Sweet fig tree - how to properly dry figs at home

Figs contain a lot of useful substances, without which our body cannot exist - iron, calcium, fiber... This exotic fruit retains its sweet taste even in a dried state and does not let go for many months. The main thing is to know how to dry figs correctly.

Methods for drying figs

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

For the drying process, you need to select ripe fruits. The main sign of ripeness of the fruit is that it should fall under the tree itself. So, we thoroughly wash the fruits and remove all damaged areas. Remember that once dried, we will not have the opportunity to peel the figs.

Ripe figs suitable for drying

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

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

Sun drying

Place the washed and dried fruits on a wire rack. During the drying process, the figs will attract insects with their sweet aroma. Therefore, wrap the lattice with a layer of gauze, which will protect the fruits from the penetration of dust and insects. Position the grill so that air can reach the fruit from all sides.

To speed up the drying process, cut the figs in half with a sharp knife and place them on a wire rack with the cut side up.

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

Oven drying

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

Place the dried fruits on the oven rack.

Important! Never place figs on a baking sheet. In order for the fruits to dry properly, they need to be provided with air access from all sides! If your oven rack has large holes, you can cover it with a layer of gauze.

1. Turn the oven to low and leave the door ajar.
2. Turn the fruits every 2 hours.
3. The duration of the oven drying procedure 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 parts and place on a towel, which will help remove all excess liquid after blanching.
2. Place the fig tree halves evenly on all trays of the electric dryer.
3. If you have small fruits, then the drying time is no more than 10 hours.
4. Large fruits should be dried for a longer time.

Storing dried figs

Properly dried figs can be stored in bags made of thick fabric or paper. This will help them maintain their juiciness and taste, and prevent the formation of mold.

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

Dried figs should not be stored in a damp place.

We invite you to watch an interesting video about drying figs in an electric dryer.