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Learn to pick perfectly ripe figs & enjoy them raw
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Figs are a sweet and juicy fruit originating from the Mediterranean. They can be enjoyed fresh or dried, making them a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. Eat them whole for a quick and easy snack, or pair them with toast, cheese, or salad for a filling appetizer or meal. Still can’t decide what to make? We’re providing a list of delicious fig recipes, plus tips for picking, washing, and eating this flavorful fruit.
What Is the Best Way to Eat a Fig?
Figs are best eaten raw, ideally eaten straight off the tree while they’re still warm from the sun. Eat the entire fig raw with the seeds and skin intact, but remove the stem before eating. While the whole fig is edible, the stem can give you digestive problems.
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QuestionDo all figs have wasps in them?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerNo, not all figs have wasps in them, though it's a common misconception. Some varieties of figs ripen without needing to be pollinated by a wasp and it's also possible to cause figs to ripen with hormones so no wasp is needed. For these reasons, most commercially grown figs actually never come into contact with wasps. If a fig is grown with wasps, a chemical called ficin breaks down the wasp and the fig absorbs it, so you won't ever come across any wasp parts in a fig.
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QuestionHow do you know when a fig is ripe to eat?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerFigs ripen fully while still on the tree, so look for fruits that are soft to the touch and drooping slightly at the neck. Another way to judge a ripe fig is its color, which depends on the variety, but can be anywhere from green to dark brown.
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QuestionWhat do you do with fresh figs?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can eat them raw or keep them in the refrigerator for about 3 days before they go bad.
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Tips
- To enjoy figs without peeling off the skin, take a sharp knife and cut the fig in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh and then eat immediately.Thanks
- Bake chopped figs into a pound cake or cobbler, or use figs as a garnish on top of cakes, tarts, or pies. They pair especially well with desserts that have rich frostings or nuts.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- One of my favorite ways to enjoy figs is to quarter fresh figs and wrap them in prosciutto!
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Warnings
- Eating too many figs may lead to allergies. This is due to an enzyme called ficin, which can cause an itchy or sore tongue. [18] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source Stick to 2-3 figs per day to avoid overexposure to the enzyme.Thanks
- Consult with your doctor before eating figs if you have had serious kidney problems in the past. They contain oxalates, a natural substance that can be harmful when it builds up in the body's blood. [19] X Research source The kidneys usually filter this substance out, but unhealthy kidneys are unable to do so.Thanks
- If you’re taking blood-thinners, eat figs in moderation. They’re rich in vitamin K, which may interfere with your medication. [20] X Research sourceThanks
- Fig trees naturally produce latex, which may appear in small quantities in the fruit. [21] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source If you have a latex allergy, ask your doctor if you can consume figs.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/overview-figs
- ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/overview-figs
- ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/blog/overview-figs
- ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/ingredients/chapter/partially-dried-fruits/#
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sweet-and-salty-fig-toast
- ↑ https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/347-figs-stuffed-with-goat-cheese
- ↑ https://www.escoffier.edu/blog/culinary-arts/5-ways-to-eat-figs/
- ↑ https://www.escoffier.edu/blog/culinary-arts/5-ways-to-eat-figs/
- ↑ https://stefangourmet.com/2020/10/14/fresh-figs-poached-in-red-wine-or-port/
- ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_07/fig_preserves.html
- ↑ https://louisianawomanblog.com/2020/08/12/fresh-fig-bread/
- ↑ https://cookingwithmichele.com/2007/03/rehydrating-dried-figs/
- ↑ https://www.foodconfidence.com/2016/02/22/oatmeal-dried-figs-cherries/
- ↑ https://www.eatthismuch.com/recipe/nutrition/cottage-cheese-with-figs-walnuts,331983/
- ↑ https://growables.com/information/TropicalFruit/FigVarieties.htm
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6734135/#
- ↑ https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts/173021/wt3/1
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629917315697
- ↑ https://www.stjoes.ca/patients-visitors/patient-education/patient-education-k-o/pd-9447-oxalate-in-food.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/heart-and-vascular-blog/2015/june/consistency-not-avoidance-the-truth-about-blood-thinners-leafy-greens-and-vitamin-k
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3371962/#:~:text=%5B6%5D%5B7%5D%20Different%20parts,pH%20range%20of%206.5%2D8.5 .
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you want to eat a fresh fig, choose one that smells very sweet and gives slightly when you press on it to ensure that it’s ripe. Rinse the fig under cool water and gently pat it dry with clean paper towels. You can then eat your fresh figs whole, including the skin, or you can serve them with a tangy cheese like mascarpone or melted blue cheese. You can also poach figs in water, simmer them with sugar until they thicken into a preserve, or mix them into your favorite baked goods. For tips on eating dried figs, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This article helped me learn how to eat figs, both fresh and dried, and the pictures helped me because I'm a visual learner. I didn't know that figs could be enjoyed so many different ways. Thanks for your help!" ..." more
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"This article helped me learn how to eat figs, both fresh and dried, and the pictures helped me because I'm a visual learner. I didn't know that figs could be enjoyed so many different ways. Thanks for your help!"
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"I wanted to know exactly how to eat some fresh figs I'd just bought from a local supermarket. What I liked about the wikiHow article is that while it provides several recipes, it also make clear just how to eat figs raw, which is what I was after. In particular, the skin is edible (which I didn't know), twist off the stem & peel skin, expose sweet interior of fig. Voila!"
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"I'm using figs as part of a Sunday school lesson. I want the kids to experience eating a fig. Since the only figs I've ever had were in a Fig Newton cookie, this was helpful for preparing the figs that I'll share with the children. Thank you for the information."
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"It was simple to understand, and the pictures were helpful. There were many ideas on how to use the figs for a fig novice like me! I am ready to attack my figs! "
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"I wanted to know the options of eating fresh figs and what is best to eat them with. I tried them with drizzled honey and cream."
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