Fresh figs have a short shelf life. Because they do not ripen well after being plucked, they must be picked ripe off the trees. A too-firm fig is not ripe and will not ripen correctly. Within seven to ten days of harvesting, fresh figs will deteriorate. How does a ripe fig appear? Ripe figs should not be firm like an apple or an immature plum, and they should give somewhat when pressed but not be mushy. Smooth and firm when cut but sensitive and delicious throughout, the best ripe figs are smooth and firm. This article will show you how to tell if figs are bad.
They only keep for a few days after picking. Several signs indicate if they’re past their prime. They’ll start to ferment if stored for a long time without being refrigerated. If this fermenting process has lasted too long, the figs will have a foul-smelling odor. If you want to keep your figs fresh, place them in an airtight container or torn paper bag.
The bag will catch any moisture and syrup. Fresh figs are not bitter, and the skin is edible. They can be eaten whole or cooked into a sauce or jam. You can also preserve them by drying them and using them in jams and desserts. If you are unsure whether your figs are fresh, use them for baking instead.
How to Tell if Figs are Bad?
There are just a few techniques to identify if the figs are spoilt or not. These are the same procedures we use to determine whether or not food is ruined.
Mold:
Examine the figs to determine if there is any mold growing within. If you detect mold growing within the figs, toss them out and eat the healthy ones. When the sugars in figs solidify, mold usually doesn’t grow.
Smell:
If your figs smell rotten, you know they’re spoilt. It is preferable not to eat such figs and to discard them. If figs have a distinct odor, they are no longer edible. As a result, our sense of smell provides a wealth of information concerning food degradation.
Color:
The figs may have gone wrong if you see some unusual color changes. The fungus may be causing the grey tint or patches on the figs, and it is not recommended to consume it if you notice such color changes.
Figs change color as they get ripe. They can range from green to brown, and if you are unsure, try to pick them up in the morning on a partly cloudy day. You’ll know if they’re ripe when they’ve lost their color and feel soft to the touch. A perfect fig will be plump and emit nectar, and you’ll have a great snack! Another symptom of a lousy fig is a white crystallized substance on its surface.
Insects:
If you spot insects eating the figs, it is best to leave them alone and not eat them. If you eat such figs, you are putting your health at risk because you increase your chances of contracting an illness.
How to Store Figs?
When it comes to storing, fresh figs require a lot of attention because they spoil rapidly and efficiently. Keep the figs on a plate lined with a paper towel if you want to eat them within 2-3 days of purchasing them. Make sure the figs aren’t stacked on top of each other, or they’ll get destroyed. Wrap the figs in plastic wrap and store the dish away from the sun or other heat sources.
When storing fresh figs, you need to be especially vigilant. You can’t afford to let them sit out in the open for days or even weeks, which means they may start to go wrong in just a few days! Pick the softest, smoothest, and most undamaged figs to avoid this. These will preserve better at home and keep their flavor and texture for extended periods.
How to Dry Fresh Figs?
Don’t panic if you mistakenly got too many figs and wish you had purchased them dry. It’s a simple problem to tackle because you can dry the figs at home. And you don’t need a lot of cooking experience to execute it.
Drying figs require only a few hours and a few simple steps, such as chopping them and placing them in a food dehydrator for 8 hours. My wife has a favorite dehydrator, and if you’re in the market for one and don’t already have one, you can find one by clicking here. You can dry figs in one of these methods even if you don’t have a dehydrator.
Method 1: Drying in The Oven
To dry fresh figs in the oven, wash them, pat them dry, and cut them into two halves.
Preheat the oven to 60 degrees Celsius, or use the fruit setting if your oven has one. Place the figs on the wire shelf in the oven with the sliced side facing up. The figs should be cooked for 36 hours in the oven. You’ll need to turn the figs from one side to the other throughout that time to ensure that they’re drying uniformly and that no moisture is retained.
Method 2: Drying in The Sun
If you don’t want to fool the oven, you can use the tried-and-true method of sun-drying fruit. To dry figs in the sun, wash them thoroughly, and cut them into halves or quarters.
Place the figs on top of a cheesecloth-covered wire rack. Cover the fig with another layer of cheesecloth to protect it from insects. Figs should be let dry in the sun for about three days, and ensure that they are exposed to direct sunshine. To ensure that the figs are dehydrated, alternate the sides.
When the figs have lost all moisture, they are ready to be kept.
Place the dried figs in an airtight container or a plastic bag that can be sealed. Dried figs can be kept in the refrigerator or the freezer. Although dried figs can be stored for months, if not a year, it is best to eat them as soon as possible. The secret to successfully drying and storing figs at home is to ensure no moisture remains in the figs.
Do Fresh Figs Need to Be Refrigerated?
No. You can leave them on the counter if you plan to eat them the same day you buy them. However, the refrigerator is a superior solution if you require additional time. Figs are notorious for having a short shelf life.
Most sources recommend placing them in the refrigerator when you come home from the farmer’s market or the grocery store. Fresh, ripe figs should be kept chilled. Please put them in a shallow dish lined with paper towels since they bruise readily. If covered with plastic wrap, the figs can keep for two or three days.
Do Dried Figs Go Bad?
Dried figs rarely mold unless they come into contact with moisture. However, this does not imply that they will always be high quality. They dry out and harden over time, much like all dried fruits, especially after opening the package. That’s why granola, for example, doesn’t last indefinitely. You may eventually find your dried figs too hard to eat or lacking flavor.
In any case, that’s when you toss them out. A white cast (or white powder) on the surface is an essential consideration. That white crystallized material on the surface is sugar, and those figs are entirely edible ([VF]). That white hue, if anything, indicates that the fig was sweet and juicy, and it’s similar to the sugar specs that appear on dates from time to time.
Conclusion
Using a dehydrator can also help prevent a fig’s flavor from turning rancid. To do this, wash them thoroughly and pat them dry. If the figs are too ripe, don’t freeze them. And the freezing process will cause them to become dehydrated and lose their flavor. You can also dehydrate them in the dishwasher. If you don’t have a dehydrator, check out my wife’s favorite one. Generally, ripe fig is OK to eat, but they should be refrigerated or kept on the counter for at least two days. Using these tips, you can extend the shelf life of your figs. Otherwise, you can ruin them. Remember that fresh figs are more delicious than spoiled ones. So, when in doubt, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Fresh figs will last for a few days at room temperature. After that, they’ll last for a week or more. Make sure you put them in a crisper drawer with room for air circulation in the refrigerator. If you buy frozen figs, they have a shelf life of up to six months! Try a fig recipe today and enjoy! Don’t wait too long if you’re worried about figs going wrong. If you can’t wait, try storing them in the freezer.
