Summer is the ideal time to make a batch of oven-dried tomatoes at home. Dried tomatoes are great pureed for vinaigrettes. Or add this tomato recipe to sauces, soups, salads, or an antipasti platter whenever you want a taste of bold tomato flavor. Here's how to dry tomatoes in the oven or dehydrator, including our Test Kitchen's secret for storing the dried tomatoes for up to 9 months.
Why We Avoid Making Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home
You may be wondering how to make sun-dried tomatoes. Rather than expose the tomatoes to critters or temperature changes, we recommend drying tomatoes using the oven or a dehydrator. Sun drying is not recommended in climates with high humidity.
Ingredients
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3 pounds tomatoes
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1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
Directions
Oven-Dried Tomatoes
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Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Test Kitchen Tip: If you’re unsure about the accuracy of your oven’s temperature, we recommend checking it using an oven thermometer then adjusting the temperature accordingly before using the oven to dehydrate foods.
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For Roma tomatoes, cut in 8 wedges lengthwise. For regular or heirloom tomatoes, slice into 1/4-inch slices. For cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half. Remove excess seeds from tomatoes, if desired. Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, in a single layer on parchment paper. Sprinkle with salt. Bake for 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours or until leathery, but not brittle.
Test Kitchen Tip: For more flavor, try sprinkling the tomatoes with 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt, and 1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper.
Dehydrator Method
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Prepare tomatoes as directed in the oven-dried tomatoes method except place tomatoes in a single layer on mesh-lined dehydrator trays. Dehydrate at 135°F, drying Roma/sliced tomatoes for 11 to 13 hours, and cherry/grape tomatoes for 13 to 15 hours, or until leathery, but not brittle.
Tips for Storing Dried Tomatoes
To help prevent spoilage, follow these tips for storing dried tomatoes.
- Check for dryness before storing. Allow foods to cool 60 minutes before storing. Too long of cooling time can cause the tomatoes to absorb moisture from the air.
- Use moisture-proof freezer bags or containers with tight fitting lids to keep the food dry.
- Select a cool, dark, dry place for storage. It is not necessary to store dried tomatoes in the freezer but we have found that this helps prevent mold and extends the shelf life.
How to Freeze Dried Tomatoes
Allow to cool completely before storing. Pack dried tomatoes in resealable plastic freezer bags. Store in the freezer up to 9 months. Thaw before using.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 24 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 5g | Carbs |
| 1g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 10 | |
| Calories 24.5 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 0.3g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 324mg | 14% |
| Total Carbohydrate 5.3g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber 1.6g | 6% |
| Total Sugars 3.6g | |
| Protein 1.2g | 2% |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Vitamin C 18.6mg | 21% |
| Calcium 13.8mg | 1% |
| Iron 0.4mg | 2% |
| Potassium 322.6mg | 7% |
| Fatty acids, total trans 0g | |
| Vitamin D 0IU | |
| Alanine 0g | |
| Arginine 0g | |
| Ash 1.5g | |
| Aspartic acid 0.2g | |
| Caffeine 0mg | |
| Carotene, alpha 137.4mcg | |
| Choline, total 9.1mg | |
| Copper, Cu 0.1mg | |
| Cystine 0g | |
| Energy 100.7kJ | |
| Fluoride, F 3.1mcg | |
| Folate, total 20.4mcg | |
| Glutamic acid 0.6g | |
| Glycine 0g | |
| Histidine 0g | |
| Isoleucine 0g | |
| Leucine 0g | |
| Lysine 0g | |
| Methionine 0g | |
| Magnesium, Mg 15mg | |
| Manganese, Mn 0.2mg | |
| Niacin 0.8mg | |
| Phosphorus, P 32.7mg | |
| Pantothenic acid 0.1mg | |
| Phenylalanine 0g | |
| Phytosterols 9.5mg | |
| Proline 0g | |
| Retinol 0mcg | |
| Selenium, Se 0mcg | |
| Serine 0g | |
| Starch 0g | |
| Theobromine 0mg | |
| Threonine 0g | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.7mg | |
| Tryptophan 0g | |
| Tyrosine 0g | |
| Valine 0g | |
| Vitamin A, IU 1133.5IU | |
| Vitamin A, RAE 57.2mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 0.1mg | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 10.8mcg | |
| Water 128.6g | |
| Zinc, Zn 0.2mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
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