Dried fruits are increasingly used nowadays in both sweet and savory dishes. They are a favored ingredient in breads, muffins, chutneys, stuffing and sauces. Though they have a long shelf life, dried fruits are best stored in the freezer.

The majority of nuts and dried fruits have a shelf life of six months to a year.

If well-packaged and frozen, dried fruits can be stored in the freezer for three or four times longer than on the shelf.

When freezing dried fruits, the best option is to use vacuum packaging to help them retain a fresh taster longer than if stored in non-vacuumed jars and plastic bags. If you don't have vacuum packaging, use freezer bags or freezer containers to store fruits.

The colors of dried fruits are affected and fade when exposed to light. The light also destroys vitamins C and A in fruits. Store dried fruits in dark cabinets, refrigerators and freezers.

Dried fruits are mostly eaten without reconstituting them. They make for very nutritious snacks. They are non-perishable, take little space and are lightweight. They may be soaked in cold or hot water to make them more chewable. Using fruit juice instead of water adds more flavor to the fruits.