Figs are not one of those fruits I wanted to try when I was younger. Let's face it, they just look weird. But once I tried them, I was hooked. Now I look for them at the Gateway Farmers Market every year. If you have been intimidated by the look of fresh figs and have only had them in the cookie form, I challenge you to buy some at the market or from a friend and give them a try.
The seeds are actually the fruit in figs, but we eat all of it with the exception of the stem. As much as I love fresh fruit, I might have to say fresh figs are one of the south's greatest summer treats. They are so sweet. The delicacies can be a challenge to find for sale, but check out your farmer's markets, neighbors' trees and farm stands. The challenge arises because figs do not store well and have a shelf life of only a few days at best.
The best way to assure that you get fresh figs every season is to plant a fig bush. Luckily, figs thrive in our region and are one of the easiest fruits to grow organically. Since figs do not require cross-pollination, you do not have to plant more than one variety. Within a few years, a single bush should be able to supply plenty of fresh fruit for yourself and possibly to share.
Lucky for fig lovers, figs are fat, sodium and cholesterol-free. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber. Just one serving, dried or fresh, provides 5 grams of dietary fiber or 20 percent of the Daily Value. That same one serving also adds 6 percent iron, 6 percent calcium, and 7 percent of the Daily Value for potassium.
One serving, approximately 3 to 5 dried or fresh figs, provides 3.5 grams insoluble fiber and 1.5 grams water-soluble fiber. Research shows that when adequate dietary fiber is part of an overall healthy diet, it helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and supports heart, digestive and colon health. A good diet plays an important role in coronary heart disease and cancer prevention. For example, diets rich in soluble and insoluble fibers help maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels and may lower colon cancer risk.
Fresh figs should be eaten immediately or refrigerated for up to two days. Since figs release ethylene, which can spoil some produce, they should be stored away from produce including bananas, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce and other leafy greens, parsley, peas, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes and watermelon.
If you have an abundance of figs and want to freeze them, it really is quite easy. Start with fully ripe fruit, wash and peel if desired. Decide if you want to make a syrup pack or dry pack.
If you want a syrup pack, it is recommended to make a heavy syrup for figs. To make the syrup, dissolve 2 3/4 cups sugar in 4 cups lukewarm water, mixing until the solution is clear. This will yield 5 1/3 cups syrup. Chill syrup before using.
Use just enough cold syrup to cover the prepared fruit after it has been placed in the container (about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of syrup per pint). Add 3/4 teaspoon (2250 mg) ascorbic acid or 1/2 cup lemon juice to each quart of syrup. Pack figs into freezer containers and cover with cold syrup, leaving headspace. Seal and freeze.
If you choose to dry pack, meaning not packing them in syrup, dissolve 3/4 teaspoon (2250 mg) of ascorbic acid in 3 tablespoons cold water and sprinkle over 1 quart of fruit. This will prevent darkening of light colored figs. Pack figs into containers, leaving headspace. Figs can also be frozen first on a tray and then packed into containers as soon as they are frozen. Seal containers, date and freeze.
For more information on the preservation of figs, canning, freezing or drying, contact the Miller County Extension Office, 870-779-3609 or visit us in room 215 at the Miller County Courthouse. We're online at [email protected], on Facebook at UAEXMillerCountyFCS, on Twitter @MillerCountyFCS or on the web at uaex.edu/Miller.
This recipe for Strawberry-Fig Preserves is sure to become a family favorite. It's such a great treat on a hot buttered biscuit.
Strawberry-Fig Preserves
3 cups mashed figs
2 packages (3 oz. each) strawberry gelatin
3 cups sugar
Sterilize canning jars. Wash, peel and mash figs. Place figs, gelatin and sugar in a large pan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and continue to boil 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often. Pour hot preserves into hot jars, leaving inch headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; adjust two-piece metal canning lids. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Yield: About 6 half-pint jars.
Carla Due is county extension agent-staff chair with the Miller County Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.