[mrsbean]

when raisins are used in recipes which ones are used, i read that ones that have oils in them can harm the wine,looked at different pkts and some are in veg,sunflower or palm oil. so do i need ones from health food shops that are just dried.

[SG6]

Never heard of a raisin in any type of oil.
I just use the ones you buy in a supermarket for throwing into cakes etc down the home baking aisle.

Going to have a look at the dried fruit I have just to see what it says.

OK, you win, it says Vegetable Oil.
No idea what it is there for, and being the last on the list it is the least there by amount, so less then 5% on the stuff I have.

Could it be there as it is a natural oil from the grape?
They would have to list it I suppose if it was.

From past use I would be overly concerned but if happier try a health food shop and have a read of their ingredients. Half suspect they will also have an oil in it now.

[Alastair-I]

Some dried fruit may have a glaze of oil to give them a glossy sheen.

For example, this is the ingredients list for Tesco Wholefoods Snack Pack Raisin Mix 75G (the "TempText" is in the original, and the percentages do not add up)..

Flame Raisin (26%), Green Raisins (25%) , Sultana (25%) ,TempText3.
Flame Raisin contains ,Raisins ,Vegetable Oil.
Sultana contains ,Sultanas ,Vegetable Oil.
Golden Raisins contains ,Raisins ,Vegetable Oil ,TempText4.

Crazy Jack Organic Dried Raisins 375G
Organic Raisins (99%),Organic Sunflower Oil

Tesco Californian Seedless Raisins 500G
Raisins,Vegetable Oil

Tesco Everyday Value Sultanas 500G
Sultanas (99%),Vegetable Oil


I can't find a raisin/sultana product (at least with Tesco online) where the ingredient list is specified (some storebrand aren't giving ingredients lists) and it doesn't contain an added vegetable oil.

[mrsbean]

the book i read from was from b&....the best way to do it,home wine /beer making.says only use pure raisins/sultanas with out preservatives or oil. can interfere with fermentation.it was a 1987 book. hubby says i,m too fussy. any way got tes.. kids raisins 12x14g boxes does,nt say in oil. i will give it a go, then do one with the oil and compare.

[Lardman]

I wouldn't worry too much about it to be honest.

I've read some who wash before using them to clean off the oil but it seems a lot of effort to me. As long as they don't contain anything which will stop fermentation like sodium metabisulphite (check your lemon juice) I'd just chuck any old rasin/sultana in.

Just been and checked the ones I've used for the parsnip and ginger wine and they were snasbods own sultanas with "coating agent : palm oil." No scum and certainly no problem fermenting,

[mrsbean]

will do. little boxes work out quite expensive, defeats the object. just wanted to know what others use. thanks

[sunshineband]

I thought that the small amount of oil was to make sure they don't stick together in one big lump.

Glad it makes no difference to the quality of home brewing -- it certainly doesn't affect baking