Raisin or What ??

Raven_k42

A raisin is a dried grape...and both sultanas and currants are raisins ??. Dictionary says so !!. What exactly is the difference...and in cooking terms what can/can't be used for what ?. I like the softer ones...not the ones that go hard and black. Then again...maybe that's because I burnt them.

Never too old to learn.

Thanks,
K.

olaola

They are all grapes - made from different types of grape.
Sultanas are the juiciest and currants are the evil - bluebottle-like additions to scones.

rubadub

AFAIK sultanas & currants are seedless grapes, and certain varieties, so raisins would usually be cheaper.

If you want them softer soak in water overnight. I soak mine in milk sometimes and add to plain uncooked porridge oats. To do it in a rush soak in hot water, maybe even boil them up.


Just found...

Regional variations
In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, the word raisin is reserved for the dried large dark grape, with sultana being a dried large white grape, and currant being a dried small Black Corinth grape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raisin

Minder

You learn something new everyday - I always thought a currant was a dried blackcurrant. :rolleyes:

watna

As far as I'm concerned they're all horrible wherever they come from.

I hate hate hate when you order a lovely chocolate pudding/sticky toffee pudding and it has raisins/sultanas in it!