Yes, dates last long and you can freeze them to get the best of them.
With proper storage, dates will last two years outside the freezer. If you love to shop in bulk, you most likely freeze a lot of things, and you want to freeze dates.
Date fruits are good snacks and condiments for main dishes. Freezing is helpful if you want to keep date fruits for a long time. But, there is a way to go to get it right, and that is what this article discusses.
What are dates?
Dates come from the date palm trees. The fruits grow in large clusters that hang from the palm tree.
When the clusters mature, they are harvested and covered to ripen (for marketing purposes). When the fruits ripen, they turn brown with wrinkled backs.
Dates are edible sweet fruits with a sticky texture and nutty flavor. You can eat them as desserts, processed with other ingredients to make confections, or just because you want something to snack on during the day.
These sweet fruits are also good condiments for salads, muffins, smoothies, and tarts.
Eating dates has nutritional value. It can help lower your cholesterol levels, control weight gain, strengthen your body to fight diseases, improve digestion, aid detoxification and help with insomnia.
Can you freeze dates?
Yes, you can freeze dates to extend their shelf life.
Dates will last long if you store them properly at room temperature. But freezing can also help to prevent early spoilage and infestation by maggots, bugs, and insects.
Moreover, date fruits freeze well because of their low water content compared to their sugar concentration.
Can you freeze dates with pits?
Yes, you can.
While some dates are already pitted, you have to remove the pits of whole dates yourself. You can freeze dates with pits to preserve them. Gather them together in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze.
Can you freeze date squares?
Dates squares will keep frozen for a week or longer.
Just make sure they cool before you freeze them. Also, when you’re ready to take them out, allow the squares to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze date smoothies?
Yes, you can keep date smoothies frozen for three months. While the smoothie will keep well for this period, you should consume it quickly.
The truth is, after a while, the smoothie will separate into a clear, tasteless juice and a thick chunk of the blended dates, other fruits, and vegetables.
Before you freeze date smoothies, properly mix all the ingredients into a smooth, creamy texture.
Can you freeze date paste?
Yes, you can freeze date paste.
Date pastes keep well in the freezer for up to a year. What’s more, some people prefer to process dates into a paste before freezing. This way, you can freeze more dates, retaining the quality and maximizing space.
The best way to freeze date paste is to pour the paste into an ice cube tray to make date cubes. Remove the cubes and store them in a freezer bag.
Can you freeze bacon-wrapped dates?
Freezing bacon-wrapped dates will keep them fresh and safe to eat for up to three months.
If you plan to freeze bacon-wrapped dates, cook the bacon slightly undone because the bacon will continue to cook when you reheat it.
Then, allow them to cool before you transfer them into a freezer bag. Always thaw frozen bacon-wrapped dates overnight in the refrigerator before you reheat them.
Can you freeze dates covered in chocolate?
Yes, you can.
Freeze chocolate-coated dates to keep them longer. Flash-freeze them for 20-30 minutes to set the chocolate. Afterward, transfer them into a freezer bag.
These snacks will keep for a few more weeks allowing you to enjoy fresh snacks.
Can you freeze stuffed dates?
Frozen stuffed dates are tasty treats for you and your family to an inexpensive frozen treat.
Stuffed dates can stay frozen for up to three months, retaining their deliciousness.
How to freeze dates
- Remove the pits of the date fruits, if necessary
- Divide the dates into small portions of different servings. This way, you don’t have to bring out and thaw all the dates at once
- Put each portion in freezer-safe plastic bags, squeeze out as much as you can and seal them
- Label the bags with the date of purchase
- Then, double-proof by putting the bags of small portions of dates into a bigger bag
- Afterward, keep the bag of dates at the back of the freezer
- Whenever you want to use the dates, take out only as many bags of dates as you would need at a time
- Transfer the bag of dates to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight
How long can you freeze dates?
You can store dates in the freezer for up to twelve months and even several years.
However, it is not advisable to freeze dates for too long. The longer the date fruits stay frozen, the more the quality reduces.
Pros of freezing dates
- Freezing keeps dates longer
- Storing date fruits in the freezer can help preserve them from early spoilage and infestation by maggots and bugs
- Also, when frozen dates thaw, they could become softer and creamier. It’s worth giving a try
- Additionally, frozen date fruits remain fresh and safe to eat. They also retain all the good stuff they contain
Cons of Freezing Dates
- Frozen dates no longer contain water
- Thawed dates could get too soft and mushy to eat
FAQs
Which dates taste like caramel?
The flesh of Medjool dates tastes like caramel. These dates have a chewy flesh and they are smaller in size when compared to regular dates.
Can eating frozen dates cause diarrhea?
Yes, it can. Frozen dates may cause diarrhea if you have too much of them.
Dates have high sugar content, so you should watch your consumption. The drier dates become, the higher their sugar content.
What pairs well with dates?
Cured meat, apples, bananas, pears, cheese, roasted almonds, dark chocolate, pistachios, coconut, and bacon are some foods that make a good pair with dates.
Conclusion
You don’t necessarily have to freeze dates to preserve them. If you store them properly in a cool, dry place, away from moisture and sunlight, they’ll stay fresh and safe to eat for up to twelve months.
However, when freezing becomes an option, you have nothing to lose. Just make sure you store dates in airtight containers or freezer bags before you freeze.
Thanks for reading.
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