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Contrary to popular belief, a fig isn't actually a fruit—it's a collection of dried flowers! Figs are high in iron, calcium, and potassium, and have more fiber than most fruits and vegetables. Drying figs preserves their sweet taste and allows you to store them for months. You can dry figs in the sunshine, in the oven, or in a dehydrator.
Steps
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Rinse fully ripe figs. The best indication that a fig is fully ripe is when it falls to the ground. Rinse the figs with cool water to remove dirt and other debris, then pat them dry with a dishcloth or paper towel. -
Cut the figs in half. Use a paring knife to cut the figs in half from stem to tip on a cutting board. Cutting the figs in half will help them dry more quickly.Advertisement
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Lay them on a wire or wooden rack covered with cheesecloth. Put a layer of cheesecloth on top of any wooden or wire rack, such as those intended for cooling or dehydrating. In order to dry properly, the figs need airflow from above and below, so don't use a solid surface like a baking sheet. Place the figs cut-side up on the cheesecloth.
- Alternatively, you could put whole figs on wooden skewers and hang them in the sun, using clothespins to attach the skewers to branches or to a clothesline. [1] X Research source
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Cover the figs with cheesecloth. This will protect them from insects as they dry. Tuck the cheesecloth tightly around the drying rack, securing it with tape if necessary, to make sure it won't come loose. [2] X Research source
- If you hung up your figs instead, you won't be able to protect them with the cheesecloth.
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Place the rack in full sunlight during the day. This method works best when it is very dry and hot outside. Don't place the figs in the shade, or they won't dry as quickly and may spoil before they're properly preserved. You'll need to bring them in each evening so they don't get spoiled by dew.
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Return the figs to the sun for 2 to 3 days. Each morning, turn the figs over so they dry evenly on all sides and then place them back outside in the sunlight. The figs are ready when the outside feels leathery and no juice can be seen on the inside when squeezed.
- If the figs remain a little sticky, you can finish them in the oven.
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Store the dried figs in airtight containers in the fridge or freezer. Tupperware or Ziploc bags are both options for storing your dried figs. They'll last several months in the fridge, or up to 3 years in the freezer.
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Preheat your oven to 140° F (60° C). This should be the lowest setting your oven has, which is necessary to dry the figs at a low, even temperature. Drying them at a higher temperature would result in cooked figs . [3] X Research source- If your oven doesn't heat to such a low temperature, set it at the lowest possible temperature and keep the oven door partially open.
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Rinse the figs thoroughly with water. Carefully trim away the stems as well as any damaged parts and pat them dry with a paper towel or dishcloth. [4] X Research source
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Cut the figs in half. Use a paring knife to slice the figs from stem to tip, lengthwise, on a cutting board. If they are particularly large, cut them in quarters. [5] X Research source
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Lay them cut-side-up on an oven-safe rack. Be sure to use a rack with ventilation holes, so that the figs dry from below and above. Using a regular baking pan will result in figs that don't dry evenly. [6] X Research source
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Put the figs in the oven for up to 36 hours. Prop the oven door open slightly to allow the moisture to escape and prevent the figs from getting too hot and cooking instead of drying. If you don't want to leave the oven on continuously, you can turn it off halfway through, then turn it back on if necessary. Be sure to turn the figs occasionally during the drying process. [7] X Research source
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Allow the figs to cool completely before storing them. The figs are done drying when the outsides are leathery and no juice can be seen on the inside when you split one open. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before placing them in airtight containers, like Ziploc bags. [8] X Research source
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Put airtight containers full of dried figs in the fridge or freezer. You can freeze figs for up to 3 years. Or, you can keep them in the fridge for several months.
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Turn the dehydrator to the fruit setting. If your dehydrator doesn't have a fruit setting, turn it 135° F (57° C). [9] X Research source
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Rinse the figs and cut them in quarters. Rinse the figs in cool water, then dry them with a dishcloth. Use a paring knife to remove the stems and cut the figs in quarters on a cutting board. [10] X Research source
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Place them skin-side-down on the dehydrator trays. Make sure to leave some room in between the fig pieces so air can circulate around them. [11] X Research source
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Dehydrate them for 6-8 hours. The amount of time will depend on the climate in your area as well as the size of the figs. Check them after 8 hours to see if they are dry to the touch, but still pliable and chewy. If so, they're done. [12] X Research source
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Remove the trays and allow the figs to cool. Once the figs are done, carefully remove the trays from the dehydrator and place them on a heat-resistant surface. Let them cool completely before storing them. [13] X Research source
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Store the dried figs in the fridge or freezer in airtight containers. Put the dried figs in Tupperware containers or Ziploc bags. They'll keep in the freezer for up to 3 years or in the fridge for several months.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow should you store dry figs?Community AnswerYou should store them in an airtight container and eat them as soon as possible.
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QuestionCould I dry whole figs in a dehydrator?Community AnswerYes, but they will take longer to fully dry out.
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QuestionI put some dried figs in a plastic bag and some of them have started to mold. What did I do wrong?Community AnswerIt's possible that you didn't dry them out right, or that there was some moisture in the bag that allowed them to mold. There might also be a small hole in the bag, or the bag may not have been sealed properly. Either way, you should throw them away.
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Tips
- To add sweetness to your figs before drying, dissolve 1 cup (236 ml) of sugar into 3 cups (709 ml) of water and bring it to a boil. Add the figs to the water and sugar mixture and allow them simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the figs from the water and then follow the steps for sun or oven drying.Thanks
- Keep in mind that 3 pounds (1.36 kg) of fresh figs equal approximately 1 pound (0.45) of dried figs.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Figs
- Water
- Dishcloth
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Drying rack
- Cheesecloth
- Airtight containers
References
- ↑ https://delishably.com/fruits/drying-figs-in-the-sun
- ↑ https://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/drying-fruit.html
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://tipnut.com/dry-figs/
- ↑ https://www.amodernhomestead.com/dehydrate-fresh-figs/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To dry figs, start by cutting them in half with a knife. Then, place the figs on an oven-safe rack with ventilation holes so the cut sides are facing up. Next, set your oven to the lowest temperature setting and put the figs inside of it. Let the figs dry in the oven with the door propped open for up to 36 hours. Once the figs are dry, let them cool completely before serving or storing them for later. If you want to learn how to dry your figs in the sun, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Our fig tree this year has a bumper crop and we were at our wits end how to save some for later in the year. Someone suggested drying. Article is very detailed and easy to follow. I liked that it had pics. Wish I was able to print it as written with pics to add to my recipe collection. As I am writing this 6 lbs of figs are in the oven drying. It will be a long evening/night. Loved it. Extremely helpful. Thank you." ..." more
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"Our fig tree this year has a bumper crop and we were at our wits end how to save some for later in the year. Someone suggested drying. Article is very detailed and easy to follow. I liked that it had pics. Wish I was able to print it as written with pics to add to my recipe collection. As I am writing this 6 lbs of figs are in the oven drying. It will be a long evening/night. Loved it. Extremely helpful. Thank you."
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"I have a SunOven and dehydrating racks but wasn't sure about prep, set-up, the drying period, and methods of preservation once the fruit dried. The article explained it all! Now I can enjoy those mission figs from California for up to a year or more...if they aren't eaten up right away."
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"Needed to figure out what to do with a huge crop of figs that might have gone to waste. The recipes I found using fresh figs were too complicated and I don't have a food dehydrator. Another plus with this method is not having to run the oven for 8+ hours."
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"The instructions for drying figs were clear and easy to follow. I didn't know the figs had to be cut in half before drying, or how to secure them to a rack using cheese cloth. I now know that this year's dried crop will last through the winter months."
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"I have a huge fig tree in my backyard that has grown for generations and more figs than I know what to do with. After making fig wine it was suggested I dry them. Your article was perfect and I feel like I will be able to do this with no problem. "
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