Dried foods infused with inulin are provided, especially whole fruit
pieces. Such products are characterized as food pieces having a water
activity ranging from about 0.15 to 0.5. The foods can comprise about 1%
to 30% inulin. The inulin has a D.P ranging from about 2 9. The products
are shelf stable and provide high levels of fiber. The inulin bearing
dried products can be added to other foods such as Ready-to-eat cereals
base to provide high fiber blended products without need to altering the
characteristics of the cereal base or its method of manufacture. Methods
of preparing dried inulin infused fruit products are described comprising
the steps of providing a quantity of un-comminuted food pieces having a
moisture content ranging from about 40% to about 95%; infusing the food
pieces with an inulin wherein the inulin has a degree of polymerization
ranging from about 2 9 to form an at least partially inulin infused food
piece; and drying the inulin infused food piece to a finish water
activity ranging from about 0.4 to 0.55.