... dry figs without them turning tiny and gritty

[frozenthunderbolt]

the dried figs from the supermarket are lush and moist inside - thick and juicy like a date. mine have so far ended up like sweet figgy gritty cardboard.
Any advice?

I am trying drying over our wood stove now, hoping to cook/cure the outside faster so more moisture is locked inside.

[JillStephens7]

What have you tried up to now? We only got about 5 figs last year so havn't had this problem yet but am interested in how to in case we have a better year

I found these ... but maybe this is what you've already tried

http://www.ochef.com/9.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4422570_dry-figs.html

Jill

[Odsox]

Can't help I'm afraid, but if you find out please post it here.
I used to be overwhelmed with figs and I also thought drying would be the answer, but I just ended up with what looked like twigs, which tasted disgusting when re-hydrated.
Fig jam was pretty insipid too as was cooked frozen figs.

[frozenthunderbolt]

I have basically done both those pick fully ripe. cut in half and air dry on racks. have also tried above the wood stove. Both with the same result.
FWIW, fig jam can be spectacular, use 75% the weight of figs in sugar, NOT equal quantities - too damn sweet, and add a good wack of peeled finely grated root ginger and a squeeze of lemon juice. If you want to get really fancy chop some glace ginger into little bits and add it to the mix a few min. before you bottle the jam.
I think cooking the figs in a syryp first may be the answer who knows

[patR]

Cant help with drying them but we freeze ours, then eat them frozen... just leave out a few mins till they just barely start to melt... mmmmmm yummmy.. Ice creamy type figgy taste...

[JillStephens7]

How do you freeze them Pat? Do you peel them then just freeze in bags? We have a few more fruits this year - maybe as many as 15

[battybird]

I think figs have to be dried fairly fast, in sunnier hotter climates they dry them (whole) outside when green in August. I had a try in late September in Portugal with ripe brown figs but it was not successful, think it was not hot enough. I had to bring them in at night as it got too cold...they looked pretty sad! I expect another huge crop again this year so as I wont be out till september may try the woodstove method...unless Pat wants to pick a load and try drying some outside when green!!!
However, they are lovely poached in spiced red wine, and will freeze like that too!

[oldfella]

We dry our figs in the solar dryer., even then they are gritty when reconstituted, so we now also freeze some.