Send them to me! :D

I think you can dry fruit in the sun by just stacking a bunch of sieves (or sieve-like devices) up and laying out a layer of fruit on each level, and figuring out a good way to vent the humidity. Sounds like it would work to me. That is, if you have sun available. Something like this. I think you could make one yourself if you have the time.

@lilikoi Unfortunately it is autumn… here in NZ figs ripen in autumn so not at all conducive to sun drying I’m afraid…

Yes I have. I don’t have a fig tree but have bought them fresh and dried them. The taste is pure and clean. The freshness is obvious. They appear brighter than the store bought kind I’ve had. Of course, that may have been a difference in the type of figs. If you give a few away as gifts you will be a superstar and sought after by many.

Here is a decent review of a few dehydrators: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2003-06-01/Choosing-a-Food-Dehydrator.aspx

@Adagio Ahh, sorry I can’t be of more help…I think @liminal gave a GA. I’ve used that website for other stuff, and liked it. Good luck! You could also make jam.

@liminal That sounds very encouraging indeed, thank you… did you dry the fruit whole or slice it first, I would like to try drying it whole… my figs have a red-brown skin when ripe, moderately juicy and very sweet, do they sound anything like the ones you dried?

*** Perhaps juicy is not the right choice of word… very moist might be a more apt description.

I have no idea I’m afraid but I just love the idea that you have a fig tree in your garden and that you’re trying to utilise them…beautiful!! xxx

ooh liking the jam idea though!!

@Adagio I dried them whole. I first immersed them in boiling water for 30 seconds and then immediately placed them into a bowl filled with cold water briefly to loosen their skins before dehydrating. The skin sort of peels off after they dry down. I don’t know why this is so important, but I read a book that said to do so and, sometimes, even I comply to direction. Slicing them will let them dry faster but always seemed like unnecessary extra work. It takes about 6 -8 hours.

@lynneblundell I agree, so wonderful. Maybe she will have us over for tea.

@lynneblundell If you had suggested jam to me years ago I would have offered you a jar of my fig and ginger jam, sadly you’re about 21 years too late.

@liminal Many thanks for the information, it will be more than useful to a fig drying novice such as I am. I might try slicing a few, just to compare results. next time you’re in NZ you are more than welcome to come to tea… scones with jam and cream, how does that sound?

@Adagio to go to NZ, sit with the first jelly to ever be nice to me, and gaze upon lovely green foothills and fig trees while having tea sounds most lovely.

@liminal hutch up honey! I’m coming too!!! :-)

@lynneblundell I have no idea what it means to hutch up, but I think you may have given me a new favorite phrase!

um…budge up?... hotch your bottom across the seat a little…to make room for me :-)

ah! done. :)

What time do you ladies arrive? B^)