Name: How to Make Sun Dried Tomatoes in the Oven
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb. of tomatoes; olive oil; sea salt (optional)

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How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes in the Oven is a simple way to get those delicious rich tomatoes anytime. Not only are sun-dried tomatoes incredibly tasty but this is also a great way to store your summer harvest. You can learn how to preserve regular tomatoes in olive oil here.

Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes With Me

Tomatoes are the number one thing on my list of veggies to grow in the garden each year. I try to plan accordingly. Most times I find I have overlooked something. But that means my planning is then to be perfected the following year.

Wanting to not just eat them fresh off the vine but also in my cooking as well. If I am lucky enough to grow an abundance of tomatoes that will mean I have them for jarring to enjoy later. Insert, the timeless sun-dried tomato. The first batch I made I was hooked. Never again would I buy store-bought sun-dried tomatoes.

Their rich bold flavor and versatility make them a wonder to have in the kitchen. These are especially delicious when using summer tomatoes and making them is the best way to save overripe tomatoes from going into the compost bin.

The good news is you don’t have to have a garden to make these oven-dried tomatoes. You can use any store-bought or farmer’s market tomatoes you find in any variety.

These Sun-Dried Tomatoes Are…

A delicious way to preserve fresh tomatoes.
Little gems bursting with tomato flavor.
My favorite way to store extra tomatoes.
Able to be made in a small batch or larger batch.
Versatile, you can add Italian seasoning, cloves of garlic, or fresh basil for extra flavor.

Ingredients

Tomatoes- you can all types of tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, and even larger tomatoes like beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes work great for drying in the oven. This simple method is also great for saving overly ripe tomatoes.

Olive oil- I use extra-virgin olive oil but regular pure olive oil will work fine too.

Salt- the addition of salt is optional. I like to use sea salt, kosher salt or Himalayan salt for these.

Tools

Glass Jar (mason jar or an airtight container)

Baking Sheet

Directions

You can sun dry any type of tomato you choose from Cherry to Roma to Beefsteak. You will start by washing the tomatoes.

Heat oven to 225°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or if you have a baking pad you can use that too. When oven drying cherry tomatoes, I like to cut them in half to help the drying process along. For whole tomatoes make sure to remove the stems and the stem plug.

Cut larger tomatoes into chunks. Place them all evenly in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Remember that we are drying the tomatoes so you don’t want to pile them on top of each other.

tomatoes on a baking sheet to dry out and make sun dried tomatoes

Drizzle them with olive oil over the top and sprinkle with a little sea salt (optional).

drizzling olive oil onto tomatoes to make sun dried tomatoes

salting tomatoes on a baking sheet to make sun dried tomatoes

Place them in the oven and bake for 2 hours. After 2 hours, remove them from the oven and use a fork to smash them a bit. Place the baking sheet back into the oven and bake for another 2 hours.

Once completely cooled, place them in your storage container. Fill with enough olive oil to cover the tomatoes.

Take a knife and run it down the sides of the jar to get out any air bubbles.

sun dried tomatoes with olive oil in a mason jar

Top the jar off with more olive oil if needed making sure the entire contents of the jar is covered in the oil. Store the container inside the refrigerator.

olive oil being poured onto sun dried tomatoes in a mason jar

Notes

Drying time can vary. Smaller tomatoes or tomatoes with less juice will take less time and vice versa.
Allow the tomatoes to cool completely before packing.
Keep the jar in the fridge at all times and top it with fresh oil after scooping out more.
The tomatoes should be kept underneath the oil at all times to prevent mold.
Have the jars washed and ready to pack to make it easier.

FAQ

How long do these store?

The recommended shelf life for these Sun Dried Tomatoes is one week. However, I have kept them in my fridge and used them for a couple of months. The most important thing in storing veggies of any kind this way is that you absolutely must make sure that the contents of the jar are covered in oil at all times. If you scoop some out to use, you must tap it down and more oil if needed.

Oxygen spoils the food and as long as you always make sure that there are no air bubbles and that nothing hits above the surface your tomatoes will remain intact. You should also inspect the jar when using them for any mold that may have grown around the top before eating.

Can I use foil instead of parchment paper?

No, the tomatoes can react to the foil since they are acidic. It is best to use a parchment or baking sheet to avoid this.

Can I add herbs to the tomatoes?

Yes, for extra flavoring adding some dried Italian herbs work great and I have also used rosemary for added flavor.

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Baking Sheet

Olive Oil Dispenser

Small Ball Jars with Lids

Unbleached Parchment Paper

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