Sunday, September 9, 2012

"Sun Dried" Tomatoes. Fun With The Dehydrator

   What to do when someone gives you scads of produce from her tomato infested garden? Accept naturally, and then try and figure out what to do with it. I am never one to look any gift produce in the mouth, pit seed or cob. I get my boxes and bags and I go and collect. Time, family, work and too many tomatoes caused me to finally do something that I'd been talking about for years. I bought a dehydrator.

   Why I never bought one of these before I'll never know since it was always one of those devices I'd always thought about owning. Many times late at night, my finger would linger on the one click purchase button at any number of sites and then I'd get distracted "Look cows!" and move on. Well, finally I clicked. Maybe it was the hour, maybe it was all those gorgeous tomatoes, I am now the owner of a dehydrator. As it turned out, my first time with my new kitchen tool  turned out to be easier than I thought. And what better product to start drying was some delicious home grown local tomatoes picked at the perfect time.


Sun Dried Tomatoes




Here's What You Need: 

2 lbs of washed and dried ripe tomatoes
A dehydrator

Here's What To Do:

Wash and dry the tomatoes and slice them into 3/8 inch slices.
Place the tomato slices on the trays.

Stack all the tomato trays on top of each other.


 Put the top on the dehydrator and turn it on.


The dehydrator manual said that it might take from 10 to 14 hours to process the tomatoes according to the thickness.
For me, the whole process took about 6 or 7 hours for perfect sun dried tomatoes.
Vacuum seal them as soon as they're done, and store them in a cool dry place.

It's that simple.


   Before I use them, I'm planning on taking them out and soaking them in some olive oil and spices. I may be giving some little bottles as Christmas gifts. The next thing to go into this machine is going to be chilied mango slices, and since our manager suggested beef jerky, I have an idea for a very special sort of surprise for him.

   Coming up next, I take a classic childhood favorite turned on it's head by @marocmamaa and give it my own spin.
Follow along on Twitter @kathygori

5 comments :

  1. Some may freeze their food others choose to dry their harvest because of the versatility you can have with the food. Fruits that are dried are great snacks even months after you dry them and vegetables can use in many recipes. You will see that when you have products like these you will be able to keep your harvest for even months after you have picked it. www.dehydratortips.com/excalibur-3926tb/

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  2. Excellent Kathy.

    How long it will be good? I never tried drying tomatoes with my dehydrator.

    Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. They should last first real motnths if you vacuum seal them, get them ready for arcing by soaking them in olive oil overnight before use .. it will make them soft

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