Tomatoes are in peak season in August. Regardless of whether you want to make use of the bountiful harvest or simply store seasonal vegetables for the winter: now is the right time to dry tomatoes in the sun. The method is very simple and inexpensive.
Drying tomatoes in the sun: instructions
Whether as a side dish for pizza or as an addition to pasta sauce, or perhaps simply to breakfast sandwiches: dried tomatoes have numerous uses in our kitchen. Of course, they taste best when they are home-grown. This is how you can dry and pickle tomatoes in the sun.
Which varieties are best?
For beginners, the “Roma” tomato variety is best suited as it has fewer seeds and more pulp than other varieties. In principle, you can dry all types of tomatoes, even cherry tomatoes. The rule of thumb when drying is: let tomatoes from the same variety dry together.
What advantages does the method bring?
1. They contain vitamins and fiber. What is special about sun-dried tomatoes? The strong sunlight has deprived them of water, but they still contain all of the useful vitamins and fiber. They also contain sugar and have not lost their aroma when dried. Ultimately, they continue to be a valuable source of vitamins in autumn and winter and can be used to refine various dishes.
2. You can dry large quantities at once. So this variant is actually less complicated compared to thatDry in the dehydrator and oven. And you can then process and pickle the entire harvest in one weekend.
3. You don't waste electricity and save costs. This makes drying in the sun a cheap alternative to other methods.
4. You don't have to stand in the hot kitchen for hours. Who wants to spend the rest of the summer in a hot kitchen? It's much better to spend time outdoors and enjoy the end of summer.
Drying tomatoes in the sun: what you should consider
In contrast to the other methods (dehydrator, oven), there are many other factors when drying in the sun that can have a positive or negative impact on the final result. These include:
- The weather: So that the tomatoes can dry quickly and well, the weather should be warm and, above all, dry. If you currently have high humidity, the tomatoes will not be able to dry.
- The tomatoes must be brought into the house, greenhouse or winter garden every evening.
- Tomatoes left to dry outdoors attract pests and garden animals. To keep the insects away, you can cover the tomatoes with a fly screen. Wire mesh fences help against rodents and snail fences against snails.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Clean and rinse the tomatoes. For small tomato varieties, cut the fruits in half; for large ones, cut them into finger-thick slices.
2. Salt the tomato slices and scatter them on a baking rack.
3. Line a table with baking paper in a place that is as windy and sunny as possible. If necessary, protect the tomatoes from insects with a fly screen or cheesecloth.
4. Turn the tomatoes every 4 hours and bring them into the house in the evening. After three to four days in the sun, the tomatoes should be completely dry.
5. Place around 220 g of dried tomatoes together with 3 cloves of garlic in a 400 ml preserving jar and season with a pinch of basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme. Pour about 280 ml of olive oil into the glass so that the tomatoes are completely covered. Close the jar and store it in the pantry. The tomatoes should not be placed in the refrigerator, but rather in a dark and cool place in the house. Basement is also good as storage space.
Caution: Sun-dried tomatoes can be stored for a maximum of 6 months. After opening, be sure to store in the refrigerator and use within 2 to 3 days. If the tomatoes smell bad or have mold or rot, be sure to throw them away and not eat them.
