Whole or pitted dates: a practical buying checklist

Decide how the dates will be used

Whole dates can contain their pits; pitted describes a preparation step. Read the exact pack rather than assuming every date pictured in a bowl has been pitted. For chopping or blending, open and check each fruit before it enters the appliance, even when using a pitted product.

For a filled date, choose the format your recipe uses and account for the filling separately. A plain date pack is not a filled confectionery assortment. For a shared table, keep varieties and any filled products clearly identified.

Variety and texture are separate from pack size

A grower's description of Medjool or Deglet Noor applies to that variety and product, not every date sold under a broad category. Use the declared variety and product description to choose the texture you want. Do not promise that a large carton contains a particular number of fruits unless the manufacturer states a count.

If your recipe specifies grams of pitted fruit, whole fruit with pits needs a different weighing step. Weigh the usable fruit after removing pits rather than counting large and small dates as equal units.

Buy around the occasion

• For a small tea table, choose a quantity you expect to serve and keep the remainder as instructed.
• For baking, use the recipe's prepared-fruit weight and check the other ingredients.
• For gifting, check the actual package and whether the dates are plain or filled.
• For repeat orders, record the full variety and format you liked.

Follow the pack's storage guidance; do not assign all date products the same cupboard life. Discard fruit with visible mould rather than trying to disguise it in a dessert. Browse dates and Ramadan and Eid table planning for a complete shopping plan without treating a picture as proof of contents.

Sources and label checks

• Natural Delights: grower’s date questions