{"id":12764,"date":"2019-08-28T13:05:24","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T17:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growagoodlife.com\/?p=12764"},"modified":"2023-12-03T13:36:32","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T17:36:32","slug":"sun-dried-tomatoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/growagoodlife.com\/sun-dried-tomatoes\/","title":{"rendered":"Homemade Sun Dried Tomatoes"},"content":{"rendered":"

No sunshine required to make these homemade sun dried tomatoes. Drying tomatoes is a great way to preserve the harvest and save storage space. 20 pounds of tomatoes will reduce down to about one pound of sun dried tomatoes.<\/p>\n

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Drying intensifies and sweetens the tomato’s flavor making sun dried tomatoes an ideal snack if you are seeking something a little sweet.<\/p>\n

Enjoy dried tomatoes out of the jar as a snack, or chop and use in salads, sandwiches, breads, and even as a pizza topping.<\/p>\n

Sun dried tomatoes can be used in so many ways, including sauces, soups, stews, and countless other recipes where you want a punch of deep, concentrated tomato flavor.<\/p>\n

What are Sun Dried Tomatoes?<\/h2>\n

Sun dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that have had the moisture removed by drying in the sun, a dehydrator, or an oven. When tomatoes are dried, they lose up to 90% of their water content. Dehydrating tomatoes concentrate the flavors into a sweet, tangy tasting fruit.<\/p>\n

3 Ways Sun Dry Tomatoes at Home<\/h2>\n

When you think of sun-dried tomatoes you probably picture large tables of red tomatoes drying naturally in the sun like they do in southern Italy.<\/p>\n

The reality is… most environments are not ideal for drying tomatoes in the sun outside. That’s ok, there are several methods to dry tomatoes at home and make your own tasty sun dried tomatoes.<\/p>\n

1. Dry Tomatoes Using the Sun<\/h3>\n

If you live in a hot, dry climate you may be able to dry tomatoes naturally in the sun. Sun drying can take several days and even weeks. You are aiming for a string of breezy, hot, dry days with a minimum temperature of at least 85\u02daF (20\u02daC) and relative humidity below 60%.<\/p>\n

Some challenges you may face drying tomatoes outside include theft from bugs, birds, and animals. Cooler nighttime air will also add moisture back into the slowing the drying process. You will need to cover the fruit with a makeshift screen and shuffle the drying trays indoors at night.<\/p>\n

You can also get creative and sun dry tomatoes in your car<\/a>. At least this will protect your tomatoes from birds, bugs, and chipmunks.<\/p>\n

2. Use an Oven to Dry Tomatoes<\/h3>\n

The oven is a great way to dry tomatoes. A low oven delivers consistent, dry heat that allows the moisture to evaporate slowly, within 3-6 hours depending upon the oven temperature, the moisture content and size of your tomatoes.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, peak tomato harvest usually coincides with hot, summer temperatures. Turning on the oven may be the last thing you want to do when it is hot. Aim for cooler evenings or early mornings before the temperatures rise.<\/p>\n

The temperature of your oven is important to dry tomatoes properly. You are aiming for a low heat to dry but not cook your tomatoes. If the heat is too hot, you may singe or burn the tomatoes giving them a bitter flavor.<\/p>\n

Many ovens don’t give you temperature options under 200\u02daF. If you do have temperature options on your oven, set it to 150\u02daF. If not, set your oven to “warm.”<\/p>\n

Oven drying requires some monitoring to make sure the tomatoes are drying evenly and the dried pieces are removed before scorching.<\/p>\n

3. Make Sun Dried Tomatoes with a Food Dehydrator<\/h3>\n

Using a food dehydrator is the easiest way to dry tomatoes in a controlled environment.<\/p>\n

A dehydrator dries food by circulating warm air through drying screens. For small batch drying, a stackable food dehydrator<\/a> will serve you well. For larger-scale food dehydrating, consider one of the Excalibur dehydrators<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yes, technically using an oven or food dehydrator isn’t really “sun-dried,” but for many of us who live in humid locations, it is the only way we can dry tomatoes.<\/p>\n

Tips for Drying Tomatoes<\/h2>\n

I have tried sun drying, oven drying, and dehydrating tomatoes using a food dehydrator.<\/p>\n

Sun drying is difficult in my area because the sun isn’t strong enough and there is too much humidity in the air. Oven drying can be tricky. The tomatoes need to be watched to prevent scorching and tend to come out dark and brittle.<\/p>\n

My favorite way to sun dry tomatoes is using a food dehydrator. Once the screens are layered with prepared tomatoes, it requires very little attention other than checking every now and then to see if the tomatoes are dry.<\/p>\n

Good Types of Tomatoes for Drying<\/h3>\n

Choose tomatoes with lots of meatiness and flavor for the best homemade sun dried tomatoes.<\/p>\n