Determination of changes in bioactive components, antioxidant capacity, phenolic components and mineral values of date fruits stored in different packages and temperatures for six months

The moisture results, bioactive compounds, phenolic and mineral amounts of date fruits showed significant changes depending on package types, storage temperatures and fruit types. The moisture content of date fruits stored at -18 °C was higher than that of date fruits stored at other temperatures (5 and 25 °C). The highest moisture loss in date fruits was observed in fruits stored at 25 °C. The storage temperature with the highest total phenol amounts of the Khalas, Ruzeiz and Sukkari date cultivars was at 25 °C, followed by 5 °C and − 18 °C in decreasing order. The storage temperature and packaging types with the highest total flavonoid content of the “Ruzeiz” date variety were “open cardboard” and “sealed in plastic bag and stored in closed cardboard” at 25 °C. In general, the highest phenolic compounds were detected in “Khalas” date variety, followed by “Ruzeiz” and “Sukkari” varieties in decreasing order. While the most abundant macro element in date varieties was K, followed by P, Mg and Ca, the most abundant micro elements were Fe, and followed by Mn, Zn, B and Cu in decreasing order. The P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and B results of the “Khalas” date variety stored at 25 °C were higher than those of the “Khalas” date fruits stored at other temperatures.