Why do my black dates look wrinkled? Does that mean they're old or dried out?

No! Wrinkled skin is actually a sign of authenticity and quality. Natural, untreated dates have a wrinkled appearance - it's their natural state. Unlike cosmetically treated dates that are polished with oils or steamed to look artificially smooth, our dates retain their natural texture. The wrinkles mean they haven't been subjected to chemical treatments or artificial smoothing processes.