Storing Dates: What You Need to Know
Just like with any other food product, it’s perfectly reasonable to wonder how to store dates,
so you can enjoy them for as long as possible, whether they’re fresh or dried.
After the harvest…
It’s important to know that once dates are harvested, they come in two forms: fresh dates and dried dates. In both cases, the dates are carefully refrigerated before they reach our shelves.
The Yummy’z brand, for example, packages its dates after a meticulous sorting process. Once the dates have been packaged in various sizes, they are stored in a cold storage facility to extend their shelf life while preserving their nutritional and flavor qualities.
How long do they last, and how should they be stored? Can dates be frozen? And more. Find out everything you need to know about dates and how to store them here, so you can enjoy them all year round.
A cool, dry place
All you need is theright habits!
Glass jars, airtight containers, plastic bags… how should we store our precious dates? The first thing to know is that no matter what variety of dates you’ve bought, the advice will be pretty much the same—except for fresh dates, which require special care to prevent them from spoiling. Also, the longer you want to store your dates (several months, for example), the cooler the temperature needs to be. This may seem obvious, but it’s always good to be reminded!
Freshness above all else!
Regardless of the container you choose (even the original packaging), as long as it is airtight and kept away from heat, you can store them for several weeks. Room temperature in the kitchen is perfectly fine, but if your home is generally well-heated, it’s best to store your semi-dried dates in the refrigerator. Similarly, if you want to store them for a longer period—a few months, for example—the refrigerator is a better option than your kitchen counter.
Soft dates, on the other hand, should be stored in the refrigerator, as they are more sensitive to temperature changes. This will help them retain their freshness and flavor. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, your dates will keep for up to a year.
Should you wash dates before eating them?
As with any fresh fruit, it’s best to rinse your fresh dates. Rinse them under cold water, then pat them dry with a clean cloth. However, don’t rinse them all at once if you only plan to eat a small amount. Rinsing fresh dates too far in advance tends to make them more fragile and speed up the fermentation process.
As for semi-dried and dried dates, in theory, there is no need to rinse them. If, for example, you live in a producing country and the dates you’ve purchased are locally grown, rinsing is not necessary. If, on the other hand, your dates have been imported, they have necessarily undergone a treatment (a process known as fumigation) and must be rinsed before consumption. This treatment is required by the importing country.
Choose quality
with Yummy’z Deglet Nour dates!
Can you freeze dates?
Have you bought some dates and plan to enjoy them over time, so you want to store them properly? That’s entirely possible, whether you want to eat them as is or use them in a recipe or dish.
Place your dates in a suitable container, such as a freezer bag (be sure to squeeze out the air before sealing it), or an airtight container. All that’s left to do is put your container or bag in the freezer! Frozen this way, your dates will retain all their freshness and flavor.
When you're ready to eat them, simply take them out of the freezer at least 3 or 4 hours in advance. This will allow them to thaw slowly, helping to preserve their quality. Enjoy your meal!
Would you like to learn more?
Check out all our articles on dates—their production, health benefits, and more—at
, as well as a collection of recipes for food lovers!
The 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Dates
What are the different varieties of dates?
Dates and their many byproducts
Fresh, dried… Dates in all their forms
Tunisia's Position in the Date Market
The Best Date-Based Recipes