5 Substitutes For Dried Apricots (SWEET Swaps)

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One can replace the dried apricot with any number of dried fruits. You can also substitute dried apricots with fresh apricots, dates and prunes. Even dried cherries could be a wise decision. In reality, the sky’s the limit. It all depends on the flavors you like.

So lets look at the popular dried apricots substitutes which are readily available in the market.

5 Popular Substitutes for dried apricots

1. Fresh Apricots

You can easily replace the dried apricots with fresh ones. They taste similar to dried apricots but are juicier and savory. Moreover, fresh apricots are an excellent source of vitamins A and C and contain fiber and potassium.

It is important to note that fresh apricots have a higher water content when substituted for dried apricots in recipes. High water content indicates that you must modify the recipe to consider the extra moisture.

Overall, fresh apricots can be used in various dishes as a delicious and healthful alternative to dried apricots.

2. Dried Figs

Due to their similar texture and sweetness to dried apricots, dried figs make a suitable substitution for dried apricots. In addition, they are a good source of calcium, potassium, and fiber.

Many dishes, including baked products, salads, and trail mixes, might benefit from adding dried figs. Dried figs are an all-around adaptable and wholesome alternative to dried apricots. They are versatile in dishes and have several health advantages.

3. Dates

Dates are sweet fruit with a sticky consistency and a flavor reminiscent of caramel. Many recipes, especially those that call for a sweet and chewy ingredient, work incredibly well as a substitute for dried apricots. Moreover, dates are an excellent source of potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. 

You can incorporate dates in both sweet and savory meals.

For example, you can use them in baking to provide natural sweetness to cakes, pastries, and bread or stuff them with cheese or nuts for a delightful appetizer.

In addition, you can also prepare a tasty homemade energy snack with dates, almonds, and other components.

4. Prunes

Another great alternative to dried apricots is Prunes. They taste like apricots since they are manufactured from dried plums and have a sweet, tart flavor. Prunes are a nutritious and healthful snack because they are also high in fiber, vitamin K, and potassium. 

Prunes can replace dried apricots in a variety of recipes. You can use it in savory recipes like stews and tagines and baked items like bread and muffins. Prunes can also be used as a garnish for oatmeal or yogurt or cut up and added to salads.

5. Dried Cherries

Another fantastic dried apricot substitute is dried cherries. They are comparable in texture, taste, and antioxidant and fiber content. Moreover, dried cherries are an excellent potassium and vitamin C source for health. 

Dried cherries are widely available and may be used in various recipes, making them an excellent alternative to dried apricots. They can be included into salads, trail mix, baked dishes, and more. They also add a splash of color to whatever dish they use.

It’s vital to remember that dried cherries are a bit tarter than dried apricots when using them as a substitute. However, you can counter the tartiness by combining them with other dried fruits or adding extra sugar to the dish. 

Dried cherries are a tasty and nutritious alternative to dried apricots. They have many of the same health advantages as apricots, are simple to find, and may be utilized in a wide range of recipes.

Sun-dried fruit has a short shelf life and needs special handling, so keeping it in the refrigerator is best.

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What are dried apricots?

The “golden egg of the sun” is another name for the apricot. It is a member of the same family as nectarines, peaches, and apricots. It is made by carefully gathering fresh apricots from the dried apricot branch and arranging them.

The names of the collected apricot flavors vary depending on the drying process. Sun-dried apricots are apricots that are dried naturally in the sun. Dried apricots are yellow apricots that have been dried by sulfur.

How are apricots dried?

Dried Apricots can be manufactured through organic methods relying on sunlight or burning a sulfide-containing material.

Dried apricots with sulfite have a more vivid pale yellow color. It is, therefore, more preferred than others. Adding sulfite to the drying process gives dried apricots a longer shelf life and preserves their attractive beauty. 

A sun-dried apricot variant exists. The usually yellow apricot fruit turns brown-black when dried outside under the effect of the sun.

How are dried apricots produced?

Dried apricots are simple to produce and can be kept year-round in your house. 

Apricots are carefully removed from the branch and thoroughly washed.

Next, a clean sheet, cloth, or paper is placed on a flat surface, and lay apricots side by side to dry.

Delicious apricots are simple to dry in the garden, on a balcony, or in an empty, sunny room. It is crucial to arrange the dried apricots in intervals. 

Apricots can be dried at home using baking methods for 10 to 12 hours. 

Drying an apricot using sulfur is an additional technique. Apricots are meticulously plucked from their branches and dried with sulfur to maintain their color and freshness.

How can you store dried apricots?

When kept in the proper storage environment, dried apricot fruit lasts longer. Therefore, keeping dried apricots from moisture is better for achieving ideal storage conditions.

The most appropriate procedure is to store it wrapped in paper towels to protect it from the humidity it will come into contact with during its shelf life. 

Several people wrapped dried apricots in a newsprint to store them. However, the dried apricots should be kept in a glass jar or bag, wrapped in unpainted paper towels, as this is the most accurate form of storage.

Storing dried apricots in the freezer is the way that extends their shelf life the greatest—in the freezer, entirely dried apricots are on top of each other and frozen.

Then, it is placed in a bag and put back into storage after being frozen. You can store the dried apricots in the freezer without risk for up to a year.

How to consume dried apricots?

Fruits with high nutritional content, like dried apricots, are regularly used in diet plans. As a result, it is frequently advised to drink it between meals.

In addition, many diverse recipes call for dried apricots, often eaten with yogurt and milk, and go well with nuts like honey and walnuts.

Moreover, soaking dried apricot kernels in warm water for five minutes before eating is a favored method of ingestion. 

With its exquisite flavor, dried apricot jam, one of the most popular dried apricot delicacies, is favored in various places. The dishes that accent the dried apricot flavor are dried apricot compote and dried apricot compote.

How can you enjoy eating dried apricots?

You can have them as a snack in the evening. Moreover, you can also include them in a smoothie or fruit salad. Furthermore, you can top your ice cream with bits of dried apricot.

Also, dried apricots taste good when you dunk them in your preferred cheese and eat them.

How many dried apricots can you consume in a day?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that people should eat one to two cups of fruit daily. Active people might require more. 

Half a cup of dried fruits is equivalent to one cup of fresh fruit. You can eat a cup of dried apricots daily despite no advice about the dose.

How can you consume dried apricots?

You can consume dried apricots without the sulfites by soaking them overnight. Put them in warm water to soak for at least 4-5 hours or overnight to remove sulfites. Hence, you can then consume dried apricots sulfite free.

What are the side effects of dried apricots?

Not much is known about the negative consequences of dried apricots. The fruit is naturally nutritious for specific food quantities. However, it would be best to use caution when buying dried fruit from the market, including dried apricots. Toxins and other fungi may be present in poorly preserved dried fruits. 

Also, certain dried fruits sold on the market are preserved with sulfur dioxide, which might exacerbate asthma in those predisposed to it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of dried apricots from the same family?

The best substitutes for dried apricots are Peaches, nectarines, and apricots. The three are similar to dried apricots but aren’t the same. Instead, they’re all part of the same family, the Prunus family, a genus categorized by a hard shell surrounding its seed in the center of the fruit. Hence they act as the best substitute for dried apricots.

Can dried apricots be substituted for fresh ones?

Dried Apricots are handy healthy snacks with a longer shelf-life than fresh ones. Moreover, they are highly portable for on-the-go events. However, it is surprising that dried apricots provide the same fruity sweetness to preserves, granola, cakes, stuffing, etc., as fresh apricots. Hence you can always substitute dried apricots for fresh ones.

What can I replace dried fruit with?

You can replace dried fruit with fresh ones only with much more amount. It is because dried fruits have nutritional benefits over fresh ones. Hence, if you are looking for high energy concentration, then dry fruit is your option because it is nutritionally rich and does not have water content. However, drying fresh fruit destroys certain nutrients like Vitamin C. 

What fruit is similar to an apricot?

A Peach is similar to an apricot except for in size. Apricots and peaches have a similar shape, color, and dark skin, but apricots are only about a quarter of the size of peaches. However, when it comes to taste, apricots are less sweet or juicy than peaches. Moreover, their taste has a bit of tartness because of malic acid. However, you can always interchange apricots with peaches in specific recipes.

Conclusion

Apricots are regarded as a superfood because of their numerous health advantages. In this fast-paced world, dried apricots are a popular snack that can keep you fit and healthy.

Dried apricots also find application in many dishes. However, if you are out of dried apricots, you can always replace them with peaches and nectarines, the most common substitute for dried apricots.