Dates

Where to buy them, how to use them, and more!

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Dates are a brown, oval-shaped fruit that grow on a the date palm tree. Dates are usually eaten in the dried form. Dried dates are very sweet, moist, and chewy.

Where to buy good dates

My favorite dates are these Barhi dates, and I also really these Medjool dates. These Medjool dates from Amazon are also good.

Are dates a healthy food?

High in disease-fighting antioxidants and fiber, dates are a very healthy food.

Different varieties of dates

There are many different varieties of dates, all with different flavors, textures, and levels of sweetness.

The most common varieties are:

Deglet Noor – Deglet Noor dates are one of the most common date varieties, but they’re not very sweet. They taste a little plastic-like to me.

Medjool – Medjool dates are large in size. Chewy, sticky, moist, and fleshy. Very sweet caramel flavor. Medjool dates are the favorite of most people.

Halawi – Halawi dates are small with a buttery, caramel flavor. Luscious!

Dayri – Dayri dates are semi-dry. Soft, thick flesh. Less sweet than Medjool.

Barhi – Barhi dates are perhaps the sweetest and creamiest dates available. The taste is amazing too – like a mixture of caramel and butterscotch. These are my favorite.

How do you use dates?

Dates are a wonderful natural sweetener and can be used in cookies and other baked goods. They’re also great for sweetening breakfast cereal.

Tip: Some dates are soft and some are very hard. If your recipes directs you to blend dates in a blender, and your dates are hard, you can soften them by placing them in a saucepan with a tablespoon or two of water, covering with a lid, and cooking over medium heat until they are soft.

Recipes that use dates

How to store dates

Dates should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They will stay good for up to 4 months. For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator or freezer.

Where to buy good dates

I like these Medjool dates from Azure Standard. These Medjool dates from Amazon are also good.