Any one here dry their own tomatoes?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

I have a batch in the oven now and wanted to share a tip I found out last year.

After they're all dried up I dip some of my dried tomatoes in flavored olive oil, (I use basil and thyme) then I put them in freezer baggies and label and freeze them. The oil not only flavors them but also helps to make it easy to just take as many out of the bag as you need for a meal. They don't stick together even if they had some moisture left in the tomatoes.

They're great on pizzas and in pasta dishes prepared like this.

[sazemisery]

1. Tomato chips - favorite summer snack

I came across a great dehydrator at a yard sale several years back. It looks like this:

I slice the tomatoes very thin and dry them. I can't keep them around long enough to use them in the winter. A great snack instead of greasy potato chips.

I am definitely going to try the oil and freezer trick this year. Thanks for the tip.

[ebayfool]

2. Yuppers!

I scored a yard sale unit ($8.00!) too, & have been using it to death for the last 2 years! Plant Romas every year & dry 'em up all summer long. My favorite use is adding to meat loaves .... yummmm!

I'll have to try the oil tip when we loosen up some space - so far I have more product than space to store, so jars & containers are starting to show up in somewhat unorthodox spots (coat closet, under beds, etc). I really wish I had gotten a bigger freezer (have a small chest-type) - but then I'd be just be looking at the bedrooms to find a spot big enough for it!

The dehydrator is probably one of the most used kitchen items I have - & that's coming from a kitchen gadget junky!

[Vinca]

3. I found a dehydrator at the recycling shed at the local dump and

dry lots and lots of tomatoes. I toss them into soups, spaghetti sauce and other dishes. Yesterday I made some tomato pesto sauce to try to use last year's batch up. Good idea about the herb-infused oil. I'll try it.