Prune

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Prunes Rosales - Dried Prunus domestica d.jpg
Prunes
Raw, fresh prune plums that have not been dried into prunes Ortenauer.JPG
Raw, fresh prune plums that have not been dried into prunes
Dried plums (prunes), uncooked
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,006 kJ (240 kcal)
63.88 g
Sugars 38.13 g
Dietary fiber 7.1 g
Fat
0.38 g
2.18 g
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
5%
39 μg
4%
394 μg
148 μg
Thiamine (B1)
4%
0.051 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
16%
0.186 mg
Niacin (B3)
13%
1.882 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
8%
0.422 mg
Vitamin B6
16%
0.205 mg
Folate (B9)
1%
4 μg
Choline
2%
10.1 mg
Vitamin C
1%
0.6 mg
Vitamin E
3%
0.43 mg
Vitamin K
57%
59.5 μg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
4%
43 mg
Iron
7%
0.93 mg
Magnesium
12%
41 mg
Manganese
14%
0.299 mg
Phosphorus
10%
69 mg
Potassium
24%
732 mg
Sodium
0%
2 mg
Zinc
5%
0.44 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water31 g

Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA FoodData Central

A prune is a dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (Prunus domestica). Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes. [1] A prune is the firm-fleshed fruit (plum) of Prunus domestica varieties that have a high soluble solids content, and do not ferment during drying. [2] Use of the term "prune" for fresh plums is obsolete except when applied to varieties of plum grown for drying. [3]

Contents

Most prunes are freestone cultivars (the pit is easy to remove), whereas most plums grown for fresh consumption are clingstone (the pit is more difficult to remove).

Prunes are 64% carbohydrates, including dietary fiber, 2% protein, a rich source of vitamin K, and a moderate source of B vitamins and dietary minerals. The sorbitol content of dietary fiber likely provides the laxative effect associated with consuming prunes.

Production

More than 1,000 plum cultivars are grown for drying. The main cultivar grown in the United States is the 'Improved French' prune. Other varieties include 'Sutter', 'Tulare Giant', 'Moyer', 'Imperial', 'Italian', and greengages. Fresh prunes reach the market earlier than fresh plums and are usually smaller in size. The great majority of commercially grown prune varieties are self-fertile and do not need separate pollinator trees. [4]

Name change

In 2001, plum growers in the United States were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to call prunes "dried plums". [5] Due to a perception that prunes relieve constipation (perceived as derogatory), some distributors stopped using the word "prune" on packaging labels in favor of "dried plums". [6]

Health effects

Prunes contain dietary fiber (about 7% of weight) which may provide laxative effects. [7] Their sorbitol content may also be responsible for this, a conclusion reached in a 2012 review by the European Food Safety Authority. [8] The report also demonstrated that prunes effectively contribute to the maintenance of normal bowel function in the general population if consumed in quantities of at least 100 grams (3.5 oz) per day. [8]

Nutrition

Prunes are 31% water, 64% carbohydrates, including 7% dietary fiber, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat. Prunes are a moderate source of vitamin K (57% of the Daily Value, DV) and a moderate source of several B vitamins and dietary minerals (4–16% DV).

Phytochemicals

Prunes and prune juice contain phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds (mainly as neochlorogenic acids and chlorogenic acids) and sorbitol. [7]

Uses

Prunes in chocolate with an almond in the middle Chocolate-coated Dried Plums.jpg
Prunes in chocolate with an almond in the middle
Moroccan-style tagine of lamb with prunes and almonds Tajin aux pruneaux.JPG
Moroccan-style tagine of lamb with prunes and almonds

Prunes are used in preparing both sweet and savory dishes. [8]

Contrary to the name, boiled plums or prunes are not used to make sugar plums, which instead may be nuts, seeds, or spices coated with hard sugar, also called comfits. [9]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorbitol</span> Chemical compound

Sorbitol, less commonly known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol with a sweet taste which the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, which changes the converted aldehyde group (−CHO) to a primary alcohol group (−CH2OH). Most sorbitol is made from potato starch, but it is also found in nature, for example in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. Sorbitol is an isomer of mannitol, another sugar alcohol; the two differ only in the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon 2. While similar, the two sugar alcohols have very different sources in nature, melting points, and uses.

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An apricot is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus Prunus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plum</span> Edible fruit

A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. Prunus. Dried plums are most often called prunes, though in the United States they may be just labeled as 'dried plums', especially during the 21st century.

<i>Prunus</i> Genus of trees and shrubs

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greengage</span> Group of fruit culttivars

The greengages are a group of cultivars of the common European plum. The first true greengage came from a green-fruited wild plum which originated in Iran (Persia). Greengages are grown in temperate areas and are known for the rich, confectionery flavour. They are considered to be among the finest dessert plums; Anna Pavord calls them "most ambrosial of all tree fruit" and David Karp describes them as "the best fruit in the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damson</span> Edible fruit

The damson or damson plum, also archaically called the "damascene", is an edible drupaceous fruit, a subspecies of the plum tree. Varieties of insititia are found across Europe, but the name damson is derived from and most commonly applied to forms that are native to Great Britain. Damsons are relatively small ovoid plum-like fruit with a distinctive, somewhat astringent taste, and are widely used for culinary purposes, particularly in fruit preserves and jams.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prune juice</span> Juice produced from prunes

Prune juice is a fruit juice derived from prunes that have been rehydrated. It is a mass-produced product that is often produced using a hot extraction method, and juice concentrate is typically produced using a low-temperature extraction method. It may be used as a dietary supplement to act as a laxative. It is also sometimes used as a flavor enhancer in tobacco products. It is an ingredient in many cocktails, such as the Purple Dragon, or Constipolitan.

<i>Prunus domestica</i> Species of flowering plant

Prunus domestica is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. A deciduous tree, it includes many varieties of the fruit trees known as plums in English, though not all plums belong to this species. The greengages and damsons also belong to subspecies of P. domestica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fig</span> Species of flowering plant known as the common fig

The fig is the edible fruit of Ficus carica, a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae, native to the Mediterranean region, together with western and southern Asia. It has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world. Ficus carica is the type species of the genus Ficus, containing over 800 tropical and subtropical plant species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prune plum</span> Subspecies of edible fruit

The prune plum is a fruit-bearing tree, or its fruit. It is a subspecies of the plum Prunus domestica. The freestone fruit is similar to, but distinct from, the clingstone damson and is especially popular in Central Europe.

References

  1. Growing Prunes (Dried Plums) in California: An Overview. UCANR Publications. 2007. ISBN   978-1-60107-486-7.
  2. Richard P. Buchner (16 May 2012). Prune Production Manual. UCANR Publications. pp. 75–. ISBN   978-1-60107-702-8.
  3. "Dehydrated Prunes Grades and Standards". Agricultural Marketing Service, US Department of Agriculture. 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  4. Growing Prunes (Dried Plums) in California: An Overview. UCANR Publications. 2007. pp. 2–. ISBN   978-1-60107-486-7.
  5. "FDA Approves Prune Name Change". ABC News. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  6. Janick, Jules and Robert E. Paull (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. CABI. ISBN   0-85199-638-8. p. 696.
  7. 1 2 Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis, M; Bowen, PE; Hussain, EA; Damayanti-Wood, BI; Farnsworth, NR (2001). "Chemical composition and potential health effects of prunes: a functional food?". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 41 (4): 251–86. doi:10.1080/20014091091814. PMID   11401245. S2CID   31159565.
  8. 1 2 3 EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) (2012). "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to dried plums of 'prune' cultivars (Prunus domestica L.) and maintenance of normal bowel function (ID 1164, further assessment) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006". EFSA Journal. 10 (6): 2712. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2712 .
  9. Kawash, Samira (22 December 2010). "Sugar Plums: They're Not What You Think They Are". The Atlantic. Retrieved 13 July 2017.