How to Freeze Figs
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Learn how to freeze figs in just a few simple steps. Frozen figs are a great ingredient to have on hand for baked goods, jams, sauces, and more!
Oh figs… They lead the list of my favorite fruit. They are sweet and juicy and wild, and they are an amazing fruit to enjoy fresh or to bake with. However, I have to admit, that my first thing to do with figs that we don’t eat fresh is fig jam. It’s, hands down, my favorite jam of them all!
I’ve tried to plant a fig tree a few times in the past, but I was never successful. The little tree just doesn’t make it through the winter. I have a few tricks up my sleeve and will definitely try again this year and again and again if I need to because I absolutely need a fig tree on my farm!
How to Freeze Fresh Figs…
For now, though, we are enjoying figs from someone else’s tree. I was lucky enough to meet a neighbor at the farmer’s market a couple of years ago, who introduced me to the most amazing fig tree! That gigantic thing produces a ton of figs and its owner has no desire to deal with them all. “I’ll take care of them!” I said before the man was able to finish his sentence.
So now that we are fig rich, we get a tummy ache every summer from over-consumption of fresh figs and I make a ton of jam. The best thing is, I still have plenty of figs to freeze as well so I can use them later in the year. If you happen to come by a ton of figs, freezing them is really easy and quick and you can use them a million different ways later (more on how to use frozen figs below).
Ingredients…
- Figs – any variety of figs will do. Just make sure that your figs are ripe.
Kitchen Tools…
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Plastic food wrap
- Ziplock bag or another freezer bag for storage.
Freezing Figs Step by Step…
Step one – prep the figs. Wash the figs, remove the stem, and either half or quarter the figs.
Step two – layer figs on a baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the figs in one layer on the baking sheet. Set them close together but so they aren’t touching each other. You can keep on layering figs, just make sure that you separate the layers with parchment paper.
Step three – freeze. Cover the baking sheet with plastic food wrap and set it in the freezer for 24 hours to freeze.
Step four – pack for storage. Remove the figs from the freezer and bag them. If you know what you are going to use them for, it’s sometimes easier to bag them in the correct portions, however, since we let them freeze without touching each other they won’t stick to one another in the bag and it should be easy for you to remove as many as you want when you are ready to use them. Don’t forget to label your bags!
How to Use Frozen Figs…
- Fig sauce – is so easy to make and is great on pancakes, French crepe, French toast, cheesecakes, and even meat dishes! Check out this recipe that is made with maple syrup.
- In baked goods – Try my delicious fig cheesecake and my fig and honey cake or this fig turnover, fig tart, fresh fig bars, and so many other desserts!
- Use in jams – again, my favorite is just a simple low sugar fig jam, however, you can add figs into many other jams like pear jam, strawberry jam, blueberry jam and others.
- Add to rice or meat – in the Middle Eastern cuisine, we use figs a lot when cooking meat. Many times you’ll find recipes that call for dry figs, however in many cases you can substitute them for fresh figs and the recipe will still turn out delicious.
- In smoothies – any smoothie or a healthy protein shake will benefit from the addition of a few figs!
Frequently Asked Questions…
No, in most dishes it’s actually better if you use them when they are still frozen.
Frozen figs should last 12-18 months in the freezer.
No! There is no need for blanching, a lemon water bath, or any other treatment when it comes to figs, you simply place them in the freezer.
Figs are very easy to freeze and are a great ingredient to have on hand throughout the year for both baking and cooking. They are a delicious fruit that we can’t really find in the grocery store so if you happen to come by a large number of them during the summer make sure to freeze some so you can enjoy them later!
More Freezing Tutorials…
- How to Freeze Apples
- How to Freeze Pears
- Freezing Leeks
- How to Freeze Green Beans
- How to Freeze Shredded Carrots
How to Freeze Figs
An easy step-by-step way to freeze figs for long-term storage.
Ingredients
- 30 figs (or however many you have)
Instructions
- Step one - wash the figs, remove the stem and either half or quarter the figs.
- Step two - line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the figs in one layer on the baking sheet. Set them close together but so they aren’t touching each other. You can keep on layering figs, just make sure that you separate the layers with parchment paper.
- Step three - cover the baking sheet with plastic food wrap and set it in the freezer for 24 hours to freeze.
- Step four - remove the figs from the freezer and bag them. If you know what you are going to use them for, it’s sometimes easier to bag them in the correct portions, however, since we let them freeze without touching each other they won’t stick to one another in the bag and it should be easy for you to remove as many as you want when you are ready to use them. Remember to label the bags!
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions...
- Can I freeze any variety of figs?
Yes, you can freeze any variety of figs by following the steps above. - Do I need to thaw figs before using them?
No, in most dishes it’s actually better if you use them when they are still frozen. - How long will figs last in the freezer?
Frozen figs should last 12-18 months in the freezer. - Do I not need to treat the figs somehow before freezing them?
No! There is no need for blanching, a lemon water bath, or any other treatment when it comes to figs, you simply place them in the freezer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1 figAmount Per Serving: Calories: 37Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 0g
Have 2 huge fig trees. Will be taking cuttings for a son. Have started them fr a cutting from a family member in the early 80’s. When I moved around 2013 took some cuttings. One tre is up to the gutters. If you would like a cutting or 2 be glad to share. My mother in laws was to the garage roof and spread the length of the garage. Don’t know name, variety, etc but had five at previous home and never lost one because of cold weather. Getting ready to freeze some.
Thank you! Do they produce well?
Hello from Breezy Point Beach, MD. My in-laws bought this beach house in 1958. My husband inherited this cottage, which came with a big and wide fig tree/ bush. My husband says he believes his mother planted them from cuttings taken from Amory, Mississippi. An older tree somewhat shading the fig had to be taken down a few years ago. This season, we have -so far-harvested approximately 150 figs and given away more. I’m running out of freezer space for loaves of fig nut bread and am now flash freezing as many as I can as fast as I can, at 75 years-old. Somewhere I read that you can drizzle the figs with a few drops of lemon, to preserve color. So I did but now wish I hadn’t. I can taste a bit of lemon. I was planning to use these in nut breads . Could I soak them in a sugar bath just before baking? I just wasn’t expecting a bumper crop of figs. These are Mission figs. Thanks I’m advance for any suggestions!
I think you can… I’m not sure about the recipe you are using but if there is any cooking of the figs then that should make the lemon taste go away too.
I too live in central NC and will be trying all of your suggestions .
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’d like what you find here.
Hi! My homestead is also in NC, but coastal. My son gave me a bunch of figs which I have dried. My goal was to make some fig newtons for my husband. There are two trees that I have started this year and they are both producing very well already! The very first time I tried a fresh fig I fell in love with them! Thank you for your post on freezing them. Have you canned them? With limited freezer space I will def try to put some up like this, I would also like to be able to can some shelf stable figs.
I haven’t canned them but I did make fig jam and canned it. Fig jam is the most delicious jam of all! Hands down.
If you have’t tried it yet you have to.
It’s amazing that your young trees already produce! I planted one last year. It’s two years old and it’s really hard for it to catch and start growing. It’s still very small. Hopefully it will take off soon.
There is a fig tree called Chicago Fig that will withstand temps to -20 degrees. I live in Florida and planted one several years ago, this past winter we had a few 20-degree nights and it was fine. It had a few tips on the branches that had to be trimmed but is doing well and producing again this year.
I’ll look into it! Mine came back! I am so so happy. I planted one last year and I wasn’t sure if it made the winter or not but it now has a few green leaves on it and seems to do great. I find that it’s only a problem when the trees are small. I know many people around here that have fig trees that are big and established and don’t mind the freezing temperatures in the winter. It’s only the tiny ones that don’t make it.
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Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m glad you liked it.