If you have doubts about the origin. If you are not sure whether the figs are organic or sustainably grown, it is best to avoid consuming the skin.
In case of allergies or intolerances. If you have food allergies related to figs, it is advisable to consult a doctor or allergist before consuming fig skin.
If you have skin problems. If you suffer from dermatitis or other skin conditions, it is best to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Fig Skin’s Properties
Many popular beliefs and legends are linked to the skin of figs, so much so that once upon a time the saying “do as the ancients did, who ate the peel and threw away the figs” was often used to underline how beneficial the skin of the fruit was, even more than the pulp.
In fact, it was believed that the skin of figs was able to increase muscle mass and therefore was particularly beneficial and energetic. Obviously, this is just a legend: the skin is simply rich in fiber, mineral salts and vitamins just like the pulp.
Fig Skin: How to Enjoy It
The best way to enjoy fig skin is to eat it in one bite while it is still attached to the fruit, but alternatively you can always transform it in some ways that will make it even more delicious. First of all you can create a delicious nutritious snack: you will have to wash the skin, dry it, spread it out on a baking sheet whole or separated into strips and then sprinkle it with a little sugar. At this point you will dry the skin in the sun or in the oven and there you have it, an energetic and delicious snack.
Fig skin is very rich in pectin, a natural thickener used to solidify jams and preserves. If you prepare fig jam, therefore, remember to add the skin to the mixture: you can wrap them in gauze to remove them more easily at the end of cooking and thus take advantage of their thickening properties while also reducing cooking times.
