A little primer on dates
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Food Network Kitchens
Q: Dates are so sticky. Is there an easy way to pit and chop them? And are there different types of dates? Which are best for baking? -- Annette Peck, Stockton, Calif.
A: Try spraying your knife blade with a thin coat of cooking oil; that should keep them from sticking too much when pitting and chopping. As far as pitting goes, the easiest way is either to cut them in half vertically, then pull the pit out, or pull the soft ones apart with your fingers and then remove the pit. Or, of course, just buy pitted dates.
Dates come in three styles: dry, semi-dry and soft. Soft dates, like Medjools, are best for baking, as they add moistness to baked goods like brownies and cakes. They're also the lowest in sugar -- the drier the date, the sweeter. The dry kind is especially good for savory cooking, and is excellent in long-cooked stews.
Q: Dates are so sticky. Is there an easy way to pit and chop them? And are there different types of dates? Which are best for baking? -- Annette Peck, Stockton, Calif.
A: Try spraying your knife blade with a thin coat of cooking oil; that should keep them from sticking too much when pitting and chopping. As far as pitting goes, the easiest way is either to cut them in half vertically, then pull the pit out, or pull the soft ones apart with your fingers and then remove the pit. Or, of course, just buy pitted dates.
Dates come in three styles: dry, semi-dry and soft. Soft dates, like Medjools, are best for baking, as they add moistness to baked goods like brownies and cakes. They're also the lowest in sugar -- the drier the date, the sweeter. The dry kind is especially good for savory cooking, and is excellent in long-cooked stews.
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