Many people enjoy eating dates but are confused, “Do dates need to be refrigerated?”. Do you believe dates are unique fruits that do not require refrigeration? That might be your mistake with this particular fruit.
This article is ideal for you since it will tell you the answer to this question, how to refrigerate dried and fresh dates, and many more. Now, let me explain what I am talking about in greater detail.
Overview Of Dates
Let’s get started with various information to help you understand clearly about dates.
Where Do Dates Come From?
First, every plant, even dates, has its own scientific name. And dates’ scientific name is Phoenix dactylifera. The name sounds really unique because it reminds you of a legendary bird, the phoenix. (1)
The tree is originally from the Middle East and North Africa. Date palms grow well in hot, dry areas with access to groundwater. That is why dates are farmed in some nations with suitable weather conditions, such as Israel, India, and Arabia.
Nowadays, with the tremendous development of science, technology, and contemporary agricultural techniques, dates are extensively grown all over the world, even in Asia countries like Thailand or Vietnam.
Dates have an interesting origin, like their name.
What Are The Dates’ Nutritional Benefits?
It won’t be an exaggeration to state that dates offer many health advantages. First, I will explain why dates are good for you nutritionally.
Dates include plenty of vitamins, such as vitamin A and D, but that is not all. You see that dates could be a functional food for people of all kinds.
Talking about the health advantages of dates, I have to mention some benefits of dates with pregnant women. Dates have no fat, making them ideal for pregnant women because they are not causing weight gain.
There are many health benefits from eating dates every day you should know.
Dates’ Applications
Actually, there are various ways to use dates, from eating them directly to using them for different dishes. Let’s see how you can fully use dates.
Eating Them Directly
If you have just bought dates for the first time, the most simple way to use them is to eat them after unpacking. Basically, dates are just one kind of fruit. It tastes sweet and is easy to eat, even with a picky person.
In my view, I recommend that you should put them in the refrigerator for about 1 hour and then eat them. Trust me, it tastes better when it is cool. You will feel like eating a little gooey honey candy.
As A Side Dish
Some people might not be interested in eating dates right after buying them. It is totally fine because dates can be a great side dish. You can chop them into pieces and add them to your salad bowl.
As I mentioned before, dates have a light sweetness, so you can use dates to replace some of the vegetables that you do not like.
One more way to enjoy dates is to eat them with bread. You only need to take a loaf of bread and then eat it with dates, maybe for breakfast. If you like something more interesting and complicated, try making date bread using an air fryer.
Mix dates with flour, butter, sugar, and baking soda, then bake them. You will have a fragrant, soft, and sweet break for your day.
As A Spice
You can learn about this usage from some cooking books or videos on Youtube. It is just not so popular.
You can use dates as a sweetener that replaces sugar in some soups, grills, or even smoothies. It contains more nutrients than sugar, gives you energy, and lowers tension.
Turn dates into sugar? That is totally possible with this guide!
Can Dates Be Refrigerated? Why?
Let me explain in more detail the main topic. As I mentioned before, dates are simply like any other common fruit. There are a variety of methods. You can consider storing the dates in the refrigerator.
Fruits in general, and dates in particular, all go through a process of growing from seed to fruit and finally rotting. The low temperature slows this process, extending the dates’ shelf life and keeping the necessary freshness.
As a result, cold storage of dates is both essential and acceptable. You could also put them in the vegetable cooler or freeze them for later use. (2)
How To Refrigerate Dates?
The date is a kind of fruit that is very easy to refrigerate. Let me tell you some simple steps to store them. Remember that they do not require any expensive, complicated equipment or professional skill. Now let’s move on.
Dried Dates
Producing dried dates begins with selecting them from the tree, delivering them to the factory, and then washing and drying them.
Step 1: The Time That You Need To Refrigerate Dates
The question is, when will you have to refrigerate them? To avoid losing their quality, place the dried dates in the refrigerator immediately after opening the package.
Step 2: Put Dates Into A Bottle
For dried dates, you should put them in a glass bottle to keep them from insects and dirt. You can easily take out and use dates while checking their condition during storage.
It is totally fine to store dates in a metal box, plastic box, or even paper box. Use what is conveniently opened and observe the dates inside to guarantee that the dates are always in good condition.
Step 3: Refrigerating
The next thing that you have to do is put them into the refrigerator compartment or vegetable cabinet. The perfect refrigerator temperature for storing dates is around 4 to 5 degrees to keep them as long as possible.
Fresh Dates
For fresh dates, all you need is an airtight container. You can get it at any grocery store or supermarket. They are helpful in the cold storage of dates.
Step 1: Packing
Pack your dates into your airtight container to help them retain their fragrance, moisture, sweetness, and texture.
Step 2: Squeeze Out The Air
After packing your dates, you need to squeeze out all the air and seal it. You can put the bag into the refrigerator. Refrigerating fresh dates can help keep them from wilting, becoming soggy, and infested with insects and fungus.
Step 3: Keep Dates Away From Stinky Food
Remember to keep dates away from strong-smelling foods like fish sauce, garlic, pickled vegetables, etc. You should not place all those together in your refrigerator.
Dates may keep up to a year when you keep them in the refrigerator. However, to get the dates’ full flavor and amazing texture, I advise eating them within a week after opening the box.
Do Medjool Dates Need To Be Refrigerated?
I want to highlight one kind of date to help you identify it from others: Medjool dates. You need to know that Medjool dates are fresh fruit. They have a rich flavor, chewy texture, and bigger size than common dates.
The difference between Medjool dates and regular dates is the farmers will package them right after harvesting them from the trees. It means they have no drying process.
You can keep Medjool dates in your pantry as long as you use them within a few days because they will dry out quickly. Therefore, you should keep them for a maximum of 7 weeks.
The best option is to put them in your refrigerator to extend their shelf life. They will retain their natural flavor and texture for months. The maximum storage duration for Medjool dates in the refrigerator is 6 months. They will begin to show indications of degeneration after 6 months.
If you buy dried Medjool dates, you may keep them for 3 to 5 years in an airtight container because they have a longer shelf life than others.
Check how people often harvest Medjool dates.
Other Methods to Preserve Dates
There are other ways to preserve dates besides cold storage. Depending on your conditions and preferences, you can select one of them.
Preserving Dates At Room Temperature
If you don’t like cool dates, you can consider preserving dates at room temperature. The appropriate way is to store the dates in an airtight container on the snack cabinet or kitchen counter.
This way, you can use them in a couple of days without worrying that they are rotten. However, you should put them in a place that avoids direct sunlight.
Last but not least, store dates away from high-temperature objects such as microwave ovens, gas stoves, or ovens.
Date Jam
Many people prefer to consume dates instead of making jam. But this technique can preserve dates if you want to keep them for a long time. Let me show you a straightforward way to make a date jam at home. You can use this jam to eat together with biscuits and bread.
First, let’s wash your dates, then chop them in half. Boil water and dates for about 10 minutes. The next step is to prepare juice and zest of a half of a lemon, cinnamon, and butter. You need to boil water and dates for 10 minutes before adding ingredients.
After adding all ingredients, simmer them for more than 10 minutes. Remember to carefully mix all ingredients to create a thick texture for the jam. When your jam has a nice texture and aroma, let it rest for a few minutes until it cools down.
Finally, put your jam into jars and place them in your refrigerator. This jam has a light aroma and thick texture; you can use it for breakfast or sugar subtitles in many dishes.
You can create your own date jam recipe at home.
Freeze
In case you want to preserve dates for long-term use, I recommend that you should freeze and put them into the freezer. However, this method requires an additional device: a freezer bag.
All you have to do is put all the dates into the freezer bag, gently remove all the air inside, zip it, and put it into the freezer. The ideal temperature should be -18 degrees.
You might wonder how long you should take the dates out of the freezer before using them. If you do not need to use them immediately, you should let them defrost for about 3 to 4 hours. That will help your dates retain texture and flavor as freshly bought.
How Long Do Dates Last?
Dates have long shelf lives. You may save dates from at least 2 days to a maximum of 5 years, depending on your purpose. The table below can help you better understand the storage time of dates.
As you see, you can keep dried dates for up to 6 months at room temperature and 12 months in your refrigerator. With date jam, the maximum period you can use is 1 month. The longest time for preserving dates is to freeze them. You can keep them for 3 years at max.
You can store semi-dried dates for 1 to 3 months at room temperature and refrigerate them for about 6 to 12 months. Like dried date jam, you should use semi-dried date jam within a month. If you plan to use them later, you should store them in the freezer for up to 3 years.
Fresh dates are not too different from these two. 7 weeks is a maximum duration for you to preserve them at room temperature. However, you can keep them longer, about 6 months in your fridge and up to 5 years in your freezer.
How To Know If The Dates Go Bad?
Dates have a long shelf life. However, they can turn bad when put under poor storage conditions. I will tell you some specific signs to help you realize if your dates go bad.
Smell
Remember to smell your dates after opening the box. Dates usually have a lightly sweet fragrance. Once you feel that your dates have an unpleasant smell, such as a sour smell, it is time you know that you have to throw them away.
White Cover
The first sign that you can easily realize that dates are rotten is the white outer layer. Whenever you see that white cover, it means that dates have mold on them. Mold can cause food poisoning, vomiting, and diarrhea. You better throw them away.
Changes In Flavor And Texture
You can also know whether your dates are going bad or not. Dates have a soft texture and a very attractive aroma. When you see them become stinky and rubbery, you know that dates are inedible.
Insects Around Dates
When dates start to rot, they release a smell that attracts insects such as ants, bugs, or even maggots. They begin to devour dates and somehow start the decaying process on them. This is most likely the most noticeable sign.
FAQs
There might be some questions that you are concerned about. Let me answer them for you, I hope you can understand them clearly.
Refrigeration Is Necessary For Dates
There are so many ways to preserve dates. Date preservation is not as complicated as you think. Any preservation method can help to keep the date fresh and maintain its original flavor. However, you should select the method that best suits your conditions.
The most typical method is to place it in the refrigerator, which helps to keep dates fresher for longer and is simple for everyone to accomplish. Dates preservation is not difficult to follow. It’s simply that many people don’t know how to do it correctly.
If you have questions about any storage method, comment below so I can help you immediately. Recommend this article to your friends and family, so they can learn how to enjoy dates without worrying about preserving them at home.
References
- Hort.purdue.edu. 2022. Date. [online] Available at: <https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/date.html>.
- Fao.org. 2022. CHAPTER IX: DATE HARVESTING, PACKINGHOUSE MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING ASPECTS. [online] Available at: <https://www.fao.org/3/y4360e/y4360e0d.htm>.
