Interesting question. I was just given some figs, fresh from the tree. They are in the fridge, too, and I’m afraid that they will be like bananas, which go bad in the fridge since they are tropical fruit.

I think the best thing to do is to eat them or cook with them as fast as possible. Mine taste a little weird. I’m not sure if that’s because they come from someone’s tree in a back yard here or inside the house or what.

I expect that the outside will harden and turn brown as they dry. Then you have dried figs, which are good in their own way. But I’m just guessing with all of this.

Sorry I don’t have an answer for you, and I’m sorry I answered even though I don’t have an answer. I know this is general, but I thought this might be of interest anyway.

No they don’t really ripen once they’ve left the tree. I was trying to find a good source for that but that’s what I’ve been told by family friends who harvest them.

I did find this however: Fresh figs are very perishable. At 40° to 43°F (4.44°-6.11°C) and 75% relative humidity, figs remain in good condition for 8 days but have a shelf life of only 1 to 2 days when removed from storage. At 50°F (10°C) and relative humidity of 85%, figs can be kept no longer than 21 days. They remain in good condition for 30 days when stored at 32° to 35° F (0°-1.67° C). If frozen whole, they can be maintained for several months. (1)

So if you keep them cold at least you’ll have some time do decide what to make with them!

Usually they stay the consistency of when they were picked, but…they WILL explode with fruit flies if you keep them too long though.

Thanks for the good information—and, @Coloma, thanks for the warning!

I’m doing what @Marinelife suggested in another thread and just cutting them in chunks and sprinkling them with crumbled goat cheese. They do make a lovely snack or dessert. I couldn’t be more surprised.

If figs are anything like persimmons, which I suspect that they are, then they need to ripen on the tree. There is also a short period where they are ready for harvesting, as in one to two months. That window depends upon where one lives. Is there a farmers’ market near you where they are sold and can advise you?

We have a fig tree in our back yard, and the few times I’ve picked some, they don’t seem to ripen any more after being picked.

Well this is strange. Everyone says figs won’t ripen after picking. Mine do, and I’ve had success with brown turkey, Celeste and black figs. All ripen quite rapidly. We keep them outside the fridge, on the kitchen counter where they catch the sun coming in the window, and under a clear plastic cover to keep them from attracting a army of fruit flies).

If they were picked way to early, the ends tend to over-ripen and spoil before the part near the stem ripens enough for eating.