How to make dried (dried) figs at home. Dried figs - fruits of the fig tree

Who doesn't like the taste of figs? And it does not matter at all in what form it is - fresh or dried, its unsurpassed taste is able to take any exotic fruit. Speaking of fruits. Did you guess that figs are not even a fruit at all? And not even a berry! This is the flower of the fig tree, which is commonly called the fig.

Figs contain a lot beneficial substances, without which our body cannot exist - iron, calcium, fiber ... Our sweet taste this exotic fruit retains even in the dried state and does not let go of it for long months. The main thing is to know how to properly dry figs.

There are several drying methods, each of which will help you stock up on a storehouse of vitamins and minerals for the winter.

For the drying process, you need to select ripe fruit. The main sign of the ripeness of the fruit is that it should fall under the tree itself. So, we thoroughly wash the fruits, remove all damaged areas. Remember that already in dried form, we will not be able to clean the figs.

Now let's decide - do you want to prepare sweet figs or with natural taste. If you prefer the sweet taste of dried figs, then it is worth doing a preliminary manipulation.

Pour 3 cups of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a glass of sugar, mix and boil the prepared figs in the resulting sugar syrup for 7-10 minutes. During the cooking process, stir the fruits regularly with a wooden spatula. Throw the boiled berries in a colander and dry each of them thoroughly. Now the figs are ready for the drying procedure.

Drying in the sun

Put the washed and dried fruits on a wire rack. During the drying process, figs will attract insects with their sweet scent. Therefore, wrap the grate with a layer of gauze, which will protect the fruit from dust and insects. Install the rack so that air can flow to the fruit from all sides.

To speed up the drying process, the figs are cut sharp knife in half and place on the wire rack cut top.

The duration of the drying process in the sun is 4-6 days. Then string the fruits on a strong thread and take them to a shady place to dry.

Drying in the oven

To properly dry the fruits of the fig tree in the oven, you need to follow some rules.

Put the dried fruits on the oven grate.

Important! Never put figs on a baking sheet. In order for the fruits to dry properly, they need to provide air access from all sides! If your oven grate has large holes, you can line it with cheesecloth.

1. Turn the oven on low and leave the door ajar.
2. Turn the fruit every 2 hours.
3. The duration of the drying procedure in the oven is 2-3 days.

Drying in an electric dryer

An electric dryer can significantly reduce the drying process, while the dried figs retain their juiciness and acquire a beautiful golden color.

1. Cut the figs into two even pieces and lay on a towel to help remove any excess liquid after blanching.
2. Spread the halves of the fig tree evenly on all the trays of the electric dryer.
3. If you do not have large fruits, then the drying time is no more than 10 hours.
4. Large fruits should be dried for a longer time.

Storing dried figs

You can store properly dried figs in bags made of thick cloth or paper. This will help them retain their juiciness and flavor and prevent mold from forming.

If a white coating forms on the dryers, then you should not be afraid of it - this is just crystallized glucose, which gives the figs a sweet taste.

Do not store dried figs in a damp room.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with interesting video, about drying figs in an electric dryer.

Figs - extremely useful fruit. In addition to its taste qualities, it has a number of healing properties. The most useful varieties of figs are considered to contain a larger number of seeds than those where the seeds are smaller. Figs come in three colors: white, blue and red. White figs are the most perishable and less tasty, more often used for dried fruits.

Figs are widely used in the treatment colds, as a diaphoretic and diuretic, and is also recommended for people with iron deficiency, the so-called. anemia, hypertensive patients and people suffering from cardiovascular diseases promotes blood thinning, lowers cholesterol.
Figs are rich in potassium, vitamin B6. It contains several times more iron than our usual apples.

Because of his high content sugar, this fruit is not recommended for people with a disease diabetes since 24% fresh fruit contain sugar, dry figs contain even more sugar, up to 37%.

Unfortunately, fresh fruits figs are no different long term storage: practically, on the 3-5th day, ripe fruits begin to deteriorate, but in the refrigerator they can be kept in a form suitable for eating, up to a maximum of 7-10 days. That is why, as a rule, fresh figs go on free sale only in places of growth, and even then, only in a certain season. These fruits are extremely delicate and very difficult to transport. Due to the perishable factor, fruits are either consumed in fresh, or processed into jams and jams. But, nevertheless, up to 80% of the fig crop falls on drying.

Drying figs in the sun is nothing special. difficult process. Like the preparation of any other, it is recommended to collect figs for drying in their mature form. It is better if the berries themselves fall on a previously prepared, clean fabric surface, in order to avoid soil, debris and foreign objects. Harvested fruits must be sorted from damaged and dirty fruits. Only absolutely whole and clean fruits will be suitable for subsequent drying. Local residents harvesting figs for future use in large quantities Do not wash these fruits at all. The lower part of the fig fruit can be slightly ajar, like a blossoming flower, into four parts - this is a kind of indicator of the maturity of the fig. Since the skin of figs is extremely thin and delicate, fruits should be washed very carefully under low pressure of water, it can be from a spray bottle, or a light, gentle shower. After that, for about 20 minutes, the fruit is laid out on a sieve and the water is allowed to drain. Then, the already dried fruits are dipped individually for a few seconds in boiling sugar syrup in order to avoid possible subsequent fermentation, and laid out on grates. It is desirable that the gratings are not metal, but wooden.

Since figs grow in countries with a relatively hot climate and a lot of sunny days, figs are mainly dried in the sun, using a natural resource. Although, it can be dried on gas. All fruits in even rows should be laid out on grates and directed with their upper part up towards the sun. At night or when there is danger of rain, you need to bring fruit indoors. Every day or two, the fruit must be turned over so that it does not stale. As a rule, in some 7-9 days, the figs in the sun already become dried. It can already be removed from the grates without fear of damaging the skin. After that, each berry must be flattened: slightly press the upper part of the fruit inward, giving it the shape of a flat disk and strung on a thread until it is completely dry. Threads with fig disks can be placed in good weather somewhere under a canopy. Take care of special insect nets.

Figs (figs) are valued high content iron, potassium, calcium, as well as a distinctive abundance of fiber. Drying figs allows you to save taste qualities fruit, as well as vitamins and minerals with minimal loss. But the main reason for the spread of dried figs is to increase the shelf life of this fruit, as ripe fresh fruits deteriorate within a week.

You can make dried figs at home using natural solar heat, or using equipment - dryers, ovens, microwaves. Before preparing the figs for drying, it is necessary to rinse it well and cut off all damaged and rotten places. Please note that it is very difficult to wash already dried figs with high quality. After washing, the fruit must be wiped dry with a cloth or cotton towel.

To speed up the drying process, cut the figs in half from nose to tip, or into smaller pieces. For natural drying in the sun, it is best to use an oven rack or similar structure to ensure ventilation from all sides, since delaying the drying process can cause fruit rot. Do not attempt to use solid, hard surfaces such as cardboard or a baking sheet for this purpose. Place the fig halves cut side up.

In order to protect dried figs from insects attracted by the sweet smell of the fruit, use gauze as a covering material, or loose natural fabric. To secure it, use adhesive tape to prevent the penetration of flies, wasps and dust inside. For drying, the grate must be placed in a sunny, well-ventilated place, it is advisable to start the procedure in hot weather.

Drying figs in the sun will take 2-3 days. If at night the temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius outside, then it makes sense to bring figs into the room. Dried figs are ready when they have a leathery surface to the touch and pressure does not release juice. If the dried figs remain a little sticky, then they can be brought to the condition in the oven.

Similarly, the figs can be dried in a special dryer or oven, the process will be twice as fast, but at a higher cost of electricity. Dried figs should be stored in cool place in a closed container no more than 9-10 months. If dried figs are frozen, then its shelf life increases to two years.

To add sweetness to dried figs, boil them for 10 minutes before drying. aqueous solution Sahara. To prepare the solution, use 1 cup of sugar to 3 cups of water. Required for cooking constant stirring and then follow the normal drying procedure. So you get a wonderful delicacy for any sweet table.

How to dry figs at home? The issue for residents of the southern regions is not relevant. But for those who, returning from a vacation at sea, took with them a bucket of ripe, delicious figs, our article will come in handy. Because you won't be able to eat them anyway. Figs begin to deteriorate already on the 3rd day when room temperature. In the refrigerator - for 5 days.

Frozen figs, when thawed, turn into a slippery, unappetizing mass. Therefore, drying is the best way to store figs. By the way, dried figs in the freezer can lie quietly for up to 2 years. IN room conditions it keeps up to 10 months. A processed sugar syrup and dried - only 30 days. But first things first.

How to prepare figs for drying

In principle, nothing complicated or abstruse is required. The fruits must be sorted out. Crumpled or beaten to eat immediately. Scratched ones can also be eaten. Or cook to dry.

The next step is the obligatory washing of the fruit. Someone will say that in the south, figs are not washed before drying. Well, they collect them from under the tree and immediately drag them to dry. And you drove several thousand kilometers. And yes, don't freak out! Wash who I say! From childhood, they were taught: everything that you put in your mouth, everything needs to be washed. But dried figs are still not going to admire, you will eat it.

Then the fruits are dried on a sieve or an old thick towel. Paper kitchen utensils will work too. Just don't rub the figs while washing, and trying to remove any remaining water afterwards. too thin and tender skin easily damaged even from a simple push. Let the water dry on its own.

Figs can be dried whole or cut into halves or quarters. The form does not affect the final result in any way, the taste qualities also do not change. Here the principle of personal preference and aesthetic perception operates. For example, a purely feminine "I wanted it that way, that's why I cut it." As convenient as they are.

Advice. When buying figs, be aware that yellow ones are best for drying, and purple ones for jam.

Where to dry figs

In the southern regions, this issue does not arise. The climate itself favors drying outdoors under hot sunbeams. IN middle lane and to the north such heat can not be seen. But, if the weather is clear and unusually warm, then you can try this method.

To begin with, prepare the lattice. I love handy. It is very important that the figs are blown fresh air bottom and top. If you put them on a baking sheet, then the fruit can simply ferment or start to rot. Figs are laid out on a wire rack and placed in a sunny, well-ventilated place.

It is advisable to close the entire structure with a thin non-woven material or thick gauze. And below too. Wasps, fruit flies and a whole bunch of other insects also like to taste sweet pulp. They need such tricks.

The drying process lasts about 5 days, with breaks for the night. By the way, in the evening the grate needs to be removed into the house. You never know, it will rain or the dew will sit down. Excess moisture is a big hindrance in your business.

Some sources recommend boiling figs in boiling sugar syrup for 10 seconds and only then determine for drying. Allegedly for better conservation colors. I think this is pointless, because all dried figs are the same light brown color.

Unless, to prevent putrefactive processes or prevent fermentation, the procedure will quite help. True, such candied fruit is stored for a very short time.

Advice. Try to make half of the blanks with boiling sugar syrup treatment, and the other half without. At the same time, compare tastes.

What to do for those whom the sun does not favor with hot rays even in summer? There is an exit. Even two. Choose any suitable one.

For happy owners home dryer. Whole or cut into halves (quarters) figs are laid out on the grates. The temperature is set no higher than + 65 ° С. Because the sugar in the pulp at more high temperature caramelized and can change the final taste of the finished product.

By the way, an incomprehensible white coating on dried figs is the sugar that has come out.

Drying time is approximately 6-8 hours. It all depends on the degree of loading and the power of your device. Readiness is checked visually. Fruits decrease in size, acquire a light brown hue. When pressed, it is felt that the skin has become dense and elastic.

There are recommendations to flatten the figs to a flat shape. It is not necessary to do this at all. Because that's what they do in the case of large-scale preparations. Flattening saves space, such figs are put on a string and hung up for storage.

If you have to dry a small amount of, then you can then store the figs in usual form without additional manipulations.

Just do not ask where at home to keep a bucket of dried figs. Only a third of your bucket will remain (fruits are greatly reduced in volume and weight), and you will definitely find where to attach it.

Advice. Cut the dried fruit. If there is no visible juice, then you have dried it properly.

And if there is no sun and electric dryer? Where to put the remaining figs? Dry of course! Only in the oven. Whole or chopped, it doesn't matter. The main thing is back on the grid. The tray or baking sheet will allow the fruit to bake before the drying process begins. And we don't need it.

Showing the smallest temperature regime. Ideal +60°С. But sometimes the minimum temperature is higher, oven models are different. In this case, you will have to turn the workpieces more often so that they do not burn. And in any case, be sure to leave the door ajar so that the evaporating moisture has the opportunity to freely go outside. It is difficult to name the drying time exactly, it all depends on the degree of heating of the oven. On average, it takes about 8 hours.

Readiness is also determined as described above. We check with handles for elasticity and rigidity, with eyes for color and with a knife for juiciness.

Advice. Let dried fruit cool completely before storing. Otherwise, condensation will appear, and with it mold.

How to dry figs at home? Everything is very simple. It is important not to delay, otherwise the fruit will spoil. And so you can carry a wonderful delicacy from your own freezer for a long time.

Video: how to choose the right dried figs

There are about a dozen ways to dry figs in order to long-term storage. The choice of option depends on:

• maturity and varieties of figs;
• weather conditions of the harvesting region;
• presence/absence special device for drying fruits and vegetables.

Ways to dry figs

1. In the sun figs are dried in the southern regions and countries with a subtropical/tropical climate in hot weather with normal humidity or humidity slightly below normal. Excess moisture present in the air slows down the drying process and provokes the spread of mold and rot.

Before drying figs in the sun, you should prepare:

• 5 l pot;
• colander;
• spoon or spatula;
• 2 glasses of water;
• 1 cup of sugar;
• paper towels;
• stainless steel metal grate;
• 2-3 meters of gauze with one sheet;
• the same amount of cotton fabric;
• covering film over an area the size of a grate.

The sequence of actions is designed for a workpiece of 2-3 kg fresh figs. In this method, it is dried entirely. The color of figs can be from green to yellow. Black figs are best used to make jam, rather than dried in the sun.

1. Place the fruits in a saucepan, cover with water and rinse gently. Throw away in a colander.
2. Put the pan on the fire, mix water with sugar and prepare syrup. Due to natural chemical composition fig fruits are prone to fermentation. Overripe seedlings begin to sour already on the tree. Processing with boiling syrup displaces excess air from them, and sugar acts as a preservative. You can blanch without sugar, if the task is to preserve the natural taste of the wine berry.
3. Pour the figs into the pan, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
4. Take out the fruits in a colander and let cool.
5. Spread the berries on a grill under the sun so that they do not touch each other. Provide air access from all sides.
6. Turn the fruits once a day for even drying.
7. If there are a lot of insects around, cover the fruits with gauze.
8. At night, cover the grate with a dry cotton cloth, and on top with a film to protect it from dew and condensate, or bring it into the house.

Under the hot sun wine berries dried completely in 2-3 days. Their skin becomes dense and dry, no moisture is released from the fruit when pressed. The color of the finished dried figs with initially light shades becomes golden or golden brown.

If, with this method of processing, increase the proportion of sugar in the syrup, for example, take 2 cups of sugar for 3 cups of water and boil the figs for 12-15 minutes, then after drying, candied fruits will be obtained.

2. In an electric dryer the fruits are dried in slices. You can dry dark figs. Need to:

1. Cut the fruit into slices 2-3 mm thick.
2. Lay the slices on the drying rack in 1 layer.
3. Set the temperature to +55…+60 °C.
4. Load the tiers, change their places every 4 hours so that the circulating air blows the figs evenly.

Depending on the power of the device, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe grates and the size of the slices, the fig dries out in 1-2 days.

3. In the oven figs can be dried both black and green; whole or cut into halves/quarters; pre-glazed with syrup, boiled or fresh. Basic principles:

1. Always set the minimum temperature. The recommended temperature for drying figs is +60 °C. If it is higher in a particular oven, for example, it starts from +100 ... +120 ° C, the fruits should be turned over more often - every 2 hours.
2. Berries, cut into halves / quarters, place cut side up.
3. Do not use a baking sheet or baking dish. Dry only on a wire rack so that the fruits are blown with air.
4. Keep the oven door ajar at all times. When the door is closed, moisture remains inside, so the figs will bake in own juice and not dry out.

Cooking time depending on oven model, position of trays, drying temperature and culinary form figs: from 8 hours to 2 days. Its readiness should be periodically checked tactilely, visually and by taste.

4. In the microwave you can dry figs if it is equipped with convection, grill and wire rack.

1. Fresh fig fruits should be cut into thin slices and placed on a wire rack in 1 layer.
2. For drying, use the "Defrost" mode, the initial time is 30 minutes. Keep the door closed!
3. After the timer has expired, check the readiness. If the slices are slightly damp, extend the time by 5-10 minutes until completely dry.

5. Airfryer figs are dried fresh and cut into quarters.

1. Place the pieces of fruit on the grill cut side up so that they do not touch each other.
2. Set the temperature to +55 °C.
3. Insert a skewer (usually included in the kit) between the grill and the lid of the air grill and thereby ensure the outflow of moist air.

Drying time will be about 12 hours. Readiness should be checked organoleptically.

6. In a slow cooker of course, you can dry the figs if you really want to and there is absolutely no other option. However, this appliance is not intended for drying fruits and vegetables. The output portion will turn out to be very small, since its volume is limited by the diameter of the multicooker bowl. Need to:

1. Line the bottom of the bowl with parchment paper.
2. Slice the figs thinly.
3. Lay out the cut on paper in 1 layer.
4. Keep the multicooker lid open until the end of the drying process.
5. Select the “Baking” mode and save it until it is visually half cooked, when the figs wither and leave it most of moisture.
6. Reset the mode and set "Auto heating".
7. During the entire drying process, periodically check the readiness and turn the slices.

7. In a dehydrator the drying time of figs, cut into slices of 2-3 mm, will be 24-36 hours. This device differs from a conventional vegetable dryer by uniform blowing of the trays without temperature loss between levels, so it can be lowered from the recommended one.

1. Cut the fruit into thin slices.
2. Arrange on a wire rack in 1 layer.
3. Set the temperature to +43 °C.
4. Check dried fruits in a day. If necessary, leave for another 12 hours.

8. In Isidri Figs can be dried quickly and evenly.

1. Cut the fruit into slices of 2-3 mm.
2. Place on the grids in 1 layer, while the slices can touch each other.
3. Set the temperature to +55 °C.
4. Load dryer.

Drying time: 9-10 hours.

How to store dried figs at home in an apartment

1. At room conditions, this dried fruit can be stored:

• in ties, strung on cotton threads, away from the stove, hood and open windows. Shelf life - 2-3 months at a temperature of +20 ... +22 ° C and normal humidity (60-70%). The disadvantage of the method: the fruits are sensitive to fluctuations in humidity, can become moldy and rot.
• in linen or canvas bags, no more than 2 kg in one bag, in a dry, ventilated area. The storage requirements are the same. With this method of storage, the old-timers of Abkhazia and Azerbaijan recommend eating September preparations before the New Year. The maximum storage period is until March, that is, no more than 7 months.
• V glass jars under vacuum lids . This the best way storage at room conditions. So the tender dried fruit will be protected from fluctuations in humidity and temperature, the ingress of pathogenic bacteria and mold spores. Shelf life - up to 1 year.

2. In the refrigerator, dried figs are stored in airtight containers, the tightness of which is carefully checked. They should be placed on the bottom shelf. Shelf life with proper drying will be up to 12 months.

3. Containers are also used in the freezer for storing dried fruit. When frozen, the taste qualities of dried figs are preserved for up to 24 months.

How to choose a good dried fig in the market / store

1. GOST for dried figs in terms of its storage.

The current GOST 12003-76 states that dried fruits without factory processing must be packed in containers with a net weight of up to 25 kg. Storage should be carried out in compliance with sanitary standards at a temperature of +5 to +20 ° C and a relative humidity of not more than 70% in warehouses free from the presence of various pests.

High-quality dried figs should be dense, but at the same time elastic; have a characteristic odor and organoleptic properties. Its color must be uniform. It varies from beige and golden to dark brown. It depends on the color of the raw material.

• with traces of moisture and condensation;
• a large number of mechanical damage;
• rotten and with signs of fermentation;
• with a taste of gasoline;
• covered with spots;
• moldy;
• eaten away by insects;
• with traces of rodents.

2. Do I need to wash store-bought dried figs before eating?

Before eating, dried fruits must be washed, pre-soaked in warm water for a few minutes. This will remove dust, dirt particles, bacteria and possible traces of chemicals from their surface.

3. White coating on figs - what does this mean?

White coating on dried figs does not pose a danger to the consumer. This is just crystalline sugar that has come through, the excess of which is due to the natural sweetness of the fruit or the method of drying with pre-treatment syrup.

Video instructions

How to dry figs for the winter

How to Dry Figs Properly (Step by Step Recipe)