How to Make Sun Dried Tomatoes

Tomatoes, especially sun dried tomatoes, may be the newest health food craze, but unfortunately, they can be expensive to purchase. You don't have to pay the high price of sun dried tomatoes at specialty stores, when you can make them at home with a food dehydrator or in your own oven. These sun dried tomatoes can be used in your favorite recipes and will keep for months if stored properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tomatoes
• Food dehydrator
• Oven
• Knife
• Paper towels
• Plastic storage bags
• Olive oil (optional)
• Herbs (optional)
• Jars (optional)

1. Choose small meaty tomatoes like Plum or Roma. Although it may be tempting to choose large beefsteak tomatoes, these really don't dehydrate well because the moisture content is too high.

2. Wash the tomatoes in cold water and dry thoroughly.

3. Slice into 1/2 inch slices and allow to drain on paper towels to remove moisture. Try to maintain even slices as these will dry best.

4. Layer the tomato slices on the racks in a food dehydrator so that they are a single layer.

5. Dry for 10 to 12 hours in the food dehydrator. Check every few hours and move racks around if necessary.

6. Check for doneness. Tomatoes should be soft and leathery, similar to the texture of raisins. Tomatoes that are mushy require more drying time. Tomatoes that have become brittle have been over-dried.

7. Cool and store tomatoes in sealed plastic storage bags for 6 months. They can be stored in the freezer for 12 months.

8. To store in flavored olive oil, simply dip them in white vinegar and store in jar with olive oil and your choice of herbs. Refrigerate to preserve flavor and color.

Tips & Warnings

• These can be used in any recipe that calls for sun dried tomatoes.
• Re-hydrate by soaking the dried tomatoes in warm water, sauce or oil for 10 - 15 minutes until they are plump and soft.
• To dry tomatoes in a gas oven, simply layer on foil covered racks and dry for 12 to 24 hours with the heat from the pilot light.
• To dry tomatoes in an electric oven, heat oven to warm. Check often. To prevent overheating, open the open a crack.

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[terrymaguire]

on 7/30/2009 Is there a recipe for "sun-dried" tomatoes that are dried in the sun?

[Triune]

on 4/8/2009 Well-written, easy to follow. Making my own sun dried tomatoes will save me money, and the flavored oil would make a nice gift! Good that you include instructions for those who don't have dehydrators. But for those who want one, dehydrators are really very easy to find in good condition for free or very cheap from Freecycle, Craigslist, etc.!

[LouisJeffries]

on 12/31/2008 Good article. Thanks