How to Dehydrate Cherry Tomatoes

Summer might be ending, but you don’t have to throw away the beautiful red bounty of your garden (or that awesome bulk deal you scored).

You can dehydrate cherry tomatoes and make them last for months, repurposing them for soups, salads, sauces, and more. Also called grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes can be used for everything from quick snacks to elaborate and nutritious meals

Why Cherry Tomatoes Are Ideal for Dehydrating

Small and round, cherry tomatoes are a mainstay of the modern kitchen. They get their name from their cherry-like appearance, and they can be found in grocery stores and farmer’s markets or grown at home in your own garden. 

Depending on their exact variety, their flavor might be sweet or slightly tangy.

Cherry tomatoes are typically in season from May to October. However, it’s possible to enjoy them year-round when you dehydrate them.

Dehydrating is exactly what it sounds like: removing the moisture from something. You can use several methods, including an electric-powered dehydrator or just a drying rack on a sunny day.

Cherry tomatoes are ideal for dehydrating for several reasons:

• They dehydrate quickly. Since they’re small and cut even smaller before the dehydration process, they can be fully dried out in as little as 10 – 14 hours.
• You can suck out their moisture to various stages of “dry.” If you like to munch on them as a snack, you can get them crispy or leathery. If you’re planning to use them in future tomato sauces, you can keep them somewhat moist while still reducing their volume.
• They’re small and easily stored. Cherry tomatoes aren’t like some of the bigger fruits and veggies that up more space.
• You can rehydrate them later. If you don’t want dehydrated cherry tomatoes anymore, you can reverse the process by rehydrating them! Their texture won’t be the same, but their taste will be.

As for recipe ideas, there are many ways to use dehydrated cherry tomatoes. 

Dry, they can be eaten as snacks or appetizers with things like chips and charcuterie boards. 

Rehydrated, you can use them as ingredients everywhere that you’d use fresh tomatoes, including pastas, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and omelettes. 

You can also grind or mash them into tomato-flavored sauces, powders, and salsas. The possibilities are endless!

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How to Use a Dehydrator to Make Dried Cherry Tomatoes

The easiest way to dry cherry tomatoes is to use a dehydrator. These are kitchen appliances made specifically for drying out fruits, veggies, meats, and other perishables. 

The square models look a bit like convection ovens, but it’s also quite common to see round dehydrators with a hole in the middle; some people say these are more energy efficient than their cousins.

That said, I have found that the square models like the Excalibur with its fan located in the back provides more even air distribution. 

Dehydrators work by pumping warm, dry air throughout their containers for hours at a time. 

They usually, but not always, have a fan to help with dissipating water and distributing heat more evenly. 

A low temperature is essential: This draws the moisture out of the food without actually cooking it.

Basic dehydrators will have a few simple drying racks and a power button. Fancy dehydrators can have multiple, fold-out racks as well as programmable settings with timers and temperature controls.

As for drying smaller tomatoes, the process is simple. Just spread them out on the drying racks and go! 

It’ll take around 10 – 14 hours depending on things like temperature, tomato thickness, and how soft or tough you want their texture to become.

How to Dehydrate in the Oven

If you’re unable or unwilling to purchase a dehydrator, you can also oven dry cherry tomatoes. Some combo ovens even have a “dehydrate” option along with things like “bake” and “broil.”

The tricky part about using an oven to dehydrate cherry tomatoes is that most ovens won’t let you get the temperature low enough. 

They have minimum and maximum temperature ranges, and the minimum is usually around 200ºF or so. Meanwhile, the ideal temperature for dehydrating tomatoes is 125ºF – 135ºF.

To dry your cherry tomatoes in an oven, put it on the lowest possible temperature. Cut your tomatoes into smaller-than-usual pieces, and rotate them frequently to encourage thorough and even heat distribution. 

This is your best chance at getting them to dehydrate and not just cook.

Since you’ll be using a higher temperature, it’ll take less time to dry out tomatoes in the oven as opposed to a dehydrator. Expect them to be done in 3 – 6 hours.

How to Dehydrate Cherry Tomatoes Naturally in the Sun

There’s nothing like the words “sun-dried tomato” to inspire a bright, fresh feeling for your recipes. 

If you’re wondering how to sun dry cherry tomatoes, the process is easier than you might think!

The first thing to locate is a mesh screen or drying rack. You’ll want something that allows air to circulate above, beneath, and around your tomatoes. Avoid solid materials like cookie sheets or baking pans.

The next step is finding the right spot for your tomatoes to dry outdoors. Remember that the sun will travel across the sky during the day, so a bright and sunny spot at 6AM might be completely shaded by 4PM.

You’ll also want to beware critters! 

Squirrels, birds, and bugs might see your tomatoes as a tasty snack laid out just for them. If you can, put some kind of covering or fencing over your veggies that will protect them from nibbles without blocking out the sun or interfering with the air circulation.

The last thing to know about sun drying cherry tomatoes is that it’ll take awhile. Expect 4 – 6 days at the minimum. If it’s been rainy, cloudy, or otherwise sub-optimal in terms of weather, the dehydration process could take weeks.

FAQs

Can I dehydrate cherry tomatoes whole?

You can, but the results will be sub-par. Save yourself the agony of wasted food and go ahead and cut them into halves or quarters before dehydrating them. 

Drying whole tomatoes makes them slowly cook inside of their skins, which harden into a nearly inedible form.

Do cherry tomatoes have to be cut in half or sliced?

Yes. To ensure that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the tomatoes, it’s recommended that you cut them into halves or quarters before dehydration. 

You can also put a shallow slit in their skins or sprinkle a little salt on top to help draw out moisture. 

How long do they take to dehydrate completely?

An oven is the quickest way to dehydrate cherry tomatoes; depending on things like temperature and tomato thickness, it can take anywhere from 3 – 6 hours. A professional dehydrator will get the job done in 10 – 14 hours or so. Sun-dried cherry tomatoes will take the longest. It can require several days in the sun for tomatoes to fully dehydrate.

How long do dried cherry tomatoes last?

Dehydrated cherry tomatoes can last up to 18 months or longer when stored properly. 

The trick is to store dried tomatoes in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag or pouch. Once you break this seal, the timer starts. 

They won’t “spoil” in the traditional sense, but the more moisture they’re exposed to in the air, the quicker they may mold.

Dehydrating cherry tomatoes is a quick and easy way to get more mileage out of your summer pantry. It’s a simple DIY process, and for months afterwards, you’ll enjoy all kinds of zesty tomato recipes using real, nutritious ingredients. Happy dehydrating!

What other ways can I preserve tomatoes besides canning?

We like to freeze diced tomatoes, and summer isn’t truly over until you’ve made up a batch of homemade tomato juice.

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