Dehydrating Tomatoes and Tomato Powder

Today it’s all about how to make tomato powder and how to use it. It takes up very little space on the pantry shelves and yet we can make so many things with it. Here again, it’s all about cooking from scratch.

What Is Tomato Powder?

It’s basically fresh sweet tomatoes dehydrated with the peelings and then pulsated or ground into a very fine powder. You can make it so much cheaper than buying it from the store. The powder is so versatile to use as you make so many tomato-based food items.

How To Make Tomato Powder

Dehydrate Your Tomatoes

Step One

Wash and core (stem) the tomatoes. Slice the tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick and place the slices on the dehydrator racks. I DO NOT PEEL them.

Step Two

I set the temperature at 155 degrees per my Excalibur Dehydrator instructions. Please check your dehydrator for correct temperatures.

It took about 5 hours to dehydrate today. The time will depend on the humidity of the room you are dehydrating them in, and of course, the temperature setting used in your dehydrator.

How To Condition Your Fruit or Vegetables

If you live where it is HUMID: “To condition the fruit, take the dried fruit that has cooled and pack it loosely in plastic or glass jars. Seal the containers and let them stand for 7 to 10 days. The excess moisture in some pieces will be absorbed by the drier pieces. Shake the jars daily to separate the pieces and check the moisture condensation.” https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/pack_store.html

I live in the DRY DESERT: I set my fruit and vegetables on my countertop for 5-7 days. Ten days is even better to make sure everything is dry before using your FoodSaver unit.

Step Three

You can use a Magic Bullet or a blender to make the powder. It’s very easy to use either one. It’s good to use the pulse button and grind a little at a time.

You can store the excess dehydrated tomatoes in jars and blend the amount of tomato powder you will use during the next month or so. It takes up very little space on my pantry shelves.

How To Dehydrate Tomatoes

How Do I Store Tomato Powder?

You can use airtight containers as shown above, or pint-sized mason jars with Ball White Lids. Either way, it’s so easy to make and store for later.

Please do not use your FoodSaver accessories tube to remove the air from the powder. It will damage your FoodSaver by sucking the powder up the tube into the machine.

What is Conditioning?

After the food is dehydrated, place your finished product on trays for 5-7 days. Ten days is even better. Here’s the deal, we need every area of the tomatoes to be dry or you may see mold in your jars after sealing. If you see mold, discard the entire jar, it is not safe to eat.

How do I Store the Dehydrated Tomatoes?

I use my FoodSaver and seal the jars. I do not use oxygen absorbers because I will eat these within a year. Then I start the process again next year.

Can I Use Cherry Tomatoes?

Yes, you can dehydrate cherry tomatoes by cutting them in half and drying them with the cut side up. The advantage of using cherry tomatoes is the fact they typically are much sweeter to taste. Therefore the tomato powder is much sweeter.

Which Tomatoes Are Best To Use?

Any tomato will work but try and use only Non-GMO varieties. The more we purchase good seeds that are Heirloom Seeds the better off we will be. We can save seeds and replant them as needed. This is where I buy all of my garden seeds: SeedsNow

What Are The Easiest Tomatoes To Grow?

If you are a beginner gardener, you may want to select cherry tomatoes. They are very easy to grow and produce a large harvest. Here are some tips on growing tomatoes.

What Is The Shelf Life?

As a Master Canner – Preserver I can safely save it so it will be good for one year. Please keep the tomato powder in airtight containers.

Are Tomatoes Healthy?

Tomatoes are a great source of the antioxidant lycopene. It has been linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are high in Vitamin C, Potassium, Folate, and of course, Vitamin K.

How Can I Use Tomato Powder?

• Soups or stews
• Spaghetti sauce
• Chili
• Sloppy Joes
• Bisque
• Juice
• Paste
• Tomato Sauce
• Ketchup
• Pizza sauce

Make Your Own Tomato Sauce

15-ounce can: 2/3 cup tomato powder and 1-3/4 cups water

Fresh Juice

64-ounce bottle: 8 cups water and 1 cup powder

You Can Make Paste

6-ounce can: 6 tablespoons powder and 1/2 cup water

Final Word

Please let me know if you have made tomato powder and how you used it. I love hearing from you. Tomatoes are so easy to dehydrate and then use to make our own powder.

It’s all about cooking from scratch and growing our own food. Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda

Here are the other Dehydrating Posts I have done:

• Dehydrating Apples
• Dehydrating Bananas
• Dehydrating Blackberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Blueberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Cilantro
• Dehydrating Cucumbers and Powder
• Dehydrating Ginger and Powder
• Dehydrating Green Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Kale and Kale Powder
• Dehydrating Kiwi
• Dehydrating Lemons and Powder
• Dehydrating Marshmallows
• Dehydrating Peppermint Marshmallows and Powder
• Dehydrating Mushrooms and Mushroom Powder
• Dehydrating Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Pears
• Dehydrating Pineapple
• Dehydrating Raspberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Spinach and Powder
• Dehydrating Strawberries
• Dehydrating Tomatoes and Powder
• Dehydrating Watermelon