Dried dates vs. Fresh dates - what's the difference?

Dates are incredibly delicious fruits that are coming back into fashion. They’re packed with sweetness and nutrients, making them better treats than empty calorie snacks like candy.

But what are the differences between dried and fresh dates?  The biggest difference lies in when they are harvested. Khalal dates are immature, hard and yellow dates. Rutab dates have been developed to their ripest form, and the dried dates are dried in the sun for some time before being plucked.

Today we’ll take an in-depth look at each type, including its physical characteristics, flavor, texture, nutritional content, and even how the different types are used.

And lastly, we’ll compare them side by side so you can see exactly what each and every difference is.

What are dates?

Dates are delicious small fruits that are extremely sweet; in fact, they are one of the naturally sweetest fruits in the world! Its name can be directly translated in Greek as “fingers”, which refers to its shape.

There are tons of varieties of dates around the world, and when you travel, you’re sure to find new ones along the way.

What we love about this fruit is that it is one of the few that virtually all cultures incorporate into their cuisine in one way or another.

For example, in Britain dates are chopped and mixed into traditional sticky toffee pudding or Christmas puddings.

In the southeast of Spain, dates are wrapped in bacon and fried. In Israel there is a date syrup called silan, which is often used to flavor chicken or as a substitute for honey.

And in many Middle Eastern countries, it has become a staple ingredient that serves a multitude of purposes.

Recently, dates have been on everyone’s lips again. And because we now have such easy access to products from around the world, as well as information about them, it can be quite overwhelming at times.

The biggest question we get around dates is what is the difference between fresh and dried dates, if there is a difference at all. Well then, let’s dig into it!

fresh dates

Fresh dates can be found in two ways . However, the shape you’ve probably come across isn’t really cool. The types of fresh dates are separated according to their degree of ripeness.

Khalal dates (unripe dates)

First, you have the khalal dates, or unripe dates, to make it easier. “Khalal” refers to the phase when the dates are harvested (which is when they are unripe).

These dates are the freshest form of edible dates you can find, but they are also the hardest to come by.

If you’re not in a date-growing region, chances are you won’t be able to try them. They are only harvested between August and a few days or weeks in September. 

At this stage of the harvest, the dates have reached their maximum size and weight. At this stage, they have a relatively high moisture content of around 80%.

This gives the pale yellow fruit a slightly sweet flavor, similar to apples, coconuts, and sugar cane. As for the texture, the flesh is crunchy and hard, similar to that of a pear.

These dates are usually eaten as is. They are very popular snacks when in season. You can find them sold in bundles in stores or from street vendors.

Although you can probably use unripe dates in dishes, it’s not very common and most people wait for the sweetness to develop first.

Rutab dates (ripe dates)

In this phase, the dates have reached their full maturity and have completely changed in texture, flavor and colour.

The dates are now light brown in color and have started to wrinkle from losing moisture. Ratub dates usually only have a moisture content of 50-70%.

As they mature, they develop a smooth and extremely juicy texture that almost melts in your mouth. And its sweetness is also greatly increased. You will definitely notice some caramel-like flavors.

These dates are quite perishable, but they will last up to 2 years if kept frozen . You can usually find these ripe dates in most areas of the world.

Rutab dates are very popular as a snack, but they are also used in pretty much any way you can think of. They can be eaten in crackers, incorporated into stews, casseroles, curries, tagines and even salads.

You can also use them as part of your desserts and even as a garnish. They will add both texture and sweetness.

Just remember to remove the stone from the date by cutting each fruit in half. The bone should come out easily.

dried dates

Dried dates are the “final” form in which these fruits will develop. It is also called the Tamr stage and it is when the dates are driest; they are the most common form of dates around the world.

Tamr dates only contain 10% moisture and have a very dark brown color and wrinkled skin.

The dates are kept on the date trees and dried in the sunlight. Sometimes you’ll see them labeled “sun-dried dates.”

These dates, thanks to their low moisture content, can last up to years without the need to preserve them.

And, thanks to their concentrated sweetness, sugars also help preserve them. Naturally, these dates are not as juicy as the others, but they are much sweeter!

Dried dates are a very popular snack, especially in areas where fresh and in-season dates are not available. They can be used in much the same way as Rutab dates, but sometimes the dried dates will need to be rehydrated first.

To rehydrate them, simply submerge them in hot water for about 8-10 minutes. This will return moisture to them, making them easier to handle and use. Again, remember to remove the bone inside.

Nutrition

Unfortunately, there isn’t much research on the nutritional differences between fresh and dried dates.

What we can say for sure is that dates are very nutritious and tasty fruits with many health benefits.

Dates contain protein, vitamins B6, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. Naturally, dates contain a large amount of sugar and are therefore very caloric.

An average size date contains about 20 calories each!

Despite its high sugar content, it is also high in polyphenols and fiber. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant that help protect the body against inflammation.

In general, dates are an excellent source of polyphenols compared to most vegetables and fruits.

And as for the fiber content, just a quarter cup of dates contains 12% of your daily fiber needs.

Overall, it’s a fantastic nutrient-dense snack that keeps you feeling full for a long time, or at least satisfies your sugar cravings.

Fresh vs. Dried Dates: What’s the Difference?

First of all, we will see the most notable differences between fresh dates and dried dates. Fresh dates are harvested in two stages, although they are very different from each other. Both are classified and marketed as fresh for their taste.

Khalal dates (unripe dates) are yellow in color and have very thick and hard flesh. They have a high moisture content and are slightly sweet and very juicy.

Rutab dates (ripe dates) are light brown in color, very juicy and extremely sweet. They have developed a smoother texture and a caramel-like flavor. 

Tamr dates (dried dates) are completely different from fresh dates. They contain the least amount of moisture and are not juicy at all.

The loss of moisture has also caused the sugars to concentrate and produce extremely sweet dried fruit. Dried dates are also very dark in color and generally relatively hard in texture with a thick, leathery skin.

Unripe dates are generally only good as a fresh snack. They are not used in many other ways, at least that we can find. However, ripe and dried dates can be used in much the same way.

Dried dates only need to be rehydrated in some cases, such as when making a smoothie or incorporating them into a dessert.

Khalal dates have a very short shelf life before ripening into Rutab dates.

They are usually only in season in August. Rutab dates are more perishable, but can be frozen for up to two years. Tamr dates can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 years.

Dates are packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and contain some vitamins and minerals. They also naturally contain a ton of sugar that increases as the dates ripen.

The number of calories is quite high (about 20 calories per medium-sized date) . However, at least they are not empty calories like those provided by candies.

Are they interchangeable?

We would not say that you can substitute unripe dates (Khalal) for any of the others. Or even by other fruits. But you can interchange the ripe and dry dates.

As we have said before, you can rehydrate dried dates to restore moisture. This will allow you to use them in exactly the same way you would use ripe dates.

As for using ripe dates instead of dried ones, depending on how you have to use them, you don’t necessarily have to make any changes to them.

If you have to use the dates in dry form, you can place the ripe dates inside the oven and over low heat and leave them there for a couple of hours.