How to Dehydrate Tomatoes?

rawmamarawmama Raw Newbie

Does anybody know how to dehydrate tomatoes successfully? Do I soak them in anything first? How long do I dehydrate? How can I preserve/store them (in a freezer for example)? How long do they keep? I do not want to use any high heat that would kill the enzymes. Thanks :)

Comments

  • Wow, I was wondering the same thing when I went to the market today. I am interested to find out too!

  • Hi rawmama!

    This is the way I do it:

    Plum/Roma tomatoes: cut in half lengthwise

    Cherry tomatoes: cut into halves

    I wouldn’t use beefsteak tomatoes because they have so much water in them. I’ve never really been able to dehydrate them :(

    Scoop out the seeds (but not the flesh) unless you don’t mind seeds. Drain them on paper towels, then place on trays in your dehyrator w/space between them. You can salt them if you like. You can also make a slit in the bottom (skin) side if they are super big and plump. Now dehydrate them: It might take 8-16 hours. You need a dehydrator with a fan to circulate air, or you’ll wind up with moldy tomatoes :( Look for leathery but pliable texture, kind of like raisins. If they are sticky or tacky they are not done.

    Good luck, hope this info helps!

  • katmondu-after they are dehydrated, how do you keep them? Refrigerate or glass or something? Do they keep long?

  • You can put them in plastic bags or glass jars or any airtight container, really. Make sure to pack them really well and squeeze out air and just keep them in your kitchen cabinates (they don’t need refrigeration). They’ll last… gosh, around a year or so. I’ve eaten dehydrated ones from 6 months ago and they are fine. You could also freeze them if you wanted to store them for longer.

  • rawmamarawmama Raw Newbie

    Thank you soooo much! Last year I was kicking myself for not dehydrating tomatoes because so many recipes call for them and we had so many, I just gave them away…duh…although it’s nice to share ;). The farmer’s market here also sells buckets of 2nds for $1-$5! I bought a pump-n-seal and will try to get the air out of ziplock bags and probably freeze what I make only because my cupboards are full with other things for sprouting, and am glad to hear that it’s aok to freeze! I wasn’t sure about that, thank you again for the tips. I just found an Amish farmer that sells heirloom tomatoes, and there are practically no seeds in them, they are just delicious, so if I can part with a few of them I’ll dehydrate them too unless someone around here eat them first lol!

  • Hello, I’m new to raw food and just bought a dehydrator. I am a bit confused, should I dehydrate everything on the paraflexx sheets? Especially tomatoes? Thanks :)

  • ZoeZoe Raw Newbie

    I just dehydrate tomatoes and everything that isn’t sloppy right on the plastic. Gets done both sides at once then, much faster :0

    Sheets are just for liquidy sloppy stuff and dough.

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