Before Being Eaten, Should The Date Be Washed First?

Illustration of dates (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Dates are fruit from the Middle East which is quite easy to find in Indonesia, and are widely consumed during the month of Ramadan. However, dates must be washed or not before consuming them are still often debated by many people.

Launching from Hindustian Time, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, before consuming dates, it is recommended to wash them first. Laundering must be done considering the dates that go through many things during the screening and sorting process.

When the process of selecting and sorting dates is often carried out using hands that are sometimes not completely thick. Date fruit skins may also have been contaminated with various things such as dust, pepticides, and bacteria, so washing them is recommended first to be safer for consumption.

Not only that, washing dates before consuming it will also facilitate the absorption of nutrients. Washing it will also make dates easier to digest by the body.

"Imbetting or washing can remove the tannin / asam fitta in it, making it easier for us to absorb nutrients from it easily. Soaking can also make dates more digestable," said doctor at the Indian holistic treatment Ayurveda, Dr. Dixa Bavsar.

The steps to wash the dates that can be applied are as follows.

1. Get the dates out of the packaging. Wash your hands thoroughly by using soap and rinse with water. 2. Prepare a filter and a normal temperature water. 3. Spin the dates in the water, keep your hands off for a few minutes. This process is useful for collapsing contaminants or preservatives, dirt, which may be in the skin of the dates. 4. Then filter the dates, and rinse back using normal temperature water. 5. Dry the dates using kitchen wipes, and dates can be eaten.