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The fruits of the fig tree and fig tree (figs) are sweet, juicy, with very tender pulp. It is difficult to preserve them during transportation and until the next harvest. To do this, drying and freezing are used. The latter method allows you to preserve not only the beneficial properties of the product, but also its taste and aroma. How to simply freeze figs for the winter is discussed later in the article.
Is it possible to freeze figs in the freezer?
Almost the only way to preserve figs for the winter is to freeze them. In this way, you can save all the vitamins and microelements that the product is rich in. These are vitamin A, B vitamins, folic and ascorbic acids. This fruit is low in calories, only 47 kcal per 100g, and is suitable for dietary nutrition. The taste and aroma of the berry deteriorates slightly when frozen, but not critically.
Blast freezers are suitable for harvesting fig tree fruits. In them, the berry is preserved under the influence of icy steam, which envelops it after immersion. In a simple freezer, the humidity is high, and the fruit will turn into ice. Its taste and appearance will deteriorate greatly.
The first time the fruits are frozen for no more than an hour.The cut fruit is placed on a flat plate and placed in a freezer to freeze. After the specified time has passed, the product is taken out and put into bags, tied tightly. Afterwards, the fruit is again placed in the freezer for storage.
Thawed fruit in winter can be used to prepare compotes, jelly, and jams. Frozen figs go well with meat dishes.
This product can be consumed even by diabetics, unlike dried fruits. Frozen fruits contain little sugar, and anyone can freeze berries at home.
Which figs are suitable for freezing?
Only dark varieties of fruit are suitable for freezing for the winter. It is stronger and will not turn into mush when exposed to low temperatures. The berries are selected whole, undamaged, of medium size, not overripe. To check their quality, you can gently press on the peel. It should not be too soft, there should be no fingerprints left. Even if you get a dent, the peel should soon straighten out.
To preserve the bright taste of the berry, before freezing it is cut into portions and left to dry in the sun. Afterwards the figs are sent to the freezer.
How to freeze figs at home
At home, the berries are frozen whole or in slices; you can use either method. To freeze figs into slices, do the following:
- Selected fruits are washed with cold water and the stalks are cut off.
- Afterwards the figs are cut into 4 parts.
- The slices are carefully laid out on a flat plate or tray, then placed in the freezer for 60 minutes.
- After an hour, maximum 6 hours, the slices are removed from the freezer and placed in plastic bags in a single layer. You can use special plastic containers for freezing. It is very convenient to store fragile fruit in them.
- The bag is tied and the plastic container is sealed with a lid. Third-party odors from the freezer should not penetrate inside the bag or container. Figs absorb the odors of spicy foods, meat, and fish well.
This type of frozen food can be stored for the winter from 6 to 12 months. It is better to harvest figs before a new harvest.
How to freeze whole figs for the winter
For this method of storing figs in the freezer, slightly unripe fruits are selected. They are washed with cool running water and left to drain. After they are dry, they are placed on a baking sheet or tray in a single layer and left to dry in the sun. This process will last from 1 to 3 days. In this case, it is important not to get dried fruit.
After 2-3 days, the figs are placed on a baking sheet and placed in the freezer for several hours. Then they take it out and put it into bags or plastic containers. Close hermetically and place in the freezer for storage. If there are a lot of figs, in winter they are stored outside or on the balcony in bags.
Before freezing for the winter, you can dry the figs in a special dryer or in the oven. Use the dryer in accordance with the instructions. Just drying and subsequently freezing whole berries using this method will not work.
You can dry whole figs in the oven.To do this, the washed and dried fruits are placed on a baking sheet and placed in an oven preheated to 40 °C for 8-12 hours. Afterwards it is allowed to cool and placed in a blast freezer for an hour. Afterwards, the finished product is placed in storage containers and placed in the freezer for the winter.
Shelf life
Frozen figs retain their quality for about a year. But it is better to store it until the next harvest. This is about six months. The main thing is not to allow the temperature in the freezer to rise during storage and not to refreeze the product.
Reviews of frozen figs
Conclusion
It is necessary to freeze figs for the winter to preserve their beneficial properties. This is done using a regular freezer. Throughout the year, you can enjoy sweet, aromatic fruits, which will bring many benefits to the body, exhausted in winter.
