summer

Good Question: How Can I Tell When Figs Are Ripe?

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSenior Vice President of Content at AT Media
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning, The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
updated May 3, 2019
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Here’s a good question from reader Betsy. She writes:

I was very happy to receive some gorgeous figs in my CSA this week. How do I know when they’re ripe? They’re a light purple color with light-colored stripes (and they’re still a little green). Should I let them ripen on the counter or in the fridge?

Betsy, we love figs! It’s wonderful you get them in your CSA box.

Figs do not ripen very well once they’ve been picked, however. Your best chance for getting them to ripen a little more is to leave them on a sunny windowsill for about a day. Once they soften a little more, eat immediately! You can hold them for an extra day in the fridge, but they will spoil quickly.

Ripe figs shouldn’t feel hard, like an apple or unripe plum. They should give slightly to pressure, but they shouldn’t be extremely soft or mushy. The best ripe figs are smooth and firm, holding their shape when sliced, but tender throughout and very sweet.

We recommend eating them fresh and raw with a soft cheese and some bread. Or you can roast them with rosemary and honey for a rich, sweet appetizer.

What are some of your favorite ways to use figs, and do you have any other advice for Betsy?

(Image: Faith Durand)