How to Dehydrate Tomatoes

Dry Tomatoes Grown in Your Own Garden for Winter Use

© Melissa Howard

dehydrated tomatoes, Melissa Howard

If you relish the goodness of sun-dried tomatoes in your food but abhor the prices, try drying your own garden produce.

Supplies

Instructions

  1. Thoroughly clean dehydrator according to manufacturer’s instructions.
  2. Use a cooking spray or olive oil to lightly grease the trays (this will prevent the tomatoes from sticking to the tray).
  3. Clean tomatoes in cool water. Remove stems and any blemishes.
  4. Slice tomatoes between an 1/8” to a ¼” thick. (How thick you slice the tomato depends on your personal preference and the depth of your dehydrator’s trays.)
  5. Arrange sliced tomatoes on the tray. Place them as close as possible to each other while not allowing the slices to touch.
  6. Turn on your dehydrator. Depending on the style of your dehydrator and the amount of liquid in your produce, it will take 12-48 hours for the tomatoes to become properly dried (they should be about the texture and density of a raisin).
  7. When the tomatoes are dried, turn off the dehydrator and allow them to cool on the trays.
  8. Place the dehydrated tomatoes in a Ziploc bag or other suitable container to store in the freezer.

Helpful Hints and Suggestions

Reconstituting in Water

  1. Place the tomatoes in a heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water.
  2. Let stand for thirty minutes.
  3. Strain off the water and use tomatoes.

Reconstituting in Oil.

  1. Place tomatoes in bowl and cover with oil
  2. Let stand for twenty-four hours.
  3. Strain away oil (oil can be saved for use in recipes and dressings), and use tomatoes as directed by recipe.

If your garden is going crazy and you need another way to preserve your abundance read the article Zucchini Soup.


The copyright of the article How to Dehydrate Tomatoes in Recipes is owned by Melissa Howard. Permission to republish How to Dehydrate Tomatoes must be granted by the author in writing.


tomatoes prepared for drying, Melissa Howard
dehydrated tomatoes, Melissa Howard
     


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