Prune

Dried plum

This article is about the dried fruit. For the trimming of fruit tree branches, see Fruit tree pruning. For pruning of trees and plants in general, see Pruning. For other uses, see Prune (disambiguation).

Dried plums (prunes)

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 Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes.[1] Use of the term prune for fresh plums is obsolete except when applied to varieties of plum grown for drying.[2] In this usage, a prune is the firm-fleshed plum fruit of P. domestica varieties that have a high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

Most prunes are freestone cultivars (i.e., the pit is easy to remove), whereas most plums grown for fresh consumption are clingstone (the pit is more difficult to remove). The sorbitol content of dietary fiber likely provides the laxative effect associated with consuming prunes. 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.

## Production

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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

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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

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Dried plums (prunes), uncookedNutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Energy| 1,006 kJ (240 kcal)

Carbohydrates

63.88 g

Sugars| 38.13 g
Dietary fiber| 7.1 g

Fat

0.38 g

Protein

2.18 g

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins| Quantity

%DV†

Vitamin A equiv.

beta-Carotene

lutein zeaxanthin

39 μg

394 μg

148 μg

Thiamine (B1)|

0.051 mg
Riboflavin (B2)|

14%

0.186 mg
Niacin (B3)|

12%

1.882 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)|

0.422 mg
Vitamin B6|

12%

0.205 mg
Folate (B9)|

4 μg
Choline|

10.1 mg
Vitamin C|

0.6 mg
Vitamin E|

0.43 mg
Vitamin K|

50%

59.5 μg
Minerals| Quantity

%DV†

Calcium|

43 mg
Copper|

31%

0.281 mg
Iron|

0.93 mg
Magnesium|

10%

41 mg
Manganese|

13%

0.299 mg
Phosphorus|

69 mg
Potassium|

24%

732 mg
Sodium|

2 mg
Zinc|

0.44 mg
Other constituents| Quantity
Water| 31 g

* * *

Link to USDA Database entry

†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[7] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies[8]

Prunes contain dietary fiber (about 7% of weight) which may provide laxative effects.[9] Their sorbitol content may also be responsible for this, a conclusion reached in a 2012 review by the European Food Safety Authority.[10] 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.[10]

### Nutrition

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Prunes are 31% water, 64% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and less than 1% fat (table). In a reference amount of 100 g (3.5 oz), prunes supply 240 calories, 7 grams of dietary fiber, and are a rich source of vitamin K (50% of the Daily Value, DV), copper (31% DV), and potassium (24% DV), with several B vitamins (12-14% DV) and other dietary minerals in moderate content (10–13% DV) (table).

### Phytochemicals

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Prunes and prune juice contain phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds (mainly as neochlorogenic acids and chlorogenic acids) and sorbitol.[9]

## Uses

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Prunes are used in preparing both sweet and savory dishes.[10]

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.[11]

## Gallery

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* Raw plums that have not been dried into prunes

* Prunes in chocolate with an almond in the middle

* Moroccan-style tagine of lamb with prunes and almonds

## See also

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* Food portal

* List of dried foods
* List of plum dishes
* Pomology – Study of fruits and their cultivation
* Li hing mui

## References

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1. ^ Growing Prunes (Dried Plums) in California: An Overview. UCANR Publications. 2007. ISBN 978-1-60107-486-7.
2. ^ "Dehydrated Prunes Grades and Standards". Agricultural Marketing Service, US Department of Agriculture. 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
3. ^ Richard P. Buchner (16 May 2012). Prune Production Manual. UCANR Publications. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-1-60107-702-8.
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. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
8. ^ "TABLE 4-7 Comparison of Potassium Adequate Intakes Established in This Report to Potassium Adequate Intakes Established in the 2005 DRI Report". p. 120. In: Stallings, Virginia A.; Harrison, Meghan; Oria, Maria, eds. (2019). "Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy". Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. pp. 101–124\. doi:10.17226/25353. ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. NCBI NBK545428.
9. ^ a b 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.
10. ^ a b c 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.
11. ^ Kawash, Samira (22 December 2010). "Sugar Plums: They're Not What You Think They Are". The Atlantic. Retrieved 13 July 2017.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dried plums.

Authority control databases

National|

* Japan
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Other|

* NARA

*[%DV]: Percentage of Daily Value