Anyone ever freeze figs?

Fruit in the Kitchen
#1

I know…having too many figs is a nice problem to have. It’s also one I’ve never had before this year. But holy cow…I’ve got them coming in like crazy now and I can’t use or give them all away.

I know drying is an option, but I just don’t like dried figs at all. I also know you can make fig preserves, and I am going to do some of that. But I’m considering freezing some, and I’m wondering if that would work at all?

I know a fig that has been frozen is never going to taste like a raw fig again and probably can’t be eaten directly when thawed (probably would be “mushy”) but I’m thinking it would still be ok to cook up for ice cream topping and other cooked fig uses. SO what say you…anyone ever frozen any figs? How did they turn out? What did you do with them once thawed? Thanks.

P.S. I’d also love to hear what the rest of you do with your fresh figs? ANy great fig dishes would be appreciated.

#2

I’ve frozen them at various stages of drying. Ones only dried a little come out mush. I didn’t care for them. When dried out half way or more they are good. I like to dry them as much as possible while still being chewy. For my taste dried figs I’ve made are very good. Not as good as the best Turkish dried figs but still very good.

For big watery figs I think at least some drying really helps.

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#3

Janet likes to make fig confections and then freeze them.

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#4

I have a recipe for fig newtons and it tells how to cook down the figs. I do that and then freeze the cooked figs in a vacuum sealed package. You can actually use this in fig cakes etc.

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#5

In those years where there are more figs than both humans and critters can consume promptly, they are frozen in gallon-sized freezer bags. Whenever it is time to make smoothies, it is convenient to pull out some of them and combine with blueberries or whatever else for a nice tasting ,healthy treat. Very convenient.

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#6

puree and freeze, use as needed

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#7

I’m not any help as I too dry, and freeze just like fruitnut. Love them like that. I would use for processing except for all the other fruit. My freezer is jammed to the top. I have to make jam just to make room for tomatoes, which I freeze before I make sauce. I have so much fruit this year.

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#8

I’ve never had that problem. All of my figs get eaten fresh, as that’s the way
I like them. They keep refrigerated for a long time.

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#9

I have froze them before. I wash/dry before freezing. To me they are better tasting this way. I take out what I want and only let them partly thaw before eating. Better than ice cream well almost. Sometimes I zap with a microwave a few seconds just enough to soften a little.

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#10

Yes and fresh Italian plums too, they were horrible! Good for nada!

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#11

I’ve actually purchased frozen figs from Trader Joes. They were large green whole figs, but it didn’t list the variety. It makes sense to distribute this way for something that doesn’t keep/ship well compared to most fruit and these are relatively tasty. I actually enjoy them the same way as @Auburn, although I slice them into relatively thin slices to east like figgy frozen potato chips.

If I get enough at once, I might consider freezing a few to see how they compare, but since I can easily eat 8-10 a day on my own (usually standing right next to the trees I pull them off) and I have 3 other fig eaters in the house, I expect I’ll be more like @Rayrose and they’ll all be eaten fresh.

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