Learn How to Sun Dry Tomatoes at Home

Understanding Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Why You Might Make Them at Home

Sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have had most of their water content removed through drying. This process concentrates the flavors, making them taste more intensely tomatoey with subtle sweetness and sometimes a slightly tangy quality. The texture becomes chewy and dense, quite different from fresh tomatoes. Many people enjoy using sun-dried tomatoes in cooking because they store well, require no refrigeration after proper preparation, and add strong flavor to dishes with just small amounts.

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Making sun-dried tomatoes at home can be rewarding for several reasons. Store-bought sun-dried tomatoes often cost between $8 and $15 per pound, while homemade versions cost significantly less—typically $1 to $3 per pound when you use tomatoes from your garden or a farmers market. You also control exactly what goes into them, avoiding any added preservatives or oils you might not want. Additionally, if you grow tomatoes, this method uses up large harvests that you cannot consume fresh before they spoil.

The basic concept is straightforward: slice tomatoes, arrange them so air can circulate around them, and leave them in the sun or a low-temperature oven until they lose most of their moisture. The process typically takes between 3 and 10 days in natural sunlight, depending on your climate and tomato size. Climate matters quite a bit—humid regions take longer than dry regions. The ideal conditions include temperatures above 80°F, low humidity below 60 percent, and minimal rain.

Practical takeaway: Before starting, assess your climate. If you live in a region with consistent hot, dry summers and you have access to tomatoes, sun-drying at home could save you money and give you a product you control completely. If your area is typically humid or rainy during harvest season, an oven or food dehydrator might work better than outdoor drying.

Selecting and Preparing Tomatoes for Drying

Not all tomatoes work equally well for sun-drying. The best choices are paste tomatoes or plum tomatoes, which have thicker flesh, fewer seeds, and less water than beefsteak or slicing varieties. Common paste varieties include San Marzano, Roma, and Amish Paste. These tomatoes contain roughly 85 percent water, compared to 95 percent in beefsteak varieties, so they dry faster and produce better results. If you only have access to regular slicing tomatoes, you can still dry them, but expect a longer drying time and a chewier, more fragile final product.

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Choose tomatoes that are fully ripe but still firm. Overripe tomatoes may break apart during handling, while underripe ones lack the concentrated flavor you want. The tomato should yield slightly to pressure but not feel mushy. Avoid any tomatoes with soft spots, bruises, or signs of disease. Wash the tomatoes thoroughly under cool running water and pat them dry with a clean cloth. Remove any stems or leaf attachments.

To prepare tomatoes for drying, slice them lengthwise (from top to bottom) into quarter-inch-thick slices. This thickness allows them to dry thoroughly while maintaining their structure. Avoid slicing them crosswise, as this exposes too many seed cavities and creates pieces that are difficult to handle. If you have very large tomatoes, you can quarter them instead. Some people remove excess seeds with a small spoon or their finger, though this is optional—seeds dry along with the flesh and add texture to the final product.

Arrange your prepared slices on a clean surface. This is the moment to notice which pieces are similar in thickness. Grouping slices by size helps them dry at roughly the same rate, so you do not end up with some pieces completely dry while others remain moist. Discard any pieces with deep cracks or that fell apart during slicing, as these will not dry properly.

Practical takeaway: Invest time in selecting good paste tomatoes and slicing them to uniform thickness. Taking 15 to 20 minutes for careful preparation prevents waste and produces more consistent results than rushing through this step.

Sun-Drying Tomatoes Outdoors: Setup and Process

If your climate supports it, drying tomatoes outdoors under natural sunlight is the most traditional and fuel-free method. Success depends on choosing the right location and protection setup. You need a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily, ideally more. The area should be relatively sheltered from strong winds, which can blow lighter pieces away, but should have good air circulation. Avoid low-lying areas where moisture collects or where nighttime dew settles heavily.

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Set up your drying surface using food-grade screening or clean cheesecloth stretched over a wooden frame. Many people build simple frames using four pieces of wood nailed into a rectangle, then staple or sew food-grade mesh across the top. Alternatively, you can purchase commercial herb-drying racks designed for this purpose. Avoid using regular window screens, as they may contain materials not intended for food contact. Elevate your racks slightly off the ground—at least 12 inches—so that air can flow underneath and to keep the tomatoes away from ground-dwelling insects and animals.

Arrange your tomato slices on the screens in a single layer, skin side down. Make sure they do not overlap, as overlapping prevents air from circulating around all surfaces. Space them roughly a quarter-inch apart. Cover the entire rack with another layer of food-grade screening or a thin cloth to protect the tomatoes from insects while still allowing air and moisture to pass through. Do not use plastic wrap or anything that traps moisture.

Monitor the tomatoes daily. They should begin to look shriveled and lose their bright color within 24 to 48 hours. By day three or four, they should feel noticeably lighter and drier. The drying process typically takes 5 to 10 days depending on temperature, humidity, and tomato thickness. Tomatoes are fully dry when they bend without breaking and contain almost no moisture when you squeeze them. Bring the racks inside at night if your area experiences heavy dew or unexpected rain.

Practical takeaway: Build your drying racks ahead of harvest time so you are ready when tomatoes ripen. Test your setup with one small batch before processing large quantities. This gives you a chance to observe how long drying actually takes in your specific location.

Using an Oven or Food Dehydrator as an Alternative

If outdoor conditions are not suitable—due to humidity, unpredictable weather, or lack of space—an oven or food dehydrator produces excellent results indoors. Ovens are convenient because you likely already own one, though they use electricity and require attention. Food dehydrators are more energy-efficient for large batches and maintain more consistent temperatures, but represent an additional purchase.

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To dry tomatoes in a standard oven, preheat it to 200°F (or the lowest temperature setting if your oven does not go that low). Arrange prepared tomato slices on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Lay them skin side down in a single layer without overlapping. Place the baking sheets in the oven and prop the door open slightly—about 2 to 3 inches—to allow moisture to escape. Some ovens have a convection setting, which circulates hot air and speeds drying; use this if available.

Drying in an oven typically takes 8 to 12 hours. Check the tomatoes every 2 hours after the first 4 hours. They should gradually look shriveled and darker. The process is complete when tomatoes feel completely dry to the touch and show almost no moisture when bent. This timing varies based on your specific oven and tomato thickness, so do not rely solely on clock time.

A food dehydrator set to 135°F to 145°F works very well for tomatoes. Arrange tomato slices on dehydrator trays in a single layer, skin side up. Most food dehydrators take 24 to 36 hours for tomatoes. Some models feature rotating trays that move during operation, which helps ensure even drying. Dehydrators offer advantages including energy efficiency and the ability to dry multiple batches simultaneously without heating your kitchen.

Practical takeaway: If you often preserve food or dry herbs, a food dehydrator pays for itself over time. If this is a one