Three options explained in detail

If you have to go fast - dry tomatoes in the dehydrator

The harvest Preserve tomatoes wonderfully. Such a device consists of a small heater with a circulating air function and several sieve trays. Ideally, the machine also has a timer and a temperature controller. Use only fully ripe tomatoes without green spots. How to prepare the fruit for drying in the food dehydrator:

• Score the tomato peel in a cross shape with a sharp knife
• Dip the fruit in boiling water for 30 seconds, remove and soak in ice water
• Carefully pull off the bowl with your fingers
• cut out the green end of the stem
• Beefsteak tomatoes Cut into 5 mm thin slices
• Quarter medium-sized fruits
• Cocktail tomatoes cut in half
• optionally scoop out the tomato seeds

We recommend brushing the sieve grids with olive oil. Spread the tomatoes 1 cm apart and sprinkle them with sea salt, pepper, onion or garlic powder. In the next 8 to 12 hours, the tomatoes dry at a temperature between 60 and 75 degrees. Check the progress every hour. If the tomato pieces take on a rubbery consistency, the process is complete.

This is how the oven transforms fresh tomatoes into dried fruits

No dehydrator at hand? No problem. Then use your oven to dry tomatoes without further ado. First preheat the oven to 220 degrees, because the fruits should be roasted briefly. In preparation, the tomatoes are treated in the same way as for drying in the dehydrator - apart from peeling. This is how the next steps are organized:

• Lay out the tomato pieces on a greased baking sheet at a distance of 1 centimeter
• Season to taste with salt, pepper or fresh herbs
• optionally brush each tomato with olive oil
• Roast for 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 degrees
• take the fruits out of the oven and peel them with the help of tongs and a knife

Then reduce the oven temperature to 150 degrees. Surrounded by this warmth, the tomatoes dry for another 3 to 4 hours. During this phase, the pieces are turned every 30 minutes. At the same time, pour the accumulated water from the baking sheet. If the dried tomatoes have a wrinkled, leathery look, they are taken out of the oven.

Sun-dried tomatoes - this is how it's done

In order to enjoy sun-dried tomatoes without much effort, the sun provides valuable protection. First, prepare the home-grown tomatoes by washing and dividing the gems. In this case, the fruits are not peeled. Fully mature they should be without being lazy or moldy spots.

• Place the tomatoes with the cut side down on a wire shelf
• Spread a close-meshed net over it to protect against pecking and voracious birds Pests
• Place the grating in a sun-drenched, slightly elevated location with good air circulation
• Over the next three days, turn the future dried tomatoes repeatedly
• Bring it into the house overnight or when it rains

The drying process is finished when no more liquid escapes under slight pressure. In addition, the tomatoes should bend back and forth like a rubber band. Incidentally, whole fruits cannot be dried, neither in the dehydrator, nor in the oven or in the sun. Even small-fruited varieties are not suitable. There is no way to control them for the level of drainage inside.

Storing dried tomatoes correctly - the best recipes

Of course, the sun-dried tomatoes can be packed in a bag or vacuum-sealed for storage. The dried tomatoes can be kept for several months in a cool, dark cellar. An efficient alternative is freezing, in which case the tomatoes are only suitable for use in sauces after thawing. It can of course be a little more decorative and at the same time more delicate.

• A shapely mason jar serves as a vessel
• Layer the dried tomatoes alternately in the garlic slices
• season each layer with sea salt
• Finally, fill the jar with olive oil and close it tightly
• this recipe can be expanded with parsley, herbs from Provence or spring onions

You can add culinary flair to the dried tomatoes if they are wrapped in basil leaves before pickling. If you can resist this delicious temptation for a month, herbal and tomato aromas have combined to create a unique taste experience.

Tips & Tricks

Seedsthat are removed from the tomatoes before drying are far too good to throw away in the trash. The grains come from a Open-seeded tomato variety, they are excellent as seeds for propagation. Simply separate from the pulp in water for two days, allow to dry and until sowing store in a screw-top jar.