How to Dehydrate Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a favorite in many gardens. They are prized for their sweet yet tangy flavor that works well in so many dishes, from spaghetti to tacos to the humble bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich. Tomatoes are loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants, in particular the cancer fighting anti-oxidant lycopene. One or two healthy tomato plants can provide more fruit than most people can eat fresh. One of the easiest and most delicious ways to preserve tomatoes is to dehydrate them. Dehydrating a tomato locks all the beneficial nutrients in a small tasty package that takes less space than a frozen or canned tomato.

Things You'll Need

• Food dehydrator
• Olive oil or non-stick spray
• Plastic bags or freezer containers for storage

Instructions

1. Clean the trays of your dehydrator according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Oil the trays using non-stick spray or a cloth coated in olive oil to prevent the tomatoes from sticking to the tray.

3. Wash the exterior of the tomatoes. Remove the stems and cut out any blemishes in the tomatoes.

4. Slice the tomatoes in half if using cherry tomatoes or roma tomatoes. Cut larger tomatoes into 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch slices (read the instructions for the dehydrator to find out the recommended thickness).

5. Place the tomatoes on the dehydrator trays. The tomatoes should be close together but not allowed to touch.

6. Turn on your dehydrator. The amount of time the dehydrator needs to dry the tomatoes will depend on the capabilities of your dehydrator, the amount of liquid in the tomatoes, and the humidity. Depending on these factors, it should take between 12 and 48 hours for your tomatoes to dry. The finished tomato should have a raisin-like texture.

7. Remove the tomatoes from the tray and place in plastic bags or freezer containers. Keep the dried tomatoes in the freezer to prevent mold from growing.

Tips & Warnings

• Any variety of tomato can be dehydrated. However, fleshy tomatoes with few seeds and less juice will dehydrate more easily. However, if your tomatoes are of a juicy variety, they can still be dehydrated. Cut them in half and squeeze the juice and seeds from them before you slice them for the dehydrator.

• Dried tomatoes are sweeter and have a more intense flavor than fresh fruit. As a result, sweet tomatoes such as cherry tomatoes make a particularly pungent dried tomato for use in recipes.

• Use dried tomatoes in any recipe that calls for sun-dried tomatoes or add to your favorite tomato based recipes for an additional punch of tomato flavor.