How to Store Figs: 3 Ways to Store Figs

Fresh figs can last for two to three days when you store them at room temperature in a dry place. Figs will keep for up to a week if you refrigerate them under the right storage conditions with plenty of room to breathe in the crisper drawer. Frozen figs have a shelf life of up to a year. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to extend the shelf life of fresh figs so that you can make your favorite fig recipes like fig jam, fig butter, and fig cake.

The best way to store fresh, ripe figs is in the refrigerator, where they will last up to a week. Follow this simple tutorial on storing fresh figs in your refrigerator.

• Discard moldy or overripe figs. Check your batch of figs for proper ripeness once you get home. Discard any bad ones that could spoil the batch. Your figs should have bright purple skin and a slightly soft and pliable feel—but not too soft. Discard moldy or mushy figs, keeping only the ripe fruit.
• Place figs in a breathable tray. Store the fresh fruit in a cardboard or polystyrene tray. Place paper towels between the figs so they are not directly touching. This will absorb some of the fruits’ moisture and keep them fresh.
• Wrap figs and keep them in the fridge. Wrap your tray of figs in plastic wrap or place the tray in a plastic bag to insulate your figs from the aromas of other foods in your fridge. Place the figs in the fridge, preferably in a fruit crisper drawer if you have one. They will keep like this for up to a week.

Home cooks can also freeze figs to keep them for longer storage. The best way to do this is to flash freeze your fruits to prevent them from freezing together in one big clump. Follow these steps for freezing figs whole.

• Wash the figs. Wash your figs under cold water and then drain them using a colander. Pat your figs dry with a paper towel.
• Flash freeze the figs. Lay the washed figs out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Give each fig a little space around it so that they aren’t touching. Place the figs in the freezer for two to four hours. Take the baking sheet out of the freezer.
• Store the frozen figs in a freezer bag. Place the flash-frozen figs in an airtight container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer. The figs will keep like this for up to a year. Label your container or bag with the date so you know how long you can use the figs.

Drying figs is another good method for extending the shelf life of your fresh fruit. You can either use a dehydrator or your oven. Follow these steps for preparing dried figs in the oven.

• Preheat your oven. Set your oven to the lowest setting, ideally 140 degree Fahrenheit or lower. Place a rack on the oven’s middle level.
  
• Wash and cut the figs. Wash the figs under cold water, drain them in a colander, and pat them dry with a paper towel. Cut the raw figs down the middle from stem to base.
• Place the figs in the oven. Place the cut figs on a cooling tray over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Give each fig space so they're not touching each other. Place the sheet in the oven. Leave the figs to dry for eight hours, checking on the progress at regular intervals.
• Store dried figs. Remove your dried fruit from the oven. You can keep dried figs in an airtight container at room temperature. Dried figs will keep for six to twelve months.

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