Dehydrating figs is a great way of preserving them naturally. Sometimes we have a surplus of fruits that we grow in the garden. Therefore, it becomes important to drying them out to use in the offseason. There are many different ways to dehydrate figs at home. You can do it using the dehydrator. Drying them in sunlight is another option. But dehydrating figs in an air fryer is the most innovative method if you don’t have a food dehydrator. In this article, I am going to teach you the process.
If you want to dehydrate with a dehydrator, then read this article first.
Can you use the air fryer for dehydrating figs?
It is a tricky question. You need to have a clear understanding of it before drying up anything in any process. Dehydration of fruits is a slow process that is undergone at a very low temperature. The temperature range of an ordinary air fryer is around 170°F to 400°F. Therefore, it cannot meet our temperature requirement for dehydration of Figs which is around 100°F. Hence it requires dehydration function.
You can read our article on the top air fryers that can dehydrate figs to get some awesome suggestions.
Required tools and ingredients
It does not require anything other than fresh figs. You may also need some air fryer accessories such as a multi-layer rack, parchment paper, and so on.
- Fresh Figs
- Kitchen knife
- Multi-layer racks
- Air fryer that dehydrates ( alternatively, a dehydrator )
All air fryers do not dehydrate. Therefore, check whether yours one can do it. How can you be sure about it? The easiest way is to check the temperature range and maximum cooking time. To dehydrate figs, you need a temperature below 130 degrees fehrenhit. As dehydration is a slow process, the ability to cook for a longer time in one setting is better. Apart from these, a multi-layer racking system is also necessary.
If your air fryer does not have these features, then you need to have a dehydrator or an air fryer that dehydrate. Below GoWise USA model is my recommendation. I have found it as the best option as an air fryer and dehydrator after researching for a long time.
GoWise USA Mojave 17 Quart Air Fryer with Dehydrator
Step by step fig dehydration process with an air fryer
Let us now start learning the process in a few simple steps. Keep in mind that it is a slow process. Therefore, you should have a passion for dried food. Otherwise, you are not going to enjoy it much.
Step 1 :
The very first step to prepare dried Figs is washing them thoroughly. Rinse them gently during washing otherwise, they may get damaged.
Step 2 :
Now arrange the figs appropriately on the tray of the air fryer. Before doing this, remove the stems and any other unnecessary parts. Cut the figs into pieces before arranging them on the tray. You may also keep them whole if wish. Use all the trays of the air fryer to utilize the maximum capacity. Do not overcrowd or arrange the fruits in multiple layers.
Step 3:
Now set the temperature to 125°F. It may take 12 hours for the whole figs to get fully dehydrated. If you are dehydrating quartered pieces, then it will take around 8 hours. The required time may vary for different sizes of fruit. Therefore, check every 30 minutes after 6 hours of dehydration.
Step 4:
If you are satisfied and feel that the dehydration is done, then stop dehydrating. Leave the figs to get cooled at room temperature. Store them in an airtight glass jar. Properly stored dried figs will last few months.
How long can I store dried figs?
If you dehydrate the quartered figs and store them in the right manner, then they will last for more than one year. But the whole dried ones will last less because you will not be able to get them fully dried. Store them in a dry place and check for molds each month. If you want to store them for long, then cut the figs into pieces to fully remove the water. After that, preserve them in a plastic bag and remove inside air using a vacuum sealer. It is the best way of preserving dehydrated food for a longer time. Below is a recommended vacuum sealer for preserving dried figs.
Entrige Automatic Vacuum Sealer For Dry & Moist Food
Nutrition facts of dehydrated figs ( 24 gm)
- Calories – 60
- Fat – 0.2 g
- Fiber – 2.4 g
- Sugar – 11 g
- Protein – 0.8 g
- Potassium – 163 mg
- Calcium – 39 mg
- Iron – 0.5 mg
- Phosphorus – 16 mg
Figs are naturally sweet. If you want to avoid processed sweets, then dehydrated figs can be a good alternative for you. From the list above, you can see that they contain a lot of sugar. Other than these, they are a good source of antioxidants that are important to recover cell damage. They also have a very good impact on IBS symptom management, constipation recovery, and some other chronic diseases.
Bottom line
I think now you can prepare dehydrated figs at home with the air fryer. It can be a great choice if you are planning to take a natural sweetener. For a person who needs to dehydrate a very high quantity in a single batch may get it with a dehydrator. I also recommend the same if you are drying up fruits and vegetables too often.