Due to their high fiber content and valuable ingredients, dates are one of the healthy snacks. The fruits are fresh from September to January. Unfortunately, the treat is quite delicate and spoils quickly. Dried dates, on the other hand, can be eaten for at least a year. In the following article you will find out how you can preserve the “bread of the desert” at home.
Dates can be oven dried or air dried
Make Dried Dates
Drying reduces the water content of the fruit, which when harvested is about the size of a plum, to twenty percent.
Dry dates in the sun
After the ripe dates have been collected, they are traditionally laid on the ground in the producing countries and dried in the sun. This works, provided the weather is nice and warm, even in our latitudes:
- Rinse the dates briefly under running water.
- Set out in the sun on a wire rack.
- The fruit is dried when the skin is dull and slightly shriveled, while the flesh is soft and creamy.
Dry dates in the oven or a dehydrator
If you decide on this variant, you should definitely pay attention to the right temperature. If you dry the fruit too hot, the outer skin will set before the inner moisture has had a chance to evaporate.
- The fresh, flawless dates are carefully washed.
- A temperature between 50 and 55 degrees is optimal.
- The drying time is around 26 hours. It depends on the size and thickness of the fruit. You should therefore always check whether the dates have dried sufficiently.
How long do dried dates keep?
Due to the high sugar content, the dried fruit will keep for at least a year. After that, the sugar begins to crystallize and the flavor fades.
Store dates properly
Fresh dates must be stored in a cool place. Never pack the fruit in plastic, as they will spoil quickly. Place dried fruits in an air-permeable box for storage.
tips
If the dates become too hard and dry due to long storage, you can simply soak the fruit in warm water or milk. They soak up the liquid and become pleasantly soft again.