Can You Freeze Figs?

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Figs are such a versatile fruit and can be enjoyed just as they are, as part of salads, or even baked in delicious sweet recipes. But what happens if you’ve got a glut of figs that you simply can’t eat? Can you freeze figs successfully? And how do you freeze them?

How to Freeze Figs

Because figs don’t have a great natural shelf life, freezing them is the only way of preserving them for use over anything longer than a few days.

That being said, you need to be aware that the texture of figs changes significantly when frozen, so you will have to bear this in mind when considering how your figs will be used when defrosted.

While frozen figs won’t make a great salad topping, they will still be delicious as part of baked goods like seasonal pies or breakfast muffins, so it’s still an excellent idea to freeze them and keep them on hand. Let’s look at exactly how to freeze figs.

1. Cut Up
   Although it’s ultimately your decision, cut your figs into quarters before you freeze them for the best results. This allows them to thaw quickly when you’re ready to eat them.
2. Wash Thoroughly
   Once you’ve sliced your figs, make sure you wash them thoroughly with cold water and dry by dabbing with a paper towel.
3. Peel (If Desired) 
   Depending on how you’re planning to use your figs when you defrost them, you should decide if you want to peel them. Don’t forget, when you defrost your figs, their texture will have softened significantly, making them difficult to freeze.
4. Flash Freeze
   Because of their texture, you need to lay the segments of fig out on a baking sheet before placing them straight into freezer-safe bags. Ensure they are spaced out from one another, and then place the sheet of baking paper into the freezer for a couple of hours.
5. Transfer to Bags
   When your figs are frozen, you can then transfer them into freezer-safe bags and return them to the freezer for storage. Label them with the use-by and storage date before placing them in the freezer.

If you want to serve the figs up as a dessert then you can also freeze them in a sugar syrup which can help to preserve their flavour and intensify the sweetness.

What Do Frozen Figs Taste Like?

When figs are frozen, their flavour can actually become more concentrated. You’ll often find that frozen figures are sweeter once defrosted.

We wouldn’t advise eating figs from frozen (unless it’s in a smoothie) as they will be incredibly hard to bite through.

3 Tips for Freezing Figs

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing figs to have the best results:

Try Using Ascorbic Acid
Figs usually darken during the freezing process because of the contact with air. To prevent this from happening, you can coat the figs with powdered ascorbic acid, which helps prevent discolouring from occurring.

Try the Fridge
Although figs don’t have a great shelf-life when stored at room temperature, you can store them in the fridge for up to seven days before freezing them. This is a good option if you want to retain their texture for a prolonged period of time.

Freeze Fresh
Only freeze fresh figs. If your figs are already mushy before you place them in the freezer, they won’t be much use to you when it comes to defrosting them.

How Long Can You Freeze Figs?

You can freeze figs for between 6-8 months. However, bear in mind, the longer that you leave them inside the freezer, the more moisture they will take on, and they will become even mushier.

It’s best to use them as soon as possible and definitely don’t exceed the 6-8-month timeframe.

You Can Freeze Figs for up to 8 Months

How Do You Defrost Figs?

To defrost your figs, remove the bag from the freezer and place it in a bowl in the fridge. Cover and leave to defrost overnight.

If you have frozen your figs in a sugar syrup, stir the mixture occasionally and then drain off the syrup before using.

Can You Refreeze Figs?

As we’ve mentioned already, the texture of your figs will change when you freeze them the first time as they take on water.

Therefore, it’s not advised to refreeze them, as they will turn to total mush when you are ready to defrost them for the second time.

Do Figs Freeze Well?

Generally speaking, figs do freeze well, and they retain lots of their flavour when frozen. However, you should bear in mind that they discolour when they are frozen, and they also change their texture.

This doesn’t mean that they’re not good to eat when defrosted, it just means you have to be careful what you use them for, as they will no longer be suitable for specific requirements. If you’re okay with this, then you won’t encounter any problems when freezing figs.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing figs or figs in general, then these may help:

Can You Freeze Dried Figs?

Unless it’s part of a cooked dish such as a fruit cake, there is no need to freeze dried figs as they have an incredibly long shelf-life. If you have a dish that you want to freeze and it contains dried figs, then they will be fine to be frozen. 

Can You Freeze Cooked Figs?

Cooked figs can also be frozen but bear in mind that when you come to thawing and reheating them, the texture will change drastically. Where possible, freeze figs uncooked and then bake them when you want to eat them. 

Can You Freeze Figs for Smoothies?

The main method on this page is the one to follow if you wish to follow figs for smoothies. The method will allow you to grab a fig at a time to place it into your smoothies. 

As with most frozen fruits, you can use them straight from frozen provided that you have a high-powered blender. Using frozen fruit will also ensure your smoothie remain nice and cold.