You might have seen a label of pitted dates while passing by a shelf in the grocery store or online store. These are simply dates but are easier to consume. Keep reading to know what are pitted dates, how to pit them at home, and what are their uses:
What are Pitted Dates?
Pitted dates are simply dates with their pits (seeds) removed. You can buy pitted dates of any variety like Medjool, Ajwa, or Deglet Noor. If you don’t prefer buying them from the store, you can pit them at home.
Most people prefer buying dates in pitted form to save their time as they can snack on dates by directly taking them out of a box. After all, who doesn’t like ready-to-eat stuff!
How to Pit Dates?
If you prefer buying whole dates and pit them at home, you can easily do it. Simply, take dates and slice them into halves lengthwise.
Next, take the pits out and store the dates in an airtight container in a cool dry place because dates are not completely dried, some varieties like Medjool dates are sticky.
If you are a health-conscious person and love adding healthy snacks to your diet, try pitting dates before storing them as you’ll feel motivated to eat them as they’ll be ready for consumption without any extra work.
Pitted Dates vs Dates – Which One is Better?
It all depends on your personal preference and your lifestyle. If you don’t like making your hands sticky while taking the seed out every time you eat a date, go for pitted ones.
Secondly, if you plan on adding dates to recipes, again pitted ones are a good choice because you can avoid the work of pitting them. I personally think we can make healthy eating choices if such snacks or fruits are available on the go.
Buying whole fruit is totally okay if you have no problem with taking out the seeds and the stickiness that comes with it. You can also store dates without pitting if you occasionally eat them.
Dried Pitted Dates
Dried dates are even a convenient option because they are like ready-to-eat candies that don’t feel sticky at all. These dates are ideal for snacking and adding to desserts.
However, as with every dried fruit, dates in dehydrated form can be hard to chew. You can still soften dried dates by boiling them in milk or adding them while making any dessert.
Some of the Key Benefits
Pitted dates are a convenient option for consumption. Their benefits depend on the types of dates you are using. Generally, eating a few dates (3 to 7) in the morning will keep you energetic all day long and provide your body with the major nutrients it needs.
Dates have a good nutritional profile, they contain Fiber, Protein, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Iron, and Vitamin B6.
Here are some benefits of pitted dates:
- They contain 7g of fiber per 100g. Fiber is good for your digestive health.
- Dates contain loads of antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid. Antioxidants reduce inflammation, cure liver diseases, make your skin youthful, and prevent diseases.
- Eating dates promote brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Dates contain calcium and phosphorus which makes them good for your bone health.
- They also prevent premature greying of hair and strengthen their follicles.
Uses of Pitted Dates
Here comes an interesting part to talk about. We have mentioned some of the uses of pitted dates, but here are some ideas for you in an organized manner:
Snack on them
Do you love living a healthy lifestyle and keeping your body nourished all the time? Then, you must be snacking on healthy foods. Our body requires a long-term investment when it comes to providing it with nutrition. Our everyday eating choices determine how likely we’ll be healthy in our old age.
Since pitted dates are packed with nutrition and they are easy to eat on the go, you can consume them as a snack. Always eat in moderation no matter how good they taste. We recommend eating 3 to 7 pitted dates a day.
Consume them in Milkshake
Date milkshake is the best alternative to artificial beverages containing a high amount of sugar. This drink tastes pleasant, keeps your blood sugar in check, and provides your body with essential nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and iron.
For a better experience and enhanced nutrition, you can add a banana and some peeled almonds to this drink and consume it in the morning. This will give you an energetic start to the day and keep your energy level up throughout the day.
If you have lactose intolerance, you can use oat milk or almond milk as alternatives. Trying out different types of milk gives a better taste and a diversified nutritional profile.
Add them to Desserts and Fruit Salads
Adding chunks of pitted dates to desserts can give your desserts a nutritional edge and a rich caramel-like flavor. Try adding them to your fruit salads and the next dessert you make.
Use them as a Natural Sweetener
Satisfying your sweet tooth is a way of treating yourself better. So, if you love sweets, you can use paste and serup of pitted dates in baking cakes and brownies.
Takeaway
Pitted dates have their seeds removed. You can pit them at home or buy them in pitted form. They offer easy consumption by freeing you from the hassle of removing seeds. Dates have a good number of health benefits and uses due to their nutritional profile, so it is a wise idea to add them to your diet.
Looking to order pitted dates? You can buy them here.
FAQs
Date seeds are very hard and you can not chew them. So dates have to be pitted before consumption. However, it’s your choice whether you buy whole fruit or pitted one.
Yes, you can eat date pits in powdered form, especially pits of Ajwa Dates. Ajwa seed powder has enormous health benefits and it has been used for over a thousand years to treat heart diseases.