Sun Dried Tomatoes

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I love sun dried tomatoes! I can eat them right by theirselves. I love 'em and I want to make my own.

Anyone do this or have a good method?

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I took a food preserving course at the farm where I received my CSA share from a couple of summers ago. The instructor recommended a very low oven (even just a gas overn with the pilot light on). She even told us about people that have constructed their own "dehydrators" from a wooden box with a light bulb. Now that I am thinking about it, maybe an incubator would work!

eta: the oven method took at least 12 hours (I think?). I'm sure there will be someone who has experience that will come along and give you more info; I have never tried it!

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

That is interesting. I thought they had to be 'sun' dried

I was thinking like a sheet of tin out in the sun and some cheese cloth over them to keep the bugs off.....Would that work? Then put them in oil in a jar...?

That is the way I dry apples (soaked in lemon juice) for decrative peices and they are edible too.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Has anyone tried 'googling' this?

 

[Tala]

Quote:
We used to dry stuff on top of a tin roof, but, uh I was much younger then so please take with a grain of salt. I just know it can be done.

 

[2DogsFarm]

I oven-dry my surplus cherry tomatos.

Just cut in half and spread on an oiled baking sheet (I line with foil to make cleaup easier)

Set oven to 250-300 and let them bake until they are shriveld and dry-looking - no moisture left.

Cool on the baking sheet then pack into jars. Fill with oil after you fit as many tomatoes as possible in the jar. You can add some herbs like basil or oregano to the jar - fresh or dried.

Store in the fridge.
You can also use the oil left in the jar to flavor things or cook with.

 

[vicschics]

Although I haven't tried it with tomatoes I have made banana chips in a food dehydrator (sp?) and they were successful. I've also done apple slices for my mom to use for decoration. I bet it would work with tomatoes as well...sounds yummy thinking about it...

 

[vicschics]

You piqued my curiousity...found this website...it has a simple how to with pics...

http://www.pickyourown.org/tomatoes_sun_dried.htm

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

I did google it a while back Davaroo but I want opinions from people on here.

Thanks, I am going to try some this week! I am going to use my own grown tomatoes to do this once they start making. I am going to use some from the farmers market for these.

Vicschics~That article was helpful. I like mine stored in olive oil and it said not to put them in the oil until shortly before consuming. I would've thought to pack them in oil and store them in the cubbord...


I want to sun dry mine.

 

[JennsPeeps]

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That's a very good website for all methos of preserving, and I've used it many times before. Thanks for posting this link!