Dates are a he althy snack due to their high fiber content and valuable ingredients. You can get the fruits fresh from September to January. Unfortunately, the treat is quite delicate and spoils quickly. Dried dates, however, can be eaten for at least a year. You can find out how you can preserve the “bread of the desert” at home in the following article.
How can you dry dates and how long do they last?
To dry dates, you can either dry them in the sun or in the oven at a temperature of 50-55 degrees for about 26 hours. Dried dates have a shelf life of at least one year and should be stored in an air-permeable box.
Make dried dates
Drying reduces the water content of the fruits, which are about the size of a plum, to twenty percent.
Drying dates in the sun
After collecting the ripe dates, they are traditionally placed 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:
- Wash the dates briefly under running water.
- Place on a cake rack in the sun.
- The fruits are dried when they have a dull, slightly wrinkled skin and at the same time have a soft, creamy flesh.
Drying dates in the oven or a dehydrator
If you decide on this option, you should definitely pay attention to the right temperature. If you dry the fruit too hot, the outer skin will solidify before the internal moisture can 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. Therefore, always check whether the dates have dried sufficiently.
How long do dried dates last?
Due to the high sugar content, the dried fruits last for at least a year. The sugar then begins to crystallize and the aroma subsides.
Store dates correctly
Fresh dates must be stored in a cool place. Under no circumstances should you pack the fruits in plastic, as they will spoil quickly. It is best to store dried fruits in an air-permeable box.
Tip
If the dates become too hard and dry due to long storage, you can simply soak the fruits in warm water or milk. They soak up the liquid and become pleasantly soft again.
