[Sca-cooks] storing dates

[Stefan li Rous]

Sandra asked:

<<< I normally buy dates in relatively small quantities with a  
particular
recipe in mind, but I have just been gifted with a 1-kilo box of pitted
Omani dates, and I'm not sure how to handle them.  They're lined up  
in nice
rows (in 2 layers) in a plastic lidded box, and I wonder if I need to
refrigerate them, just leave on a (dark) pantry shelf, or ....?  I  
seem to
recall they keep quite well, but don't know if they'll dry out and/or  
get
tough or sugary if I don't use them soon enough. >>>

A very similar question to this came up on this list several months  
ago. Unfortunately, while this Florilegium file has *lots* of  
interesting recipes to use the dates in, I don't find much on storing  
them.

dates-msg         (40K) 12/22/08    Period date fruits. Recipes.

Ummm. Okay, I do have some info that has yet to make it into this file.

===========
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 23:57:19 -0800
From: Lilinah <lilinah at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Dates
To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org

Felicia wrote:
 > How should dates be stored?  I have searched the web with as many
 > different ways of phrasing "How should dates be stored" with no real
 > luck.  I keep getting references to storing data!
 >
 > I feel like if I put them in the refrigerator, they will get sticky
 > from the humidity.  However, leaving them in their box on the
 > counter doesn't seem quite right either.  They arrived in only a box
 > with a piece of celophane folded over them.

Put 'em well covered (in a tightly sealed container) in a cool dark
place. They don't need to be refrigerated, and they will survive out
on your counter.

As for all the recipes you are receiving, i really think it's a waste
of good dates to mix them with all those other ingredients. I really
think these should be enjoyed as they are.

They will keep for a long long time. Sometimes some of the sugar in
them will crystallize on their surface, so if you see some white on
their skins, it's not likely to be mold, but just their own natural
sugar.

<snip>
===========

Only three messages, but fairly long. I guess I'll see about getting  
them into the dates-msg file.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****