Francisco

Thanks for the pictures of those beautiful dried figs.  Do you have a dry season in Portugal during the harvest period where you can depend on hot sun and dry conditions for an extended period of time?  Do you have any problems with insects and other unwanted visitors finding the figs while they are drying?  The peak harvest season in my area comes in September, when the weather is usually unreliable.  The weather was perfect this year.

Bob

 Thanks to all for sharing your insight and expertise on drying figs.  The harvest season will be over within the next week in this area.  I’m going to try drying some apples with the dehydrator.  My sister sent me a poem from the old days about dried apples.  I think you will enjoy the poem. 

Bob

 Dried Apple Pies – A Poem

 I loathe, abhor, detest, despise, Abominate dried apple pies.

I like good bread, I like good meat, Or anything that’s fit to eat,

But of all poor grub beneath the skies, The poorest is dried apple pies.

Give me a toothache, or sore eyes, But don’t give me dried apple pies.

The farmer takes his gnarliest fruit, ‘tis wormy, bitter, and hard, to boot;

He leaves the hulls to make us cough, And don’t take half the peelings off.

And then a dirty cord ‘tis strung,  And in a garret window hung,

And there it serves as roost for flies,  Until it’s  made up into pies.

Tread on my corns or tell me lies,  But don’t pass me dried apple pies.

Author Unknown

We had perfect fig weather in my area (Zone 6b in S Central PA) this summer, and I have enjoyed a bumper crop.  I bought a Nesco food dehydrator to try my hand at drying the surplus figs.  I followed the manufacturer’s recommendations for drying figs, and am pleased with the results.  I am vacuum-sealing the figs in plastic bags using my Save-A-Meal gadget, which removes the air from the bag then seals it shut. 

Nesco recommends storing the dried figs in the refrigerator, or better yet the freezer.  How well do dried figs keep without refrigeration?  People have been drying figs for thousands of years without the benefit of refrigeration.  Should I be pre-treating the figs with lemon juice or ascorbic acid, as some sources suggest?  Do any of you have tips for a novice at the art of drying fruit?   Thank you. 

Bob

I'm also in zone 6b (South Central Pennsylvania).  My unknown figs (best guess is Brown Turkey) started to ripen this past week.  I have 2 well-established bushes in the ground, which I planted 42 years ago.  I look for a bumper crop this year.