Message #1841

[child of mine]

How to Make Sun Dried Tomatoes in a Dehydrator

Nothing Tastes Like Homemade Sun Dried Tomatoes
How to Make Sun Dried Tomatoes in a Dehydrator
My husband and I have always loved sun dried tomatoes. Normally they are sold in jars of olive oil or dried in bags. Because of the cost, the containers are normally quite small. After purchasing a large bulk bag of them at a market, I realized the joy of having them around in a larger amount. So, I began making them myself in a dehydrator. They are so amazingly delicious, I will never buy them again! And they are SO EASY to make.
Difficulty: Easy

Instructions
Things You'll Need:
3 lbs. Tomatoes (preferably Romas)
1/8 cup of olive oil
1 Tbs. Kosher or Sea Salt
1 Tbs. Rosemary (or any other dried herb)


Step 1
Cut the tomatoes lengthwise to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. For Roma tomatoes, you should be getting 3 slices from each average sized tomato. For larger varieties, you should get 4 or 5.
Step 2
Place the tomatoes into a large bowl and add the olive oil, salt and herbs. Mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. You want to make sure the tomatoes are evenly coated without bruising them.
Step 3
Using your hands, place the tomatoes onto the racks in your dehydrator. Dry according to your dehydrator manufacturer's instructions.

You will know they are done when they are completely dry. But, don't let them get hard and difficult to eat. They should be chewy.
Step 4
Store the dried tomatoes in plastic storage bags. They will last a couple weeks at room temperature OR indefinitely in your freezer! Since they are so beautiful to look at, you can also store them in a clear glass container with olive oil. Make sure your container has a lid.