How to Freeze Medjool Dates and Pitted Dates
Thanks to their high sugar content and low water content, Medjool dates freeze well without losing much of their texture, and they usually keep in the freezer for up to a year. Medjool dates, like other dried dates, can also be stored at room temperature for a relatively long period of time, but if you have a lot of dried Medjool dates or regular pitted dates on hand and you think you won't be able to use your Medjool dates or other dates by their use-by date, it is best to store them in the refrigerator or the freezer. Storing dates in the refrigerator or freezer, rather than in the pantry, is also recommended in hot, humid environments.
Pitted Medjool dates, like other common dried dates including Deglet noor dates, can be frozen either whole or in the form of date paste. In this how-to article, we'll show you simple method for freezing whole dates, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to make and freeze date paste.
How to Freeze Whole Dates
- Clear some space in your freezer, and gather the equipment. You will need a sharp paring knife, freezer-safe bags or containers, permanent marker and freezer labels.
- Use the paring knife to cut a slit down the center of each Medjool date you want to freeze, and remove the pit. If you are freezing pitted dates, skip this step.
- Put the pitted dates in freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving no headspace.
- Use the permanent marker to label and date the bags or containers, and put them in the freezer.
- Frozen Medjool dates can be used much in the same way as fresh pitted dates. What's more, unthawed frozen dates make smoothies extra refreshing, and because they never freeze solid due to their high sgar content, they can also be eaten out of hand as a refreshing snack.
How to Make and Freeze Date Paste
- Put pitted Medjool dates or other pitted dates in a bowl, and pour filtered water over the dates, just enough to cover them. Let soak for about an hour.
- Drain the dates, but reserve the soaking water, and place the dates in a food processor or blender (single-serving-style blenders are great if you are processing only a small amount of dried fruit).
- Puree the dates, adding soaking water 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dates turn into a smooth but thick paste.
- To freeze your date paste, fill the sections of an ice cube tray with the paste, leaving some headspace, and place the tray in the freezer.
- Once frozen, transfer the date paste cubes to freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving as little air inside as possible, and pop them back into the freezer for storage.
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