How to Dehydrate Grape Tomatoes and How to Use Them

How many times have you purchased a pint of tomatoes just to have them go bad before you get to use them. I am very guilty of this. 

But, what if you learned how to dehydrate grape tomatoes to help store them for a longer time! I learned – and it was so worth it. While this article focuses on dehydrating grape tomatoes, the method will work for just about any type of tomato. 

Dehydrating tomatoes is easy

1. Thoroughly wash your grape tomatoes
2. Cut them in half, this will help decrease dehydration time
3. Place cut tomatoes on your dehydrator tray in a single layer. 
4. Set temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit and hit start.
5. Grape tomatoes generally take between 10-12 hours to dehydrate, this varies based on your dehydrator and even location/humidity.

You can speed up the dehydration process a bit by rotating trays and turning the tomatoes over after about 6 hours. They are done when they are still pliable and easy to break apart. They should not be charred or brittle.

If you want to use beefsteak or other larger tomato, the instructions are the same but you will want to thinly slice them and lay them on the trays. 

How to store dehydrated tomatoes

Store dehydrated grape tomatoes in an airtight container. An oxygen absorber can be added to extend shelf life . Keep tomatoes stored in a cool, dark and dry place. 

It is hard to say how long these will last for, even if stored properly. There are a lot of variables like your home humidity, whether you removed enough of the moisture and how you are storing them. I use mine pretty quickly so never really tested for length. 

Using dehydrated tomatoes

There are many ways to use dehydrated tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

• Chop them in half and throw them in spaghetti sauce. This will rehydrate them so you get that burst of flavor back. 
• Store some in olive oil in the fridge for your own fresh sun dried tomatoes. They will only stay good for up to a week, so eat them quick. 
• Add them to an omelet or quiche for breakfast or bunch.
• Chop them into smaller bits and throw them into chili or tuna salad for an intense flavor.
• Add to homemade pizza. 
• Grind them and turn them into a tomato powder. Add a 2:1 ratio of liquid to powder to create a great homemade sauce. Especially useful for those of us with heartburn and need a DIY recipe to keep the burn to a minimum.

Rehydrating dried tomatoes

To rehydrate dehydrated tomatoes, place them in warm water for about half an hour.

You can then use that water in whatever sauces or dishes you’re making because it will pick up that great flavor. Doing the oil method mentioned above is also a way to reconstitute them.