Sun dried tomatoes

Discussion in 'Food Preservation and Storage' started by marlingardener, Jul 29, 2017.

  1. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    We've sun dried tomatoes three times here on the farm. This year is the fourth time, and it's working beautifully. Our weather has been hot and the humidity has been low, so we got out the screen dryer and did the first batch:
    sun drying rack.jpg
    tomatoes drying.jpg
    This year I kept the cut, vinegar-treated, de-seeded tomatoes inside on a wire rack overnight, then put them out in the morning. It took only two days outside for the tomatoes to get nice and leathery.
    We brought them in this morning and put them in sterile jars. We'll be doing more in a few days!
    sun dried jarred.jpg
     
  2. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    Looks good MG. The humidity has been so high here that I can`t dry them !
     
  3. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    Mart, an alternative to outside sun drying is an electric food dryer. According to the directions I have read, 24 hours at 120 degrees will give you dried tomatoes. There are other uses for a dryer, so an electric one might be a good investment for those in humid climates, or those who lack sun/heat.
     
  4. mart

    mart Strong Ash

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    As a rule it is not this humid here. Usually it is hot and dry but this year has been an unusual one !
     



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  5. Quiyn

    Quiyn New Seed

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    I love sun dried tomatoes. I never knew how they were done. Thanks for sharing.
     
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  6. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    I find this a magnificent system.
    Way to go Jane.
     
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  7. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    @marlingardener do you treat the tomatoes with vinager after they dry or before?
     
  8. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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    The tomatoes are treated before drying. I fill a small bowl with white vinegar, dip the cut tomatoes in the bowl, and then lay them on the drying rack. This year, thanks to the hail storm, we won't be having dried tomatoes, or any other tomatoes.
    There's always next season . . . .
     

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