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While fresh tomatoes are plump, firm and juicy, sun dried tomatoes are shriveled, chewy, and darker than the fresh version. They also pack an incredibly intense tomato flavor that makes a wonderful addition to many dishes, whether used as is or rehydrated.
Any type of tomato can be used to make (sun) dried tomatoes, but typically plum (Roma) tomatoes are used due to their high flesh-to-juice ratio.The drying process may be lengthy but you can learn how to sun dry tomatoes in your backyard or oven. It is a great way to preserve tomatoes if you have an overabundance of them.
Steps
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Rinse the tomatoes under cool water and dry them with a paper towel.
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Cut the tomatoes on a cutting board. If you are using cherry tomatoes, cut them in half. For other larger tomatoes, cut them into quarters.Advertisement -
Remove the seeds of the larger tomatoes. This is not necessary but removing the seeds will speed up the drying process.
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Sprinkle the tomatoes with your choice of seasonings. Fresh herbs are a popular choice. Basil is often used to flavor sun dried tomatoes. Toss the tomatoes so they are well coated with the herbs.
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Sun drying usually takes place during the summer months when days are sunny, hot, and long.
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Find an area that has full sunlight for the majority of the day. Choose a really hot day. For optimal results, the temperature should be over 90 °F (32 °C) with humidity less than 60 percent.
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Set up a screen for laying out the tomatoes. You can use a screen made for drying purposes or an old window or door screen that has been scrubbed clean. Set the screen up on a table, and raise the screen by placing small boards or bricks at the corners. This will allow air to circulate around the drying tomatoes.
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Place the tomatoes on the screen, skin side down. Arrange them so there is space between the tomatoes; you do not want them touching. Proper drying requires adequate air flow for each individual piece of tomato.
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Cover the tomatoes with cheesecloth. Place boards or bricks around the screen, then place the cheesecloth over this. The cheesecloth should cover the tomatoes but not touch them. Hold the cheesecloth in place by placing more bricks on top of the bottom bricks.The cheesecloth will help keep bugs off and birds out, as well as falling debris from trees.
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Check on the tomatoes every so often. They can take anywhere from 1 day of full sun to 2 weeks to properly dry. Make sure to take them in at night. After the sun goes down, humidity levels tend to rise and you do not want your tomatoes to absorb any moisture (which would basically undo any drying that has already occurred).
- The tomatoes are completely sun dried when they have a leathery texture and are not sticky. They should feel dry but not cold to the touch. Do not over dry them so they become brittle. The finished product will be much darker than the original.
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Preheat the oven to 150 °F (66 °C). Drying tomatoes in the oven requires the lowest setting on your oven. If it is above 150 degrees, leave the oven door open slightly to reduce the heat.
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Arrange the cut tomatoes on a baking sheet so they are not touching one another. They will have to be turned and tossed periodically through the drying process since there is no air circulation with a baking sheet.
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Heat the tomatoes in the oven until they have a leathery texture but are not sticky. This may take 6 to 12 hours.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhen properly dried, how long of a shelf life can I expect? And is Tupperware okay for storing it?Community AnswerWhen properly dried, the food should last from 6-8 months, but don't put it in Tupperware, as it is easy for bacteria to form inside. Instead, try a Ziploc bag.
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QuestionIn the pictures you show the cut side down, but the directions say to put skin side down. Which is right?ClheartCommunity AnswerSkin side down is correct. I don't know why the person who took the photos wouldn't follow the directions.
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Tips
- You can sun dry tomatoes in a car during a hot, sunny day since the inside reaches temperatures appropriate for drying fruit.Thanks
- If you accidentally over dry the tomatoes, they can be made into a tomato powder or tomato flakes for flavoring dishes.Thanks
- Make sun dried tomatoes using a food dehydrator.Thanks
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Warnings
- Leaving the oven door open may introduce deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas into your home. Use proper ventilation and ensure that you have working CO detectors properly installed in your home.Thanks
- Do not remove more than just the seeds or you may lose flavor.Thanks
- Tomatoes should be dried in hot, dry weather, since humidity will prolong and even inhibit the drying process.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Tomatoes
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Screen
- Baking Sheet
- Cheesecloth
- Seasonings
- Boards or Bricks
- Paper Towel
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make sun dried tomatoes, start by cutting your tomatoes on a board, and coating them with a herb seasoning, like basil. Then, spread out the tomatoes on a baking tray, and put them in the oven at 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 12 hours. Make sure to turn them periodically so they dry evenly. Once the tomatoes are leathery and no longer sticky, take them out of the oven and store them in a sealable container. For tips on how to store sun dried tomatoes in your fridge or freezer, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I just discovered there are more ideas on drying tomatoes, especially the adding of herbs, that I never knew about. Now that I know the nutritional value of the skin, in the future, I will not peel them. " ..." more
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"I just discovered there are more ideas on drying tomatoes, especially the adding of herbs, that I never knew about. Now that I know the nutritional value of the skin, in the future, I will not peel them. "
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"Thank you very much, that was very clear and the photographs helped with your explanation. We are now at the end of September, so will use the option of drying in the oven."
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"Thank you very much. You answered most of my questions. I'll give the dehydrated method a try."
"This article was very informative. The pictures made it easier to follow instructions."
"Very helpful article, helped me learn the procedure for drying tomatoes by sunlight."
