Sund Dried Tomatoes

[amandaandherveg]

Has anyone had any success with drying their toms? If so, how did you do it? I'm hoping to have plenty (24 tomato plants) if the flowers decide to turn into fruit.

[Polly Fouracre]

If we get the sun! you will need a clean(scrubbed,but not with bleach,disinfectant etc!!) wooden table of sorts, some clean garden fleece to keep the flies off and a piece of glass suspended on a frame over the top of them.
Put the halved tomatoes out by day and bring them in to somewhere dry at night until they are quite dry and feel leathery.
I dry mine in the oven. They are no different in taste or keeping quality, the only difference being that sunshine is free!!

[Hilary B]

You may find that a plastic-coated wire frame is better than a table, if you can set one up. Alternatively, for small tomatoes still 'on the vine', hang them up in the greenhouse or conservatory.

[lynda66]

sun dried tomatoes - Google Search loads of options here ...... and from what i looked at .... a few recipes too

[rana]

I have found that halved tomatoes can start to mould if dried in the sun. Sprinkling salt over the halved fruit helps prevent this. It also seems to accelerate the process by drawing the water out of the fruit.

[smallblueplanet]

Here's a recipe we tried a couple of years ago when we had a decent tomato harvest (don't think we bothered with the herb flavouring). I really hope we get a good harvest this year (am growing principe borghese specifically) as oven-dried toms were ultra yummy!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...cipe_2689.html

[Stacey Steve]

One of the great problems with sun drying in this country is the humidity, as obviously you are trying to get rid of moisture.

I will be using a dehydrator but I often thought of those fine mesh covered suspended shelf things used for camping kitchens

[Hilary B]

One of the great problems with sun drying in this country is the humidity, as obviously you are trying to get rid of moisture.

I will be using a dehydrator but I often thought of those fine mesh covered suspended shelf things used for camping kitchens

That sounds like an excellent idea, and if you can make a 'solar box' to put the whole thing in, so much the better. One of these days I will make that solar box. Sides part ply-wood part mesh, top 'twinwall' plastic, as used for the roofs of less-expensive conservatories and sloping towards the sun, a few bricks painted black in the base, to soak up heat by day and give out heat overnight.........

[Vecten]

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Stacey Steve is right. The only way to dry tomatoes in the UK because of our humidity levels is by using an electric dehydrator, I have great results with mine. Good for herbs too.

[number 1 suspect]

I use a dehydrator and the results are fantastic. I put all sorts through mine. Some of the best stuff is a combination of cherry toms, bell peppers, mushrooms and courgette. Put into a jar with herbs of your choice and top up with olive oil. Stores for some time but I've never found out how long it'll keep as it gets used in no time.

[kentvegplot]

Tried the 'Delia' method last year, but it took ages and I don't think I can justify having the oven on for that long! I am going to try some outdoors.

Another method I have heard of is to put the tomatoes on the back shelf of a car that it is in the sun......

[Stacey Steve]

Kentvegplot

Sounds good but just hope you don't have to do an emergency stop!