How to Make WHOLE Fig Preserves-Old Fashioned Southern Recipe-Steph’s Stove

Whole Fig Preserves
Fresh figs
Sugar
Lemon juice
Pint or half-pint jars
New jar lids (don’treuse lids)
Jar rings (these can be reuse)
Cannings tongs
Funnel
Two pots (one large and one small/medium)
Wash figs and remove stems.
Add figs to a large sturdy pot and cover with granulated sugar until sugar is covering the tops of all figs. This will be about 4 cups or more. Feel free to add more or less sugar according to your personal preference. However, you will need a minimum of 1 cup sugar for every cup of figs. Once figs are covered in sugar add two generous squirts of lemon juice (1 tablespoon if fresh) to the top of sugar. Do not stir at this point.
Place the pot on the lowest setting on your stove and cook for approximately 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, gently stir the mixture and cook for another 30 minutes. After the second 30-minute point you will have quite a bit of juice released from the figs and a syrup will begin to develop. Gently stir the mixture to ensure nothing is sticking to the bottom during the cooking process.
Turn the heat up to medium low, about 4-5, and cook for another 30 minutes bringing the mixture to a low simmer and stirring about every 5-10 minutes.
Cook for another 30 minutes and adjust cooking temperatures as needed. You do not want the mixture to start a full boil but just a low boil/simmer (this should be about 2 hours into the cooking process) and continue to stir frequently to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot and scorching. At the end of this cook time, check the figs for sweetness by tasting one. If you need to add more sugar, add according to your preference.
Check the temperature of your figs at this point. Using a digital thermometer, check to see if the figs have reached a temperature of 220-225° this is the point your preserve jelly like. If they have not reached this point, continue cooking for 30 additional minutes and recheck again.
Total cook time will be about 2 1/2 hours.
Once the temperature has reached 220-225° your preserves are ready. 🙂
If you do not water process the figs they are not considered shelf-stable and should be stored in the refrigerator.
To water process the figs for long term storage (up to 12 months):
Using either pint or half-pint jars, clean and thoroughly wash jars, rings, lids, funnel, and ladle. Bring two pots (one medium pot for lids and rings / one large pot for jars) of water almost to the boiling point on the stove and add a trivet to the bottom of the largest pot to prevent the jars from touching the bottom. Add the jars, lids, and rings to the pots to sterilize, being sure they are about 1 inch above the jar lids (covering rings and lids in a smaller pot) for about 10 minutes. Gently remove the jars and place on a towel in the upright position.
Place a funnel in each jar and fill leaving about ½” open space at the top of each jar. Using a plastic or silicone utensil, move around the edges of the figs to remove any trapped air. Do not use a metal instrument for this.
When all jars are filled and air has been removed, wipe the tops with a clean damp cloth to ensure there is no residue (you may need to do this part twice if they are extremely sticky) on the tops before adding the lids. The surface must be clean in order to ensure a proper seal. Place the lids on each top and then the rings. Tighten the rings to “fingertip” tightness. Not super tight but firm.
Bring the largest pot of water to a boil and gently lower each jar into the boiling water to process for 10-minutes. After the 10-minutes mark, remove the jars and place back onto the towel to cool. You will begin to hear the “ping” sound within approximately 2-3 minutes. This is the sound that your jars are completely sealed. Process additional jars if needed - I did have to process in two batches.
Jars are EXTREMELY HOT!!!! Be Careful!!!
Once they have cooled for about 30 minutes, tighten the rings completely. Allow to sit, undisturbed, until they have come to room temperature before you store them in the pantry. The fig preserves will be shelf stable for about 12 months. Once they have been opened, store them in the refrigerator. Enjoy on toast, a hot biscuit, or on top of meat. Delicious!!!
Thanks for watching and don’t forget to click LIKE and also SUBSCRIBE to be notified when new videos are posted.
#wholefigpreserves #oldfashionedsouthernstylefigpreserves #figpreserveswithoutpectin #preservedfigs #wholefigpreserverecipe #realfigs #southernfigpreserves #figpreserves #preservesrecipe #easyfigrecipe #threeingredientfigrecipe #howtocanwholefigs #preservedfigs #freshfigs #canningfigs #figrecipe #canning #canningandpreserving #wholefigs #southernrecipe #oldfashioned #summer #figs #howtomake #stepbystep #simpleingredients #easyrecipe #youtubevideo #newvideo #subscribers #StephsStove #MakingMemoriesOneDishAtATime #masonjar #ballcanning #ballpintjars #ballhalfpintjars #ballmasoncanning #sugar #figs #lemon

[@joeslaughter-rw3nx]

You really make preserving sem so much fun. Can't wait to try the fig preserves. Thanks!

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

It is fun and so rewarding! Figs are my favorite. My grandmother made them special for me as a child and they were so delicious. Each time I make them I think of her. Thanks for watching and your comment. Have a blessed day!

[@jedonhopkins3868]

Wow this video is so exciting. We had a neighbor in the 70s who had a fig tree and the figs were so delicious and sweet. Fresh figs in Los Angeles now is just unheard of. ❤❤❤❤

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

Fig season is in full swing and they are so yummy straight off the tree, just like you remembered in the 70s. I can remember eating them like this too as a kid and anxiously awaiting my Mammie canning them. There is nothing like fig preserves on a hot buttered biscuit or piece of toast for breakfast! Yummy 😋 I sure wish you could get some and I’m also glad you enjoyed the video! Have a great weekend my friend!

[@LyndaWalden-nf6kd]

Love fig preserves. I make mine with honey.

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

Me too! There are some people who mash the figs for jam (and that is ok) but the whole fig preserves are my favorite. I love how the whole figs pop when you eat them. Yummy 😋!!! I have not made figs with honey but that does sound delicious! I’m glad to know there are more people who love figs. Thanks for watching and your comment! Have a blessed weekend!!!

[@deborahwheeler4302]

Mother and Daddy would cover the figs just like you did, then they would place them in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, they would transfer entire contents of sugar-covered figs (with the syrup that formed in the bottom) from the bowl into the cooking. pot. My grandma told me “you cannot put too much sugar when doing blackberry jelly, jam, pear preserves, or fig preserves”.

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

That is so true! It seems like so much sugar but it’s needed for good jam, jelly, and preserves. I like the overnight method you mentioned. This summer I will try it when I make more. So glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and sharing your precious memories; I hope you have a blessed day!!! 😊

[@houcoogster]

About to get figgy wit it ;-) ....I like your recipe because you didn't call for water. Why water down your preserves?

[@sylviah1234]

Never tighten lids down. Sealed will you can lift lid and jar ( after resting unmoved overnight ) without the ring to see if it sealed properly. tightening the ring will give you a false seal. Best to read National Home Canning safety.

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

It’s just the way I was taught and I have always done it this way. I have never had an issue with the jars sealing. I’m always open to suggestions and recommendations. Thanks for the tip.

[@sylviah1234]

Your jars will show they have sealed but it can be a 'false' seal. Probably they are always fine just do a good check smell and appearance 'mold or darkening'..anything odd. It's my family and friends so I only use approved methods of safe canning. Some people just turn jar upside down for 5 minutes..50 years ago my mother n law taught me to also seal with paraffin wax....none of these methods are approved by the National Home Center for Home Food Preservation. You can refer here also for all recipes for pressure and boiling water canner all information is here and safety approved. It's know as 'Fingertip Tight' all safe canners use this method. You can see it on many canning video's.@@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249

[@Timetravel1111]

:40 she had figs on her tree OK we I don’t think we have fig trees here in the Minnesota area when you said that I was like kind of jealous like excited like thinking yes that’s really cool and then I was thinking can I plant a fig tree here. Are there any fig trees in the Midwest? I felt like I was very Mediterranean, but you have a southern accent so where are you at? Lol.

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

Your post made me smile! I’m in South Georgia almost at the Florida line. Figs are an old southern treat in the summer time. They bring me back to my childhood when my grandmother made them for me. Yummy! If you wanted to grow figs In Minnesota I think you would need to do it in a large container. During the coldest weather you would need to bring it to a shed or weatherproof building. The tip of the tree could not make it outside during extreme cold. I’m a little sad that you don’t have these amazingly delicious 😋 gems! Once you try them you will be hooked. Thanks for watching and your comment. Have a blessed day!!!

[@Timetravel1111]

@@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249 ahh that’s nice to have fruits around. Good tips probably not work too well. We had 39F last night and it’s it’s only autumn 🍂

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

@jodyhakala247 Wow! That sounds like a late December/early January weather here if we are lucky. Stay warm!

[@msr1116]

I'd read about an Italian guy in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood who kept a fig tree, but it took some work in the fall to prevent it from freezing then dying during the winter. Evidently he knew what to do to keep his alive and bearing fruit.

[@stephsstovebystephaniethom7249]

Some people just have an amazing “green thumb” and can just about grow anything. Thanks for watching and sharing this interesting story. Have a blessed evening!!!

[@Timetravel1111]

6:20 🍭✋🏼 has anyone used coconut sugar I don’t think I want to use that much sugar and I’m thinking that this coconut sugar is lower. I do not like a lot of sugar anyone suggestions

[@Timetravel1111]

Soo noo on the coconut sugar or low glycemic sugar?