Abstract

Ripe bananas when dried are known as banana 'figs'. They are prepared in the following manner:- Ripe fruits are peeled, split longitudinally into two halves and each half again cut across into three or more pieces about an inch in length according to the size of the fruit, with a stainless knife or a sharp blade made of bamboo. The cut pieces are dried by exposing them to hot sun in wooden or bamboo trays with mosquito net coverings to keep off flies, or wooden trays with glass tops provided with ventilators for free passage of air. If suitable coverings are not used, maggots appear in the figs as the result of eggs laid by the flies on them while exposed for drying. The figs have to be dried for four or five days in a place free from dust when they will be ready for use. These may be packed in butter paper and stored in closed containers. They keep well for three to four months.

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