Calvin, I do the microwave treatment too... usually 10 - 15 seconds in my microwave oven.
Also been experimenting with rehydrating dried figs, using milk or water with a bit of fruit juice. Heating in the microwave seems to help that too... had some dried Adriatic figs that were so completely dried, they were almost inedible without rehydration. But with rehydrating (split them then soak them for 20 - 30 minutes), they were pretty good.
Most of what I can buy here aren't well labeled (occasionally I find some). But two of the widely distributed commercially packaged dried varieties are
- Nutra Fig (R), packed by San Joaquin Figs Inc (www.nutrafig.com). I can usually find their Calimyrna dried figs here, and occasionally their Mission dried figs.
- Great Lakes Premium Garland Figs, grown in Turkey and packaged by Great Lakes International Trading, Inc. (MI). I'm not sure what variety these are, but they're moister and softer than almost all the other Turkish figs I've been able to buy in my area. (There are lots of packagers).
Those two varieties are moist (and packed in sealed leak-proof containers) and soft. Lots of others that I rehydrate, but those two don't really need it... they're sort of a cross between "preserved" and "dried".
motownnj, I'll keep my eyes out for that brand. Always looking for another good one.
Mike