Dried fruits have been a staple meal for thousands of years. Aside from being a dependable food preservation method, drying creates a higher concentration of flavors than its new method. While drying is known to preserve meats and fishes, this is also used to develop the best-tasting fruits.
Dried dates are considered the earliest fruit recorded to be preserved in history. It is then followed by other pulpy fruits like peaches, raisins, nuts, and apricots. The dehydration process is done by extracting the fruit’s moisture out through sun drying. Through time, machine-drying in a dehydrator is now used to speed up the entire drying process.
Are Dates and Apricots the Same?
As mentioned earlier, dates and apricots are known fruits in drying. While other ingredients like sweeteners and salts are added to improve the fruit’s flavor, texture, and shelf life, you can still dehydrate your fruits just using its natural sugars. Water is drawn out into the fruit’s body during the drying process, which later on releases natural sugars.
In the case of dates and apricots, the question relies on whether these fruits are similar. In reality, dates and apricots have a visible difference in size, shape, and odor. Other properties such as nutritional content, calorie count, and health benefits may further add insights into these fruits’ differences.
Are Dates and Apricots Similar?
Dates and apricots are different fruit. Dates have a deeper brown-black color, while apricots have a yellow-orange hue. When dried, these two fruits have a similar size and wrinkled appearance. Dried dates can have a chewier and sweeter taste to a raisin, which apricots somewhat possess, too. This is because both fruits have an immense amount of fiber compared to other fruits.
When dried, fiber can give additional texture to your meal since it is mixed with the fruit’s natural sugar. On their own, fruits contain essential vitamins and minerals and can contain high amounts of antioxidants. In terms of calories, dates have 85% more calories than apricots, making apricots a healthier choice than dates. Every 100 grams of each fruit gives 277 calories, while apricots only have 48 calories.
Eating apricots is a healthier choice since it has higher protein content, low carbohydrates, and heavier fat. It has a macronutrient ratio of 11:83:7 compared to dates which only have 2:98:0. If you want a healthier alternative, you can consume apricots more often than dates.
What Fruit is a Date Made From?
Dates are fruit harvested from a date palm tree and are considered tropical fruit. In recent years, dates have gained popularity in Western countries due to their chewy, sweet taste resembling a caramel bar. Due to its gaining popularity in colder regions, dates have imported a form of dried fruits.
The quick indicator if your dates are dried can be seen according to their appearance. Dates that have wrinkled skin indicate its dryness, while smooth skin can be considered fresh. Like apricots, dates have a different appearance depending on their variety. New dates can be larger or smaller than apricots, with colors ranging from bright red to yellow. The most consumed types of dates are those harvested in Medjool and Deglet Noor.
Listed below are some other helpful insights about dates:
- Dried dates are still nutritious despite their high-calorie content. When dried, it can have the same calorie content as figs and raisins. This is because dates are a high source of carbohydrates, which provide energy and satiates your hunger.
- Dates also have other nutrients like fiber, protein, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, and vitamin B6. Dates are also rich in antioxidants making it helpful in regaining the body’s composition.
- This fruit can also provide 7 grams of fiber in each serving—which can gradually increase your fiber intake. Fiber is essential in clearing cholesterol deposits into your body, improving your digestive tract. It also aids in producing workable stools, promoting better bowel movements.
- Studies show that eating dates can positively improve brain function. Dates contain minerals that can reduce the activity of amyloid beta proteins, an enzyme responsible for creating plaques in your brain. Plaque production is the leading cause of brain damage and Alzheimer’s disease.
Which Are Better Dates or Apricots?
Dried fruit can be created naturally and artificially. Whatever methods are used, the results are similar and don’t affect the overall outcome of the product. Drying is done by removing all the fruit’s possible moisture content, leaving a hard and wrinkled state. When fruits are dried, it results in a denser fruit with a higher concentration of flavor.
In terms of nutrition, if other ingredients are not mixed during the dehydration process, it will not alter the nutritional content of your meal. Adding table sugar will add flavor to your fruit. Still, it will limit the already beneficial effects of fruit sugars like sorbitol and insoluble fibers.
Both of the fruit possess each nutritional value. Apricots are the better choice for people who are engaging in a low-calorie diet. Consuming dates is suggested for people who need higher protein and fiber intake such as athletes, workers, and others. It doesn’t mean that one cannot eat the other fruit; eating dates and apricots must be considered.
Overeating dates and apricots will cause issues in your digestive tract. Apricots and dates are considered gassy foods, which can cause belching and farting if taken in more significant amounts. Gas production is because of the sugar alcohol found in these fruits, like sorbitol, which eats up your enzymes, causing it to produce gas.
- Apricots contain more vitamin A and C than dates. Apricots have lesser carbohydrate content and can give a better protein ratio than dates.
- Dates provide essential nutrients like niacin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6 than apricots. It also has a better supply of calcium and dietary fiber compared to apricots.
- Consuming apricots and dates can be done but with moderation. The daily servings of each fruit are 100 grams each, equating to half of a cup.
