Drying Figs (A How-To Guide) - Savoring The Good®

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× Your Culinary Teacher Since 2008 Savoring The Good > Homemade Ingredients

Drying fresh figs in a food dehydrator is the easiest way to preserve figs when your fig tree is ready to harvest and you don't want to lose one piece of fruit.

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While your figs are drying, pick more from the tree to make a batch of fig preserves (aka fig jam!) or a jar of preserved figs. Fresh fig season is fleeting so you want to make all the fig recipes!!

I take advantage of what my fig trees have to offer and spend a few hours to dehydrate fig halves.

Why you should dehydrate figs:

• Figs have a short season so drying them is the perfect way to save them all year long.
• No additional ingredients are needed. Just figs!

Ingredients needed:

Recipe Card?

To find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions CLICK HERE to go to the recipe card.

Ingredient notes:

• Whole Figs - fresh and be sure to check the figs to ensure they are blemish-free

Seasonal Favorite

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Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Food Dehydrator
• ½ Sheet Pan Set
• Cooling Racks
• Cheesecloth

Food Grade And Safe

Silica Gel Packet

Contains orange indicator beads that will become dark green when it needs to be replaced.

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3 Different Ways to Dry Figs

Here are three different methods to make dried figs at home. Depending on what equipment you have available to you will determine your fig drying method.

Dehydrator:

Dehydrating ripe figs with a food dehydrator requires special equipment but is the most hands-off technique.

1. Wash the figs, slicing them in half from stem to blossom end.
2. Arrange the fig halves in a single layer on a tray of your food dehydrator.
3. Close the lid of the dehydrator and set the temperature to 135 F or the 'fruit' setting on your machine.
4. Allow them to dehydrate for 6-8 hours and then check them for dryness. Depending on the humidity in your location and the size of your figs you may have to leave the figs in a dehydrator for up to an additional 4 hours. Drying time will vary based on moisture content. 
5. Once the figs are dried, store them in airtight containers.

Did you make this recipe?

Do you have feedback that would be helpful to others? If so can help this small business owner by leaving a rating and a review in the comments section? Thank you for being part of the Savoring The Good Community. ~ Sarah

Oven drying method:

1. Wash and dry the figs, and cut the figs in half from stem to blossom end.
2. Preheat your oven to its lowest temperature it will go. 140 F / 60 C or lower, if it will go lower.
3. Place dried fruit figs on a cooling rack lined rimmed baking tray, cut side up, in a single layer. Do not crowd the tray.
4. Dry the figs in the oven for a minimum of 8 hours.
5. Depending on the humidity in your location and the size of your figs you may have to dry them for up to an additional 4 hours.
6. Once the figs are dried store them in airtight containers.

Did you make this recipe?

Do you have feedback that would be helpful to others? If so can help this small business owner by leaving a rating and a review in the comments section? Thank you for being part of the Savoring The Good Community. ~ Sarah

Sun Drying Fresh Figs:

1. Select fruit that is firm, ripe, and without blemishes.
2. Wash and dry the figs gently and cut them in half lengthwise, leaving the two halves joined by the stem.
3. Place figs, cut side up on cooling rack lined rimmed baking tray, in a single layer and cover with two layers of cheesecloth. Do not crowd the tray.
4. Set the tray in full sun.
5. When the sun sets, bring the trays inside and return when the dew has burned off in the morning.
6. It will take between 2 and 7 days of sun exposure to be ready.
7. Once the figs are dried store them in airtight containers.

Did you make this recipe?

Do you have feedback that would be helpful to others? If so can help this small business owner by leaving a rating and a review in the comments section? Thank you for being part of the Savoring The Good Community. ~ Sarah

How to store dried figs

Once you have completed the drying process, make sure the figs are dry, not tacky/wet, and store the dry figs in an airtight container. If you have a food-safe silica gel packet place on in the container before sealing the container.

How long do dehydrated figs last?

Remember that the quality of the figs may decline over time, with potential changes in texture and flavor. It's a good practice to label the storage date on the container so you can keep track of their freshness. Proper packaging and avoiding exposure to moisture and air are key to preserving the quality of dehydrated figs.

Dehydrated figs can have a fairly long shelf life if stored properly. Here's a general guideline on their storage duration:

• Room Temperature: If kept at room temperature in an airtight container, dehydrated figs can last for about 6 to 12 months. Make sure the container is sealed tightly to prevent moisture and air from getting in.
• Refrigeration: Storing dehydrated figs in the refrigerator can extend their shelf life. They can remain good for up to a year or even longer when refrigerated.
• Freezing: For the longest shelf life, consider freezing dehydrated figs. When properly frozen in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag, they can last for 1 to 2 years or even more.

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FAQ's and Tips

Do you peel figs before dehydrating?

When drying fresh figs, you don't need to peel them before dehydrating. The skin of figs is edible and contains many nutrients.

What temperature do you dry figs in the oven?

Preheat your oven to its lowest temperature it will go. 140 F / 60 C or lower, if it will go lower.

Sarah Mock

Drying Figs

5 from 11 votes Drying figs in a dehydrator is the easiest way to preserve fresh figs. Also, learn about oven drying and sun drying methods of fig drying. Print Recipe Prep Time 5 minutes minsCook Time 8 hours hrsTotal Time 8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins Servings: 20Course: Food TipsCuisine: AmericanCalories: 17 Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients 1x2x3x?

• 1 Pound (453 ⅗ Gram) Figs fresh

Get ingredients with Get Recipe Ingredients

Equipment

• Food Dehydrator
• Cooling Racks
• ½ Sheet Pan Set
• Cheesecloth

Method 

Dehydrator

1. Wash and dry the figs, slicing them in half from stem to blossom end.
2. Arrand the fig halves in a single layer on a tray of your food dehydrator.
3. Close the lid of the dehydrator and set the temperature to 135 F or the 'fruit' setting on your machine.
4. Allow them to dehydrate for 6-8 hours and then check them for dryness. Depending on the humidity in your location and the size of your figs you may have to dry them for up to an additional 4 hours.
5. Once the figs are dried, store them in airtight containers.

Oven drying figs:

1. Wash and dry the figs, slicing them in half from stem to blossom end.
2. Preheat your oven to its lowest temperature it will go. 140 F / 60 C or lower, if it will go lower.
3. Put cut figs on a cooling rack lined rimmed baking tray, cut side up, in a single layer. Do not crowd the tray.
4. Dry the figs in the oven for a minimum of 8 hours. Depending on the humidity in your location and the size of your figs you may have to dry them for up to an additional 4 hours.
5. Once the figs are dried store them in airtight containers.

Sun Drying:

1. Select fruit that is firm, ripe, and without blemishes.
2. Wash and dry the figs gently and cut them in half lengthwise, leaving the two halves joined by the stem.
3. Place figs, cut side up on cooling rack lined rimmed baking tray, in a single layer and cover with two layers of cheesecloth. Do not crowd the tray.
4. Set the tray in full sun. When the sun sets, bring the trays inside and return when the dew has burned off in the morning.
5. It will take between 2 and 7 days of sun exposure to be ready.
6. Once the figs are dried store them in airtight containers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 17kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 32IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition Discolure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Notes

Making sure the figs are dry, not tacky/wet, store the dry figs in an airtight container. If you have a food-safe silica gel packet place on in the container before sealing the container.

I am Sarah Mock. Welcome!

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 15 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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Comments

5 from 11 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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1. Great to know how to do this! I've been putting dried figs in my oatmeal and it makes it delicious!

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2. This is great! My neighbor has a super prolific fig tree and doesn't like figs, so I harvest them every year. Can't wait to dry a bunch so I can have them year round!

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Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 17 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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