Raisins are nutritious. Raisins are rich in iron, calcium, potassium, and B vitamins and provide a good source of fiber.
Raisins make other foods taste better. Raisins have tartaric acid, a flavor-enhancer. Raisin juice and raisin paste are used in a variety of sauces such as pasta, barbecue, and steak sauces to boost their flavor.
Raisin paste is sometimes used as filler in meatballs and meat pies to provide more servings.
Raisins have a rich, natural color. Raisin juice is often added to frozen dairy desserts and baked goods as a color-enhancer, or food coloring.
Ground raisins can be used instead of fat in fat-free baked goods like fat-free muffins, cookies, and brownies.
Raisin paste and raisin juice concentrate are mold-inhibitors that prevent food from spoiling as easily. Bakers often use raisin products instead of artificial preservatives. Raisins extend the shelf life of bakery goods by several days over products without raisin products.
Activities:
1.After reading this selection, do you know what make raisins an important food? How are raisins used? Discuss with a learning partner in plain English.
2. It takes about four and one-half pounds of fresh grapes to make one pound of raisins. To make 6 pounds of raisins, how many grapes do you need?
3. Do you like raisins? Are you curious about how raisins are made? To learn about this, watch the following video:
