Question about dates

[abeautifulworld]

When a recipe calls for dates, is it acceptable to use dried ones that have been soaked in place of fresh? I ask because fresh dates are CRAZY expensive right now, and I don't really want to pay all the money when I could just use the slightly cheaper dried ones.

[sport]

If they are dried at temps over 118 then they would not be raw.

[jacsam]

Sometimes I'll have some dates start to get hard and I just soak them and use them like usual. Some dates are just not as soft as others and once again, I just soak and use them in my recipes as usual.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

Some ethnic shops will sell fresh dates really cheap. You aren't likely to find certified organic there though.

[RawKnitster]

Medjools, though dried are still so moist they don't need soaking. Degletts benefit from a 20 minute soaking. Lately, I've been soaking degletts, draining well, then processing in the food processor and storing this "date paste" in a airtight jar in the fridge. Blends up easily without any preplanning or additional soaking required.