How to Eat Fig Fruit

Figs are naturally sweet and fragrant, offering a unique aroma. While dried figs are commonly consumed, fresh figs are just as easy to enjoy. Figs can be eaten alone or paired with various other foods. Below is a guide on how to enjoy this wonderful fruit:

Eat fresh or dried figs. Figs are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and can be difficult to transport, which makes it hard to find fresh figs in cooler climates, especially when it's not summer. On the other hand, dried figs are available year-round at most grocery stores.

• Regardless of how you eat them, figs offer numerous health benefits. Just 50 grams of figs provide 37 calories, approximately 1.45 grams of fiber, 116 milligrams of potassium, 0.06 milligrams of manganese, and 0.06 milligrams of vitamin B6.

Select ripe figs for consumption. Figs come in various sizes and colors, but typically, a ripe fig is very soft. When touched, a ripe fig will bounce back and have a strong, sweet aroma.

• Avoid eating figs that are still firm or bruised. However, figs with slight scratches can still be eaten as they don’t affect the flavor or quality.
• Also, do not eat figs that have mold or those that smell sour or rotten.
• Ripe figs can be blue, brown, yellow, or dark purple in color.
• It’s best to eat figs as fresh as possible. While fresh figs can be stored for 2-3 days after picking, they will start to spoil afterward.

Wash fresh figs before eating. Rinse the figs under cold water and gently pat them dry with a clean paper towel.

• Do not use a brush to scrub the exterior. Instead, gently rub the figs with your hands to remove any dirt.
• While washing, gently twist and remove the stem from the fig.

Remove sugar crystals. You can sprinkle a teaspoon (5 ml) of water over ½ cup (125 ml) of figs and microwave on high for 1 minute to remove any sugar crystals.

• Ripe figs often have sweet syrup leaking out, which crystallizes on the surface. These figs are still edible, but it’s best to remove the crystals if you want a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Eat the whole fig. Figs have a mild sweetness and can be enjoyed fresh.

• The skin of the fig is edible, so there’s no need to peel it. Simply remove the stem and eat the entire fruit, including the skin.
• If you don’t like the texture of the skin, you can peel it off. After removing the stem, gently peel the skin from the top of the fig using your hands.
• To enjoy the sweetness inside the fig without peeling, simply cut the fig in half. Hold the fig in one hand and use the other to slice it vertically. This way, you can easily enjoy the sweet interior.

Enjoy figs with tangy cheese. A common way to enjoy fresh figs is by sprinkling some cheese or dairy products on top. It’s best to use products with a mildly tangy, sweet flavor, rather than sharp or bitter ones.

• Cut the fig in half and place a dollop of cream cheese on top. You can use plain or flavored cream cheese. Figs with cheese make a great snack or appetizer.
• To melt blue cheese inside the fig, remove the stem and make a small "x" incision on the fig. Stuff the fig with a piece of blue cheese and bake at 200°C (392°F) for 10 minutes.
• Figs also pair well with rich dairy products like Mascarpone or Crème fraiche.

Blanch the figs. You can blanch figs on the stove or simmer them in a pot. Use about 2 cups (500 ml) of water for every 8 figs.

• For added flavor, you can use fortified wine or simmer the figs with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, or star anise. Alternatively, you can use fruit juice or flavored vinegar, such as Balsamic vinegar.
• Simmer the figs on the stove for 10-15 minutes.
• Alternatively, blanch the figs in a slow cooker for 2-3 hours.
• Blanched figs are often served with yogurt, creamy dairy products, or frozen desserts.

Make fig jam. Combine 450 g of chopped figs with 1 cup (250 ml) of sugar in a pot. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes until it thickens into jam.

Use for baking. Figs can be used as an ingredient in various baked goods, including bread, cakes, muffins, and other flour-based pastries.

• Pair with other fruits. For example, you can mix chopped figs into a peach cake or combine them with raspberry, lemon, or orange-based desserts.
• Make figs the star ingredient. You can bake a fig-centered dessert, such as a fig tart, or incorporate chopped figs into sponge cakes or yogurt cakes.
• Use figs as cake decorations. Cut figs into halves or quarters to decorate cakes and similar desserts. The sweet taste of figs pairs wonderfully with creamy cakes like cream cheese frosting cakes or cakes with nuts like almond cakes.

Enjoy dried figs. Dried figs can be eaten on their own, much like raisins or other dried fruits. This is the simplest way to enjoy figs as a snack.

Rehydrate dried figs. When using dried figs for cooking, it's recommended to rehydrate them so they plump up and become juicier.

• You can soak the dried figs in water or fruit juice overnight.
• A more effective method is to simmer the dried figs in water or fruit juice for a few minutes.
• Whichever method you choose, make sure to add just enough liquid to cover the figs.

Use for baking. Both dried figs and rehydrated figs can be used as ingredients in baked goods.

• They are better suited for breads, cakes, and muffins than for pies or tarts. Mix dried figs into the batter for flour-based baked goods before baking.
• Swap other dried fruits for dried figs. Instead of using raisins and oats in cookies, try using dried figs and oats. Or, replace dried berries in muffins with dried figs.

Mix with oatmeal or porridge. Another simple way to enjoy dried figs is by adding a few to your morning oatmeal. The figs will bring a subtle sweetness to your breakfast dish.

Stir dried figs into fresh cheese or yogurt. For a light lunch, you can mix a handful of dried figs into a portion of fresh cheese or yogurt. The tangy and creamy nature of these dairy products pairs perfectly with the gentle sweetness of the figs.