What’s the difference between fresh and dried dates?

Healthy and balanced , Magazine , Nutritional advice

Published : 04/26/2023

What’s the difference between fresh and dried dates?

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between fresh dates and dried dates? Both are the same fruit, the date, that is grown from the tree Phoenix Dactylifera L. in desert oasis. However, the two types of fruit are different in many ways. Being experts in dried fruit with no added sugar, in this article we’ll explain in detail what’s the difference between fresh and dried dates.

Fresh dates vs dried dates

Dates are botanically called drupes or berries, grow in clusters on date palms and are extremely variable in shape and size. The first distinction to be made is that fresh dates are indeed fresh fruits that do not undergo a drying process after harvesting. Dried dates, on the contrary, are fruits that are dried using different times and methods.

Fresh dates can be stored in cold rooms at around -20°C for several months without altering their taste, packed in cardboard boxes and consumed at different stages of ripeness. The following varieties are usually stored fresh:

Deglet
Khatari
Halima
Saiedi

Some varieties such as Berhi and Hiann are also sold fresh.

Dried dates, on the other hand, do not need refrigeration: once dried in the sun, they are stored in jute bags. Almost all dates are sun-dried, so as to increase their sugar concentration and make them sweet. Among the types of dried dates, Medjool dates stand out. Medjool dates are native to the Jordan river. Large, soft and sweet, the Medjool date varies in colour from light to dark brown, depending on its area of origin. Not only are Medool dates renowned for their sweet flavor, but also for their unparalled juiciness. Each dried date weighs around 15-23 grams. Dates are available from October to February.

There’s a clear difference in the aspect of fresh and dried dates: dried dates are darker, their skin’s rather wrinkled and they have a an irregular oblong shape. Fresh dates, instead, have a smooth skin and are perfectly cylindrical.

It should also be remembered that, considering the same serving size, dried dates are higher in minerals, vitamins and sugar than fresh dates, as a consequence of the drying process. They can therefore give immediate energy but also lead to excess calorie intake if not consumed moderately. To avoid this situation, the recommended daily portion for dried dates is 30g, according to the Linee Guida per una Sana alimentazione (Healthy Eating Guidelines).* Moreover, fresh dates are higher in water than dried dates, as the drying process removes most of the water contained in the fruit. On the other hand, the presence of water makes the fruit more perishable, so dried dates last longer than fresh dates.