Storage of : Dates

I have today been given a whole load of the most
deliciously succulent, moist, dates have ever had.

Question: Does one keep them outside at room
temp. or will it go bad ? Should it be refrigerated
or will that change the moistness or its yumminess in
any way ?

Please, I hope some knowledgable hound is out there
without a date this saturday night who may kindly
respond ASAP.

Thanks in advance /Amin

[MacGuffin]

http://www.datepeople.net/commonly-as...

The link below will provide you with the answer.

Link: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf...

Well I have been married for almost fifteen years so I am not that up to "date" with dates (but having a lot of succulent ones sounds like a great thing for a single).

However my "dated" experience would tell me that leaving a date outside (unless you are staying out with the date) or putting a date into the fridge is a sure way to make sure that it is your last meeting with that date. And the date will surely not let you taste any of that yumminess once you release him/her from the fridge.

Sorry, could not resist :-)

Thank you everyone for all your help. Truly appreciated. Mdibiaso, even married people have dates and one does'nt have to be in uncharted territory to experience this kind of a date :-)

You can keep them out for awhile...they are not likely to go bad. The longer you leave them out, the more dried they will get. Putting them in the refrigerator will retard the drying process somewhat, but they will be stiffer (the date sugar in them crystallizes over time) and less succulent. If you have super soft dates such as Barhi, and want them to stay as perfect as possible, you can freeze them for several months and thaw as needed.

I ususally leave them out because I don't like that crystallization that happens when refrigerated. I do put them in tupperware to keep them moist and any critters from getting interested (battling ants this summer).

Here's a good link. You didn't say fresh or dried dates. This covers both.

Way to get an anwser. For all you pitiful people w/o a date, please answer my query.

Link: http://www.cookingvillage.com/cv/kw/t...

I buy dates at a farmer's market. The farmer says that the softer ones such as Medjool to stay soft should be refrigerated. He only comes up here every other week and he does not refrigerate the dates that his alter-ego sells in the other weeks. I find that the plastic container seems to be necessary also, but do not refrigerate. You however may not have the ubiquitous Argentine ants.