Figs are fruits produced from the Ficus Carica, a small flowering tree in the Moraceae plant family. The fruit finds its origins in western Asia and the Mediterranean, where it has been grown for thousands of years.
Today Figs are cultivated all around the world as both food and as ornamental plants. Over 800 species of Fig trees exist.
Figs are best eaten fresh, or dried, but are also often processed into ingredients for jam, biscuits, and other dessert foods. That said, Figs are more often eaten dried than fresh as they don’t keep for long (when fresh).
Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco are the leading cultivators of Figs on today’s market, producing well over a combined 1 million tonnes each year.
But let’s get to the question of the day: Are figs considered a stone fruit?
Quick Answer: Yes, the Fig is considered a stone fruit. Figs have a central stone, or seed, in the middle of the fruit. The seed is too hard to crunch with your teeth, thus it qualifies as a fruit stone.
Are Fig Stones Freestone or Clingstone?
Fig Stones are typically considered freestones because their primary seeds are easy enough to remove without dealing with clingy fruit pulp or flesh.
The tear-shaped fruit of the Fig tree has a sort of complex make-up compared to other similar fruits. Individual Figs measure between 1.2-inches and 2-inches in length and half that much in width. The semi-large stone occupies a space towards the center of the inner fruit.
The fruit itself has green skin that gradually turns brown or purple as it ripens. On the inside, aside from the large pit that qualifies it as stone fruit, there are quite a few smaller seeds that give the fruit a crunchy texture.
At any rate, the fruit offers extremely little in the way of protein, fat, or nutrients. They consist of approximately 80-percent water and 20-percent carbs. They do, however, offer an excellent source of fiber for your daily diet.
Similar Stone Fruits
A few of the most similar stone fruits to Figs are:
- Apricots are a stone fruit that is similar to Figs in that they are soft and sweet, and contain a large stone in the center of the fruit.
- Cherries are much smaller than figs, but are sometimes similarly shaped and also are excellent eaten raw, but are more often dried and used as ingredients in other food.
- Dates are highly comparable to Figs in taste, texture, fiber contents, and that they are stone fruit that is more often dried than not.
- Peaches are an incredibly popular stone fruit with stones that are typically easy to remove, they are also sometimes dried but are more often consumed raw.
- Prunes are another popular stone fruit with an easy-to-remove stone that is typically dried and used as an ingredient or eaten for dietary benefits.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
