How long do dates keep? - dried fruit storage

[Guest guest]

Hi Lois,

These are general comments that generally apply to any non-oily dried fruit or

vegetables, and I don't think dates are particularly different.

 

As long as they are dried enough to prevent mold or fermenting, as basic food

for calories, they will keep indefinitely.

 

Especially in the refrigerator, a bigger issue would be preventing them from

picking up odors from the rest of the food.

 

As with any food, especially raw food where you really want to get the benefit

of all those fragile nutrients, the colder it is, the better the vitamins,

enzymes, and flavor will keep. I got a small chest freezer for long-term storage

of dried goods.

 

All dried food keeps much better at 0 F than at 40 F, especially if it wasn't

packed in an oxygen-free container first.

 

To preserve the same level of quality in oily dried goods as the non-oily dried

goods, they need to be kept at lower temperatures, in air tight containers, and

for long-term storage, in oxygen-free containers. This is because the fats and

oils will continue oxidizing at low temperatures where the biological processes

stop.

 

I keep 2-4 weeks worth of my stock food items in the refrigerator, and restock

as necessary out of the freezer.

 

May your day be filled with clarity, grace, progress, and warm laughter,

Roger

 

-

" Lois Cole " <loisc100

<rawseattle >

Friday, May 13, 2005 8:29 AM

[RawSeattle] How long do dates keep?

 

 

> I want to buy more dates and I am wondering how do they keep in the

refrigerator? How long?

> Also, what is the difference in the Honey dates, over the others? I bought a

mixed box of dates from the Date People, and want to buy more, as the season is

ending, I guess.

>

> In Health, Lois

>

>

>

> Mail Mobile

> Take Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your advice. However, the dates from the Date People are fresh, not

dehydrated. They are sooo good! Nice and soft. On the box it said to

refrigerate, but doesn't tell how long they would last. I guess the date people

think the dates will get ate up quick.

Lois

 

Roger Padvorac <roger wrote:

Hi Lois,

These are general comments that generally apply to any non-oily dried fruit or

vegetables, and I don't think dates are particularly different.

 

As long as they are dried enough to prevent mold or fermenting, as basic food

for calories, they will keep indefinitely.

 

Especially in the refrigerator, a bigger issue would be preventing them from

picking up odors from the rest of the food.

 

As with any food, especially raw food where you really want to get the benefit

of all those fragile nutrients, the colder it is, the better the vitamins,

enzymes, and flavor will keep. I got a small chest freezer for long-term storage

of dried goods.

 

All dried food keeps much better at 0 F than at 40 F, especially if it wasn't

packed in an oxygen-free container first.

 

To preserve the same level of quality in oily dried goods as the non-oily dried

goods, they need to be kept at lower temperatures, in air tight containers, and

for long-term storage, in oxygen-free containers. This is because the fats and

oils will continue oxidizing at low temperatures where the biological processes

stop.

 

I keep 2-4 weeks worth of my stock food items in the refrigerator, and restock

as necessary out of the freezer.

 

May your day be filled with clarity, grace, progress, and warm laughter,

Roger

 

-

" Lois Cole " <loisc100

<rawseattle >

Friday, May 13, 2005 8:29 AM

[RawSeattle] How long do dates keep?

 

 

> I want to buy more dates and I am wondering how do they keep in the

refrigerator? How long?

> Also, what is the difference in the Honey dates, over the others? I bought a

mixed box of dates from the Date People, and want to buy more, as the season is

ending, I guess.

>

> In Health, Lois

>

>

>

> Mail Mobile

> Take Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lois,

 

If you have space, I'd suggest freezing dates for later, even if they

are moist. It'd be better than keeping them too long at warmer

temperatures. Just pack some into smaller, airtight, containers that

you can pull out as needed. Just keep small quantities in the frig.

 

Even Jaime (The Date People) suggests freezing for longer term. I've

put entire boxes in the freezer, expecially since there is a long gap

between when they run out of dates (now!) and the next growing

season's fruit.

 

Jeff

 

 

[Guest guest]

Is there two growing seasons? I wanted to buy more dates to make Vice Cream, and

was thinking about getting a box of Honey dates. I think he still has honey

dates left?

Thanks for the advice on freezing them. However, what are they like after they

thaw out? I think Jaime told me they would just crystalize as they aged.

Lois

 

Jeff Rogers <jeff wrote:

Lois,

 

If you have space, I'd suggest freezing dates for later, even if they

are moist. It'd be better than keeping them too long at warmer

temperatures. Just pack some into smaller, airtight, containers that

you can pull out as needed. Just keep small quantities in the frig.

 

Even Jaime (The Date People) suggests freezing for longer term. I've

put entire boxes in the freezer, expecially since there is a long gap

between when they run out of dates (now!) and the next growing

season's fruit.

 

Jeff

 

 

[Guest guest]

>Is there two growing seasons?

 

Just one, though different varieties may ripen at different times. I

don't know. If you want dates, call Jaime tomorrow! If he runs out

then try Jaffe Brothers.

 

Regarding thawed dates, they were fine!. Last year the date harvest

was less and Jaime ran out of dates pretty early,, so I stocked up.

The dates did really well.

 

Jeff

 

 

[Guest guest]

Another method of storing dates that was taught to me is to put them

into wide mouth (so you can stick your hand in to pull the dates out)

Mason jars and use one of the vacuum sealers to keep the air out of

the ones you're not using. Store the jars on their sides in the

fridge. (Keeping them on their sides prevents the weight of all the

dates in teh jar from squishing the bottom ones.)

 

I just got a shipment of Honey Dates from Jaime. Hurry. It was one of

the last ones!

 

Annette

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the great advice. A great way to use my wide mouth jars, as I no

longer can.

 

My shipment of honey dates from Jaime was in Portland, OR around 11:00 this

morning, hoping they come by tomorrow, as I'm going out of town for the week

end. Sounds like they are selling out fast. Glad I called when I did.

 

Lois

 

Annette <cloudriver wrote:

Another method of storing dates that was taught to me is to put them

into wide mouth (so you can stick your hand in to pull the dates out)

Mason jars and use one of the vacuum sealers to keep the air out of

the ones you're not using. Store the jars on their sides in the

fridge. (Keeping them on their sides prevents the weight of all the

dates in teh jar from squishing the bottom ones.)

 

I just got a shipment of Honey Dates from Jaime. Hurry. It was one of

the last ones!

 

Annette