Where and How to Store Dates?

Love to relish the lip-smacking caramel taste of fresh dates but unable to retain it?

Store them the right way!

Read along to find your answers.

The sweet, tempting taste of fresh dates has pleased generations owing to the date palm, which thrives across the Middle East and beyond. Most kinds of fresh dates including khidri and medjool dates are more likely to deteriorate than dried dates because they contain more moisture. To increase the life of date fruits, proper storage is crucial.

Fresh dates will become less dry and keep more moisture if they are kept away from the air. Place a layer of plastic on top of the dates in airtight containers before enclosing it with the box cover. If not, you must store them in a bottle or container made of plastic or glass that has no room for air. When placing the dates in the freezer, make sure they are double-wrapped in foil and packed in a freezer-grade plastic bag.

Life Span of Dates

Every fruit has a shelf life that determines how long it may be consumed before becoming stale. Yellow Barhi dates, for instance, have a short shelf life; they can barely be kept for a few days at room temperature and a few weeks in the refrigerator. Else, they will become contaminated. Some varieties, however, have a longer shelf life. They can persist even till the next harvesting season. Medjool dates may be kept in the fridge for up to 6 months. But the longer they are kept there, the more moisture they may lose. Also, a lot of dates may be refrigerated for up to a year.

Preserve The Quality

Dates may be kept in your pantry or cabinet for up to a year since they are naturally dried. There are various varieties of fresh dates which are loaded with benefits that need to be preserved. For example, medjool dates benefit the nervous system as it helps to increase the potassium in your diet. To guarantee that the dates maintain the moisture that they do naturally carry when they are freshly picked, date farmers and manufacturers advise shorter storage durations. By soaking the dates in hot water, the dates may also be made plumper.

How To Maintain Taste

In order to preserve the natural caramel taste, it is always advisable to consume them within a month even if you are freezing or storing them. The Barhi, Deglet Noor or Majdool dates benefits, texture and flavor can be retained for a longer time if refrigerated.

Tips To Preserve Dates At Home

The following are some of the methods for storing date fruits at home to extend their shelf life:

Refrigerated

Dates may be stored correctly in the refrigerator for six to twelve months. It keeps the taste of fresh dates as original as possible due to the cooler temperatures. Make sure the temperature in the refrigerator is below 40°F (4°C) and that the dates are sealed to avoid smells and dampness. Dates such as Kholas, Segai, and Medjool dates are advised to be stored in this manner.

Room temperature

The majority of semi-dry date fruits may be kept at room temperature. They can be kept in this manner for a month or more. Dates should be kept in a cold, dry area and should be stored in an airtight container or jar to preserve their flavour. Kitchen cupboards and pantry shelves are excellent storage spaces if they are away from any heat source. It is recommended to keep Ajwa, Sokari, Khidri, and Wanan in this manner.

Frozen

If fresh dates are going to be kept for more than a year, they should be frozen. They should be sealed in a vacuum-sealed freezer bag, ideally an environmentally friendly one, before being put in the freezer. After that, you may freeze them at 0° F (-18° C). As they contain a lot of sugar, they freeze quickly and effectively. All varieties of dates that need to be kept for a long period are advised to be preserved in this manner.

Always Remember

You may keep dates in the freezer for up to three years with decent packaging. If you notice a stale odour or taste when you take the dates out of the freezer, do not dare to consume them. The flavor will deteriorate with time if it is preserved for long. Dates that are kept for a long time develop an unpleasant form and leachate collects at the bottom of the container. After being stored, dates eventually experience moisture drying, which results in the crystallization of date sugar. This leaves spots on the date's skin. It's quite normal, and by slightly heating it, you may melt the sugar crystals. Fresh dates lose their aroma and flavour as they approach their expiration date, which is indicated by a strong stink emanating from them. If the date is dry, adding some warm water or even fruit juice will help it acquire a better shape.