Do I need to wash dried dates from the package before use?

Dates can successfully replace chocolate - they are so sweet and delicious. In addition, nutritionists say incredibly useful. But all the advantages of these fruits can be nullified by their improper use. A fact that may surprise some: wash the dates before use is mandatory, even if they are dried and look like ready-made "sweets".

About the origin of the fruit

Dates grow only in hot climates. The main suppliers of goods - African countries, where there are whole plantations of date palms.

Fresh fruits do not represent nutritional value and are not stored for long, as they quickly deteriorate. The unique taste is manifested in dried dates after all moisture leaves them.

The technology of drying products consists in placing them in a well-ventilated chamber, where a constant temperature is maintained within 30–35 degrees. Thanks to this approach, moisture comes out of the pulp gradually, the skin dries evenly, and no cracks form on it.

However, in order to speed up the drying process and reduce costs, many manufacturers expose dates to accelerated heat treatment at high temperatures. This leads to a deterioration of not only the composition, but also the appearance of the fruit.

Before sending for export, the product is prepared for transportation. It is exposed to potentially hazardous treatments:

• fumigation;
• spraying with pesticides;
• sprinkling with antiseptic powders.

Fruits are transported in bales and containers that do not protect against dust, exhaust fumes and pathogens. As a result, exotic fruits come to our country not only dirty, but also potentially hazardous to health.

What do we buy?

When crossing the border, in accordance with sanitary rules, the cargo is again treated with potent chemicals against biological threats. Then the goods are sent to food bases, where the first stage of pre-sale preparation is carried out.

Fruits are exposed to such types of exposure:

• fumigation with sulfur dioxide;
• soaking in a concentrated glucose solution;
• immersion in sugar syrup;
• rubbing with vegetable oil or other fat;
• wax vapor treatment.

The applied substances give the product an attractive shine, but do not improve its quality. Dirt and infection remain under the new coating. Purchased dates become sticky, which contributes to the abundant adhesion of dust, germs and spores during further transportation and sorting.

On sale, fruits come packaged in packages or by weight. Please note that even very beautiful packaging is not a guarantee of product purity. The only exceptions are goods that have an inscription on the packaging stating that the fruits have been sanitized and cleaned.

If dried dates purchased by weight are not washed before use, this can lead to poisoning and disruption of the digestive system. In addition, a sweet substance applied to the skin of the fruit disrupts the metabolism and promotes obesity.

How to wash dates?

Dates are widely used in cooking. They are eaten instead of sweets, put on jams and compotes, used as a filling for confectionery. But if heat treatment kills the infection, then raw foods pose a serious health hazard.

The difficulty with washing the fruit is that it absorbs water very quickly. With swelling, their appearance and taste change for the worse. Therefore, the fruit from the packaging can not be soaked for a long time. It is also not recommended to sprinkle them with boiling water or steam - this causes the fruit shell to crack, and the flesh is cooked, which makes it unsuitable for further use.

When cleaning dates from preservatives, the following rules should be followed:

1. Substances applied to the fruit may be resistant to water. You can remove them only with a soap solution. For preservatives to soften and dissolve, 3-5 minutes of soaking are enough.
2. In the process of soaking, you can rub the fruit with a sponge or a toothbrush - this will save them from hard plaque. Excessive force should be avoided so as not to damage the peel.
3. After soaking, dates should be put in a sieve and washed under a strong stream of cold water.
4. After washing, the fruits must be dried immediately. They are laid out on wafer towels or napkins and covered with the same material. As wet, wipes need to be changed. It is allowed to blow wet dates with cold air.
5. Even after mechanical drainage, it is necessary to allow the fruit to ventilate for 10-12 hours.

Keep dates in a paper bag, taking them immediately before meals.

Despite the attractiveness of dates on the counter or in the package, they are not only possible to wash, but also necessary. Having spent a little time and effort, you can be sure that you are using a tasty, healthy, and most importantly - a safe product.