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Farm Kitchen:  My Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes  |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 26 2005 : 1:45:23 PM
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I've been experimenting with making sun-dried tomatoes in my oven today. I have harvested a lot of yellow pear tomatoes, rinsed them, cut them in half lengthwise and put them on a rack in the oven on 200 degrees F. Since these tomatoes are small, it's only taken about 4 hours to dry them and they are spectacular!!!!
For those of you who have made these before I have a couple of questions. What sort of rack to you put them on? Does it matter if they are cut side up or down?
Because I am drying pear tomatoes, there is a "skinny" end and a "fat" end, the skinny end gets a little crispy before the fat end is dehydrated enough so I'm trying the oven at a lower temp, any other ideas?
Nancy |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 6:45:05 PM
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| I live where it is hot hot hot we do them outside on a rack over a tile table in the sun. I cover it with this bee netting contraption to keep out critters. I don't know about which side maybe right I never really thought about it but I put them skin side down. A pinch of salt will pull the juice. You may want to cut them so they are all even alike. Mine are leather like not crispy. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2005 : 8:05:14 PM
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I use a dehydrator...two of them actually (the Ronco sort...bought cheaply at yard sales) I think they must have a lower temp, since mine don't get crispy either. I love the yellow pear tomatoes and will be drying some for sure too. I put cut down and put a cookie sheet with lip under the whole thing at first to catch the drips...otherwize it is quite a mess..after the first little bit it gets better...It is alot harder in an oven to not get the crispy. I used to dry jerky in the oven and had that problem too. For a rack in the oven I used a pampered chef rack that had little squares like a grid instead of just rows of wire...things don't fall through as easily and are better supported. they have some that stack now too, so you could get two layers. Good luck..have fun...
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 08:35:48 AM
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I like the dehydrator idea. Here in relatively cool and not so sunny maritime NW it is next to impossible to dry outside. Though when I get moved to Eastern WA I could try it. I think I'll try some cookie cooling racks and stack two crosswise to each other so that I can get a grid and hopefully they won't fall through. I start keeping my eyes open for a dehydrator.
Thanks,
Nancy |
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sqrl
True Blue Farmgirl
605 Posts
Melissa
Northern California
USA
605 Posts |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 4:15:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by sqrl
I'm so glad you asked, I've always wanted to dry tomatoes. May be I'll finally try it this year.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
Me too! (once I have a kitchen) |
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Jes
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
jes
whitefield
me
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2005 : 5:41:16 PM
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How does everyone prefer to store them? I've always loved them from the market stored in olive oil....(because you get to use the oil as well). I can't wait to try this!
Just a Maine Girl
http://sweetpeas.motime.com ~journal
http://sweetpeasme.motime.com ~collective souls....a journal's journey |
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Bester
Farmgirl at Heart
3 Posts
Esther
Dakota City
NE
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 08:45:18 AM
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Do you guys leave the skins on or off ? I was thinking this would be a great way to use up the tons of cherry tomatoes I have out there. The kids could eat them as snacks when dried. I have an Excaliber 5 rack dehydrater and it is just the best I have ever owned and quite the deal when I bought it at a flea market for $15 !!! 
Don't let your today eat up your tomorrow... |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 11:23:42 AM
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Skins on. Just cut the cherry tomatoes in half and dry away. Yum! You can sprinkle a little salt on them before you dry them if you like, but these are easy peasy!
Nancy |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 2:49:27 PM
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I do cherry tomatoes sometimes too. AND>>>Esther..you can can them too..I do cherry tomatoes at the end of the season when I just can't eat anymore (hard to imagine right now..still LOVING eating them at every meal) and chop them for salsa, and also can some cherry tomatoes whole..poke with a sterilized needle a couple times so they don't blow apart...can like regular tomatoes..I don't peel them. They are great added to stews and soups..the peels have concentrated flavor and are really good. I do some most years..this year I will have alot of extra cherry tomatoes it looks like.
The do dry really well too..and quick!! Wow..good deal on your dehydrator!!! That is great!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
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Jes
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
jes
whitefield
me
USA
27 Posts |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 5:59:06 PM
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oh..and yes, I like to store mine in olive oil too!! Some I store plain in a jar for snipping into dips and like that..but more in olive oil.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
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Ahodge
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Anne
334 SW Well, Fort White
FL
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2005 : 06:04:10 AM
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| I would love to have some dried fresh tomatoes, anyone up for a trade? |
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ByHzGrace
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
348 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2005 : 04:45:29 AM
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Anne
I live in FL too! I'd be happy to send ya some! |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2005 : 08:34:03 AM
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| I have been drying my plum tomatoesin the dehydrator and after I now have plenty, I smoked the last batch. They came out great! So far I have only made a smoked tomato vineigrette. |
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Farm Kitchen: My Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes |
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My Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes
