This is the first year I’ve dehydrated tomatoes, and I may never go back to canning them again! And the best thing is dehydrating tomatoes enhances their flavor 100 times. (That may be an exaggeration. . .but very close to 100 times!)
Tomatoes are full of the nutrient lycopene, which gives them that deep red color. Lycopene lowers LDL—the bad cholesterol—lowers blood pressure, and reduces DNA and skin damage from sun exposure. In addition, when tomatoes are heated they are more absorable which increases their nutritional value. Plus, I like how easy and space saving it is to dehydrated them.
I have a front loading, 10-tray dehydrator from Cabela’s (they are not sponsoring this post). I just love it.
Tomatoes are best when they are a deep red color. If you pick them when they are too firm or unripe, they don’t have as much lycopene or flavor.
Directions
After washing them, use a serenaded knife to cut them into 1/4” slices. Place them on the trays. (I line my trays with parchment paper in order to prevent drips, but that’s totally optional. And for tomatoes, I alternate filling trays to allow for plenty of air flow between them.)
Dehydrate at 160 degrees for 12 hours and then 100 degrees for another 12 hours.
Store them in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for up to six months; or for a year in the freezer.
Enjoy!
My dehydrator is an integral part of my kitchen most of the year. I move it to our garage in July and August in order to keep the house cool. However, in the fall there’s nothing better than the aroma of apple slices with cinnamon wafting through the house!
I love the convenience of front loading trays.
Some of the trays of tomato slices ready to put into the dehydrator.
Don’t let their shriveled appearance fool you—they are a powerhouse of flavor!
Ready to cut with kitchen sheers to add to soups, salads, sauteed vegetables, or to use as a pizza topping. My husband and I also like to just eat the slices—and they are fun to serve to guests!
Emily Boller, wife, mother, artist, and author is on a mission to create expressive works of art in her lifetime; and to bring awareness to the potentially harmful traps of diet-wellness culture.
In her free time, she loves to chase sunrises, grow flowers and vegetables, and can homemade soups.