MyTastr

Best dried fruit (who to buy from), according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Ruth Reichl, David Karp, Rebecca Firkser and Sarah Jampel. Recommendations come from townandcountrymag.com, ruthreichl.substack.com, latimes.com and bonappetit.com.

Pantry Staples · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    ApricotKing Dried Blenheim Apricots (Extra Fancy or Slabs)

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Sun-dried on the Gonzales family’s Hollister ranch from Blenheims, the heirloom California apricot that is too fragile to ship fresh and “even better dried”: honeysuckle-and-vanilla perfume, sweet and tart at once. Reichl: “I really love these apricots from Apricot King, and anyone who gave me a bag of them would become an instant hero.” Splurge on Extra Fancy, “deeper in color and deeper in flavor.” Karp names Gonzales Orchards one of the only steady mail-order sources of dried Blenheims.
    Where to buy · apricotking.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: townandcountrymag.com ↗
  2. 2

    Rancho Meladuco Medjool Dates

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Coachella Valley Medjools picked soft and ripe rather than dried hard and steamed back. Jampel: “ridiculously plump and sticky-sweet, like the best dark brown sugar,” so soft “it’s almost fudgy”; she keeps the boxes in the fridge for months. Firkser bought a two-pound box herself: “Squidgy like a caramel-fudge hybrid, with a flavor that’s distinctly vanilla.”
    Where to buy · ranchomeladuco.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  3. 3

    Frog Hollow Farm Organic Dried Stone Fruit (Flavor King pluots, peaches)

    Chosen by
    Organic, unsulfured, sun-dried fruit from a Brentwood, California, orchard known for its peaches. Karp, the Times’ fruit specialist, ranks its dried Flavor King pluots among his favorite dried fruits: “meaty, chewy… with intense, complex flavor,” holding their taste and looks in the fridge despite skipping sulfur.
    Where to buy · froghollow.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: latimes.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best dried fruit (who to buy from), according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is ApricotKing Dried Blenheim Apricots (Extra Fancy or Slabs), chosen by Ruth Reichl; David Karp (Los Angeles Times). Sun-dried on the Gonzales family’s Hollister ranch from Blenheims, the heirloom California apricot that is too fragile to ship fresh and “even better dried”: honeysuckle-and-vanilla perfume, sweet and tart at once. Reichl: “I really love these apricots from Apricot King, and anyone who gave me a bag of them would become an instant hero.” Splurge on Extra Fancy, “deeper in color and deeper in flavor.” Karp names Gonzales Orchards one of the only steady mail-order sources of dried Blenheims. Source: townandcountrymag.com ↗
What are the other top picks for dried fruit (who to buy from)?
No. 2 is Rancho Meladuco Medjool Dates, chosen by Sarah Jampel (Bon Appétit); Rebecca Firkser (Bon Appétit). No. 3 is Frog Hollow Farm Organic Dried Stone Fruit (Flavor King pluots, peaches), chosen by David Karp (Los Angeles Times). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

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