Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: GraciesGran on August 18, 2023, 17:34

Title: Sun dried tomatoes
Post by: GraciesGran on August 18, 2023, 17:34
I've got mountains of tomatoes and thought I'd give this a try.

All the recipes I've found suggest they keep for about 4 weeks but I was hoping to keep them longer.  There's no space in the freezer!

Anyone got any ideas?
Title: Re: Sun dried tomatoes
Post by: mumofstig on August 18, 2023, 20:17
Sundried tomatoes, ie ones that have been halved, salted and completely dried to a crisp in the sun, or in a dehydrator, can be stored dry in a sterilised jar for many months. It's only when you try to store them in oil, that you have to use them up quickly.
When I lived in Greece the toms were simply halved, salted and laid on boards covered with cheesecloth and left in the sun to dry completely 8) You could use them all through winter, just had to soak them to rehydrate them, first.

Shame we don't get enough sun to do that here  ::)
Title: Re: Sun dried tomatoes
Post by: cc on September 20, 2023, 15:36
Fully dried will last for years just in a sealed container. . No need to salt or refrigerate.
Part dehydration probably best to freezer. Never thought of doing that. May try it.
Part dehydration I normally bottle with herbs and various oils. Last for years. Eating some from 2019 I found in the back of a cupboard.
Oil on its own poured over pasta. Add the tomatoes as well if you want.