Dehydrated Tomatoes

Why I Love This Recipe

Dried Tomatoes make the best snack, topping, or addition to many recipes. They are easy to make, good for you, and freeze well. Preserving foods is a great way to reduce waste and have your favorite foods on hand at all times.

You can make a large batch of these dried tomatoes using your favorite tomato variety. This recipe is also the perfect way to utilize a bountiful summer crop.

If you are looking for more dehydrator recipes, check out my posts on Dehydrated Cherries, Dehydrated Strawberries, or Dehydrated Oranges.

How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes in a Dehydrator

• Wash and dry the tomatoes. Slice each tomato into slices about ¼" thick using a mandoline or a sharp knife You want the slices to be as similar in thickness as possible so that they all dry at the same rate.
• Place each piece on the dehydrator rack until the entire level is full. Fill all of the levels with your tomato slices, making sure to leave room around each slice so that the air can circulate them. Lightly sprinkle all of the tomatoes with salt.
• Place the lid on the dehydrator and set it to 135ºF. It will take anywhere from 6-10 hours for the tomatoes to fully dehydrate.

How to Dry Tomatoes in the Oven

Place the sliced tomatoes on a baking sheet and place them in the oven at 250°F. Bake for 4-5 hours until they reach your desired texture. Allow the tomatoes to fully cool before storing.

How to Store Dehydrated Tomatoes

Once the tomatoes have cooled, place them in an air-tight container. They will last up to two weeks in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer.

What's the difference Between Dehydrated Tomatoes and Sundried Tomatoes?

Dehydrated tomatoes came around much later than sundried tomatoes because of how they are made. Dehydrated tomatoes are washed and then surrounded by warm air and are much faster than making sundried tomatoes.

Sundried tomatoes are washed and sliced and then usually placed in a sulfur dioxide bath. Then they are then placed on drying trays in the sun.

What to Do With Dehydrated Tomatoes

• Use in salad, pasta, sauces, omelets, soups, or for camping/backpacking
• Place in olive oil and store in the fridge
• Rehydrate with boiling water and puree for sauces, etc.
• Sprinkle with dried spices before or after drying for additional flavor

Health Benefits of Dehydrated Tomatoes

One cup of dried tomatoes has 23% of the daily recommended Vitamin C and 16% of Vitamin A. Vitamin C and A have essential antioxidants. Dehydrated tomatoes are also high in calcium, iron, and magnesium which have many health benefits.

What Dehydrator I Use

I have a Nesco dehydrator that I use all the time. I've had it for quite a few years and it has lasted a long time. I like it because it's light and easy to clean.

The only negative I can think of is that it does take up some space because it's bulky. There are quite a few options for dehydrators out there, some are even bigger if you want to dehydrate a ton of food at once. The one shown below is a great beginner option.