried fruit
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit where the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, and is prized...
, spoilage is less of a concern than for fresh fruit. Dried cranberries can be a great product to take while traveling because of their extended shelf life.
Other Products
Ocean Spray has different flavors of dried cranberries. The varieties are: "Original", "Pomegranate juice infused", "Blueberry juice infused" and "Cherry juice infused". Snack packs are also available in the Original flavour In the United States, there are two additional products by Ocean Spray. These products are a Trail Mix with Chocolate and a Trail Mix with Nuts.Dried cranberries can also come covered in chocolate.