What to do with under ripe figs

Subject: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 07:28 AM

After what has been a pretty long summer in the UK its a bit suprising to find that our fig tree is full of small fruit,its a heavy crop but useless as a fruit to eat. Any good ideas,no axes please

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 08:14 AM

don't pick them...let them ripen some more

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 08:19 AM

Green fig compote, or pickle.
G.

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 10:56 AM

"The tricky part about figs is that they need to be picked ripe because they won't get much better after they're picked. But with only a thin skin protecting the tender flesh, ripe figs are fragile and don't travel well. That's why the figs you find in stores are often not at their height of perfection."

from the www

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:18 AM

"The only thing to do with unripe figs
Is tear 'em off the tree and feed 'em to the pigs"

as my old grandma used to say :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:23 AM

a small number can be added to fruit preserves to help the preserves set;

and the juice of an unripe fig is suppossed to remove warts;

those are the only two uses I found for unripe figs.

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:26 AM

I did find a suggestion of "oiling" green fruit to promote ripening - a drop of olive oil in the blossem end of the unripe fruit. According to the web site a much higher percentage will ripen in about a week then if un oiled.


"green" fig pickles and compote are made with RIPE green figs; not unripe fruit.

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:32 AM

Wrap the tree to stop the birds getting to them too badly, and keep an eye out for the first frost. With luck, you've got a few more weeks for them to ripen.

Subject: RE: Tech: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Cats
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 12:17 PM

Cut them in half, trickle honey over them and bake them in a medium oven until they are soft and gooey [ bout 30 mins ish]. You can have them hot with ice cream or put them in jar in the refrigerator and use them as a relish with parma ham and peaches. Fabulous.

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: IWTATBM
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 02:42 PM

Take:

1lb of unripe figs (or as many can be harvested)
2 tablespoons of cider vinegar
5 heaped tablespoons of golden syrup
1 1/2 pints of water

Boil this slowly for approx 35 mins, adding more water to keep the mix from drying out. When the figs are soft and the water absorbed, serve with ice cream, sprinkled with cinnamon.

I have never tried this recipe, having just created it, but would be interested to know how it turns out.

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Shiplap Structure3
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 03:11 PM

How the hell do you heap Golden syrup

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Peace
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 03:19 PM

Freeze it, cut into chunks. Then heap!

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 03:30 PM

You heap golden syrup all round the spoon.
We've already had hard frosts. About a week ago the grass was white at noon in the shadow of the house. (NW England)

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 08:48 PM

Avoiding heaped surup is normally the problem. Warm it (or treacle) in some hot water before use, and it's alot easier.

Edinburgh hasn't had a frost yet, but is low lying and costal, so does tend to avoid them.

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:30 PM

We seem to get two crops of figs here, and the second never quite has a chance to ripen. It's good to know there's something to be done with the little hard ones. (Even if we don't have any pigs.)

~ Becky in Tucson, Arizona

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: bobad
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:33 PM

"but is low lying and costal, "

Ya wouldn't be ribbin' us now would ya?

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 09:58 PM

Defer uprising?

Punier fridges?   

Ruin fried pegs!

Fred Pig쳌fs urine!

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 10:14 PM

SLING SHOTS

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 10:28 PM

Slings tosh?   

Nope!

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 10:51 PM

Under ripe figs are not much good for anything - they're just dry and tasteless. When the frosts creep up on ours before they ripen we just accept that the season is over and that's that!
Ripe figs are my FAVOURITE fruit of all time. We have the green skinned ones that are brilliant red inside (when ripe) and they taste rather like strawberry jam when you eat them raw!
Yum!
Robyn

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: EBarnacle
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 10:22 AM

If they are not too underripe, try putting them in a brown paper bag for a few days. Apparently the sulfates in the paper have a ripening effect.

Ripe ones are delicious with provolone and sopressate ham. I once had a fig tree in my yard and for two years had the pleasure of eating that day's ripe figs as described above.

As I selected that day's crop, I would regularly hum: "And everyone, 'neath his vine and fig tree shall live in peace and not afraid."

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 11:43 AM

Caprification is the answer. (That is the first time in my life I have ever found a conversation going on in which this word could be used legitimately).

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: freda underhill
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 09:32 PM

with ripe figs - stuff them with almonds, stew them slowly in honey & vanilla syrup, and let them soak in it overnight. mmm.

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 07:10 AM

Its a bit late in the season for caprification is it not?

Subject: RE: What to do with under ripe figs
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:15 AM

Frankly, I never have caprified, and am not too sure when the best time to do it might be.