Intro to Dry Figs
One of the healthiest dry fruits commonly found in Pakistan is Anjeer, which is the dried form of figs. This dry fruit is one of the few that is known just as much, if not more, for its health benefits than for its taste or as a snack food. People often wonder how to dry figs.
Drying the fruit concentrates all of the nutrients inside of it and makes it that much more beneficial for a person to consume, which is why the dry fruit is much more common than the fruit itself in Pakistan.
So, let’s start our tutorial on how to dry figs:
How to Dry Figs: Sun Drying
The most common way to get dried figs, and the one that you will find most commonly used for the figs that are in Pakistan, is drying them in the sun. This natural procedure has been used for centuries as the main way to create this healthy dry fruit.
Picking
The first step in this procedure is to pick fresh and ripe figs. It is recommended to do this with freshly picked figs rather than older ones, as the fresher the fruit, the higher the quality of the dried product.
Preparation
Now, if you want the more conventional look, cut the figs into round slices. You can also use them as is and achieve the same effect if the look does not matter to you. Now, place them equally spaced on a drying tray (any tray that you do not mind leaving out in the sun for a long period of time will do, but fruit trays work the best).
Placement
Now, you want to place these trays in the sunniest spot that you can find in your garden. The place also needs to be very windy; constant airflow is just as important for the drying process as the heat from the sun. Generally speaking, the higher up, the better.
The Waiting Game
Now, you want to leave these trays out for at least seven days. To make sure that the fruit is equally dry in all parts, turn them over every single day. This will also help to prevent any signs or chances of the fruit rotting from constant exposure.
It might not be a bad idea to cover your fruits during the drying process to protect them from insects or dust. But make sure that the cloth you use is breathable, like a mesh cotton material or something similar, that lets both the sun and air through and, preferably, it is not touching the fruit itself if possible.
Profit
Once around seven days have passed, you’ll know that the figs are ready and dry if they have a mid to dark yellow colour on the outside and a yellow-orange on the inside, something like a dried aalu bukhara.
Now, you can either go straight to storing these dry fruits as is, or you can take an additional step to make sure that they are 100 percent clean and hygienic.
Extra Cleaning
For this process, you will need some saltwater; you can use fresh water mixed with sea salt (some people say water from the coconut dry fruit works as well) and a mesh bag of some sort. Put this water in a pot and let it boil.
Once it has started boiling, place your dried fig in the mesh bag and then dip it into the water in short bursts (10 or 12 seconds at a time) somewhere around 6-8 times, making sure to shake excess water in between each dip.
Now, after draining them, it might be useful to put them in the sun again for maybe an hour to completely dry off any water remaining. Otherwise, your figs are now completely clean and safe to eat!
Storage
While dried fruit is not at nearly as much risk of going bad as fresh food, it is still important to care about how you store this dry fruit; you put so much effort into getting it, after all.
Any container or bag that will prevent moisture from getting in will work well for the fig dry fruit, but airtight containers will be the best option. It is a good idea to make sure to put your figs in a cool, dry place like your fridge, but even outside, they should be fine for months as long as they are covered and protected from the elements.
Prices
We thought it important to tell you the prices of dried figs in the market so that you can get an idea of how much money you might be saving. Dried fig or Anjeer will cost you from 2500 to 4000 rupees for a kilogram in the market if you buy it directly.
Closing Thoughts
We hope you found our tutorial on how to dry figs helpful. The fig is one of the healthiest dryfruits that exist in the world. It has benefits for reproductive health, digestive health, and menstrual health, as well as protecting you from chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. The benefits mean that it can also often be decently expensive, and with how easy it is to dry out the fruit at home, it can be a great idea for people who are trying to save some cash!