Homemaking For God

Jump to Recipe

Let’s talk about dehydrated tomatoes! We all love fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, we love tomatoes in things like salsa, but we don’t every really talk about dehydrated tomatoes and their uses. Given that it’s summer time and tomatoes are in season, you, like me, are probably looking for a way to preserve them beyond canning for other uses. While canning is a great option, not everyone has that ability to do so, so dehydrated tomatoes are the next best thing. And the best part is, dehydrated tomatoes are great for a number of recipes and uses.

Dehydrated Tomatoes

My neighbor is a wonderful woman with a love of gardening. She has given us so many tomatoes. Plus, I like to support the local produce stands so at one point I found myself with way more tomatoes than we could possibly eat. We tried. Tomatoes with salt and pepper, cucumber tomato salads, Greek salad, tomatoes in salad, sauces, vegetables… there are many way to enjoy tomatoes. However, I still had so many and while I have a canner, I don’t have a good set up. When we moved the new house has a glass top stove and that is NOT going to work with my behemoth of a canner. So out came the dehydrator!

Dehydrating tomatoes is surprisingly easy and you can use them for many things. And they’ll last a while if you can vacuum seal them or find another way to keep them in an airtight container.

Supplies Needed To Make Dehydrated Tomatoes

• Tomatoes
• Dehydrator
• Dehydrator Tray Mesh Sheets
• Knife
• Cutting Board

How To Make Dehydrated Tomatoes

Step 1

Wash and dry your tomatoes thoroughly.

Step 2

Cut you tomatoes thinly. They’ll dehydrate faster that way. I cut mine about 1/4-1/2 inch thickness. I’m not always steady with the knife.

Recipe Note:

But the more even you cut them the more evenly they dry.

Step 3

Place the mesh on your trays and then add tomato slices. Don’t let them overlap. You want a single layer.

Step 4

Set your temperature 135-145F. I did 135F, but will probably do it higher next time because it took longer in my Cosori dehydrator.

Step 5

Dehydrate for 8-10 hours. If you cut them on the thicker side that time may double.

Recipe Note:

The tomatoes are done when they are crunchy and no longer soft or bendy. Also, if you find your tomatoes are not done add 2-3 hours at a time if they’re still fairly wet and 1-2 hours at a time if they’re mostly done. That way you can avoid burnt tomatoes.

Step 6

Let them cool off and then peel them off the mesh. They may stick a bit, turns out tomatoes have quite a bit of sugar in them.

Step 7

Store in an airtight container or vacuum seal them until you’re ready to use them.

What Type Of Tomatoes Can I Use To Dehydrate?

You can use them all. Some have more water content and may take longer, but you can dehydrate them. Cherry, Roma, steak, etc… just pick your favorites and cut them thin or in quarters (smaller tomatoes do better quartered.)

How Can I Prevent My Tomatoes From Sticking When They Dehydrate?

The best way I can tell is to make sure the skin side is down. It’s kind of hard when in slices though. The thicker sliced tomatoes are much easier to peel then the thin ones which may break.

Do Dehydrated Tomatoes Taste Good?

Yes! Drying tomatoes actually helps concentrate the flavor which makes them a great addition for pizza, bruschetta, or even sauces.

How Can I Rehydrate My Dehydrated Tomatoes?

To rehydrate your dehydrated tomatoes simply soak them in warm hour or simmer them for about an hour. If you turned your dehydrated tomatoes into a powder, simply add it to the liquid you’re cooking.

Why Did My Dehydrated Tomatoes Turn A Different Color?

Not all tomatoes are going to stay bright red. Some have less acid and will turn black like Roma or beefsteak tomatoes. You can add a little food grade citric acid by mixing the citric acid and water to some slices after you have them on a tray. Also, you can burn things in a dehydrator. Make sure you didn’t cook them for too long.

Can I Still Eat My Tomatoes Even If They Turned Black?

You can. Unless they are mushy and moldy then please do not eat them. If they are burned and it isn’t just because you dehydrated low acid tomatoes, it will have an acrid taste and probably not be worth it.

Do I Need To Remove The Seeds Before I Dehydrate My Tomatoes?

No, you do not have to remove the seed. You can if you want to, but it isn’t the must. And the seeds are actually healthy because they contain flavor and nutrients.

How Long Do Dehydrated Tomatoes Last?

You can store you dehydrated tomatoes in an airtight container or vacuum sealed for about 6 months.

How Do I Know If My Dehydrated Tomatoes Are Bad?

They will smell rancid or have mold. If you find either on your dehydrated tomatoes throw them out.

What Recipes Can I Use My Dehydrated Tomatoes In?

Now that you have dehydrated tomatoes, you’re probably wondering…how do I use them? You can use them in a number of recipes once they’re rehydrated. Some ways to use dehydrated tomatoes are:

• Salad dressings
• Fillings
• Tomato powder
• Chips
• Pizza
• Bruschetta
• Marinara Sauce
• Mix in sautees
• Add them to baked goods like bread
• Add them to salads
• Devilled Eggs

Learn More Useful Skills From Homemaking For God

• Learn how to hand sew… it’s easy!
• You can make your own farmhouse cheese.
• Let’s learn how to butcher your own deer!
• Learning how to fold clothes is simple.
• Have you ever washed your clothes by hand?
• You can make your very own household cleaners.

What do you think about dehydrated tomatoes? Have you used them before?