Dehydrating Tomatoes From Diseased Plants

Are Diseased Tomatoes Safe to Eat?

• Before dehydrating tomatoes from a diseased plant, research the disease's effect on food safety. Most diseases do not affect the fruit itself, and the tomato is safe to consume. Do not, however, save the seeds for planting; they can carry the disease, resulting in a second generation of diseased tomato plants.

Dehydrating Tomatoes

• In some areas of the world, tomatoes are dried or dehydrated in the sun. However, in many areas of the United States, sun-drying tomatoes is not always possible. Dehydrating tomatoes can be a tricky process. To dry tomatoes at home, you can use an oven heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the tomatoes into slices or wedges and remove the seeds. Then place the tomatoes on cheesecloth that is held in place using pins and leave the oven door open at least 4 inches. A fan should be pointed into the oven to aid in air circulation, which results in more even drying.

Identifying Properly Dried Tomatoes

• There is no specific time for drying but rather a technique for identifying when the tomatoes have been properly dried. The dehydrated tomatoes should be dark red in color. To the touch, they will feel like dry leather. They should not be hard or brittle, nor should they be moist or sticky. No tomato pulp should stick to the fingers when the tomatoes are touched.

Best Tomatoes for Drying

• Certain species of tomatoes are better for drying than others. Tomato species that feature a lot of water or gel between the seeds are not recommended for drying. Instead, use tomatoes such as Roma tomatoes, pear tomatoes, plum tomatoes or Italian tomatoes, as these have more tomato meat and less water or gel between the seeds.

Alternative Methods for Dehydrating Tomatoes

• Aside from sun drying and oven drying, there are alternative ways to dry tomatoes. A dehydrator, which is an electric appliance, can dehydrate the fruit. Dehydrators can be expensive but are equipped with a fan and are capable of maintaining a low, even temperature. When using a dehydrator, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Storage and Rehydration

• You can easily store dehydrated tomatoes using plastic bags or airtight jars. When storing in plastic bags, be sure to remove all the air. You can store dehydrated tomatoes at room temperature in a dark, cool cabinet for approximately one year. Use a freezer to store the tomatoes for more than a year. Rehydrate the tomatoes simply by soaking them in water, wine, vegetable juice or another liquid as required by the recipe. One to two hours is all that is needed to rehydrate the tomatoes, but tomatoes soaked overnight or for more than two hours should be refrigerated.