Recipe: Home Dried Figs

Date:July 29th 1999
In Reply to: ISO: Figs
Board: TKL Cooking Club
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I found some fig info that might help you.

Figs loose about 3/4 of their fresh weight when
they are dried.

Figs must be allowed to ripen fully on the
tree before they are picked. They will not ripen
if picked when immature. A ripe fruit will
be slightly soft and starting to bend at the neck.
Harvest the fruit gently to avoid bruising.

Fresh figs do not keep well and can be
stored in the refrigerator for only 2 - 3 days.

Some fig varieties are delicious when dried.

Figs take 4 - 5 days to dry in the sun
and 10 -12 hours in a dehydrator. Dried figs
can be stored for six to eight months.

If figs have dropped off a tree the figs must
be picked up and placed on wooden or paper
trays in the sun, or they may be dried in
the oven with a slow heat.

The oven door should be left ajar, and care
taken not to heat the figs above 135 degrees F.

They should be kept in the oven, or dried at
intervals, turning them occasionally until
they have lost about 3/4 of their fresh weight.

They should be stored immediately in air-tight
jars to prevent insects from getting into them.
Dried figs may also be kept in your freezer.

Do not wash dried figs before freezing,
just package dried figs without sugar in
plastic bags or other suitable containers.

Any defective figs should be sorted and discarded
before drying.

Sun-dried figs should also be heat-treated in
this manner for about two hours if they are to be
stored for very long.