Difference between: dates and prunes (with a quick glance at figs)

Dates and prunes – let us check out the difference between these two semi-bizarre fruits.

Definitions:

• Date: The oblong, fleshy fruit of the date palm, a staple food in northern Africa, Arabia, etc., and an important export.
• Prune: A variety of plum that dries without spoiling; such a plum when dried; any plum.

As you can see from the definitions, a date is its “own” fruit, while a prune is really a plum. In fact, prunes are often called dried plums now, in an attempt to rid the food item of its negative, old-people connotations.

Both dates and prunes:

• Are sweet and chewy.
• Are used in desserts or jams.
• Are high in fiber – known to help digestion.

Dates:

• Grow on date palm trees.
• The trees are dioecious – the male and female parts are grown on separate plants.
• Are available fresh or dried.
• The dried versions are sweeter than fresh.
• Originated in the Middle East.
• Are high in calories.
• Have high levels of sugars: glucose, sucrose, and fructose.
• Come in many varieties.
• Are sweeter than prunes – often too sweet to eat on their own.
• Are more oblong-shaped than prunes.

Prunes:

• Are dried plums (from a plum tree).
• Are only available dried.
• Originated in Asia.
• Are low in calories.
• Have high levels of minerals and antioxidants.
• Do not have as many different varieties as dates.
• Are not as sweet as dates.

A cute blog called The Quiling Doberman depicts a cook-off between baked goods with dates, and the same dishes using prunes.

The verdict: for many desserts, prunes could “[get] the job done,” but “dates would clearly make the end result better.”

The intense sweetness of dates make them a perfect ingredient in a dessert. But if you’re looking for a quick snack to munch on, prunes are the better bet.

And by the way, figs:

• Come from fig trees.
• Are the oldest fruit to be cultivated.
• Like dates, are sweeter when dried.
• Are rich in fiber, calcium, iron, and potassium.

My Food Substitutions Bible lists figs and raisins as substitutions for dates. Prunes can be substituted with figs, raisins, dried persimmons, dried blueberries, dried cherries, dried cranberries, or dried apricots.