How to Dry Cherry Tomatoes ~ we’re blessed with an abundance of amazingly sweet ripe tomatoes every summer, almost too many to eat! This easy method for preserving tomatoes will keep the love coming long after the season passes.
dry cherry tomatoes to preserve the best of summer
Cherry tomatoes are one of the joys of summer, whether you grow them yourself or load up at the supermarket. Their colors are gorgeous, and each one has a different flavor profile. While you can find cherry tomatoes all year round, nothing beats the real deal in summer. I’ll show you how to dry cherry tomatoes at the peak of summer, whether from your garden, the farmers market, or the supermarket ~ this method is fun and easy, and there’s no special equipment needed!
easy method for drying cherry tomatoes
This project is simple, but a good one for a day when you’ll be around for a while, since the drying process takes several hours in a low oven.
- I halved the tomatoes and gave them a little squeeze over a bowl to release some of the excess juices and pulp.
- They get a quick drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, and then get laid out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- I put my tomatoes cut side down, but next time I’ll set them cut side up, they will dry better that way. By the way, the parchment paper is important—don’t skip it—the long cooking process caramelizes the sugars in the tomatoes and leaves behind a mess.
- After about 4 hours in the 200 degree oven, they come out all shriveled and ugly. Now taste one. They’re chewy, super sweet, and amazing.
- At this point you can pack them into a clean jar with some sprigs of rosemary, and then fill the jar with olive oil to use later. You can stash them in a baggie in the refrigerator if you just want to snack on them, or you can freeze them. Just freeze them right on the tray, and then, when they are frozen, you can pop them into zip lock freezer bags. They’ll keep forever.
- My Kilner glass canning jars are perfect for storing dried cherry tomatoes, and they’re pretty enough to gift. I think any host would be thrilled to receive a jar of these sweet gems.
a low tech way to keep summer going all year long
This is just another way to make the most of summer’s bounty, and tomatoes are so cheap right now, they’re practically giving them away! I used multicolored cherry tomatoes from the farmer’s market. The small tomatoes dry easily, and they are super sweet, almost like candy, after they come out of the oven.
how to store dried cherry tomatoes
I recommend keeping these refrigerated, either as is, or in olive oil. If you use olive oil it will likely solidify in the refrigerator. Simply remove the tomatoes and let them come to temperature on the counter before using.
how to use dried cherry tomatoes
Of course you can snack on them as is, for a quick chewy burst of flavor. But I love to use them on cheese plates, or on salads. They make great additions to quick pasta recipes, too.
Don’t discard the oil after you’ve used the tomatoes, you can use that to make salad dressings.
more cherry tomato recipes
- Easy Whitefish with Burst Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
- Grilled Cherry Tomato Bruschetta
- Minimal Monday: Heirloom Cherry Tomato Tart
- Loaded Tabbouleh Salad
- Spaghetti Peperonata with Tuna and Olives
- Puttanesca Style Beans and Toast
Add The View from Great Island as a Trusted Google Source
How to Dry Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed and dried
- olive oil
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Slice the tomatoes in half, and gently give them a squeeze to remove some of the excess liquid.
- Toss the tomatoes with a little olive oil, salt, and fresh cracked black pepper. Set them, cut side up, on the parchment paper.
- Put the tomatoes in the oven for 4 hours. They should be shriveled and ugly, but they taste amazing.
- You can put the cooled tomatoes in a jar with fresh rosemary and oil. That will keep in the refrigerator for about a month. You can also freeze them in a zip lock freezer bag, or just gobble them all down, which is what I recommend.
Nutrition
Can you use grape seed oil rather than olive oil? Want to do this with a harvest of cherry tomatoes from my garden and out of olive oil.
Yes, sure.
Why should we cut them? Can’t we dry the whole tomato in the sun ? We have very hot sun here in Hyderabad , India .
You can definitely try that Edwin. I like to cut them to make the process quicker, and once they’re dried, they’re easier to eat and use that way. They also absorb the marinade better when cut.
When I saw your sun dried cherry tomatoes i just had to try it myself. I didn’t have parchment paper so used tin foil..and turned all the tomatoes open end up. Popped them in toaster oven…and packed in olive oil + rosemary. Wonderful!!
Aren’t they insanely sweet?
How do you store the dried tomatoes after drying them and putting them in canning jars with olive oil and herbs, in the refrigerator or on the shelf?
I store them in the refrigerator, Mary. You might need to bring them to room temperature before using because olive oil sometimes solidifies a bit in the fridge.
How long do they store on a shelf?
It will depend on how dry you get them. A completely dried tomato will last up to a year, but if they retain moisture and are soft, you’ll need to keep them in the fridge and use within a few weeks.
these are gorgeous! and I’m sure quite delicious!
Sigh, these are so absolutely beautiful and delicious – can’t wait to make them tomorrow when I have time (and go round up a few more tomatoes from the garden). So excited since I just used the last of the sun dried tomatoes from the jar I had bought (cross that off the shopping list and just make ’em, yum)
They look scrumptious!
I love this, Sue. I’ve roasted tomatoes and served them in a salad (so sweet!!) but never thought about adding oil and preserving them like that.
I like it because you can use the tomatoes and the oil, which takes on great flavor. I like to use it in pasta or when I’m sauteing chicken.
How wonderful for her – it’ll be a good year! And this is my favorite thing to do with cherry and grape tomatoes. Favorite! I think they’re beautiful even when they’re all shriveled up.
Thanks Heather, I think she will have a great year, and for the first time in our lives, she’s teaching me a few things about cooking, which is fun.
How adorable and your photo of the tomatoes in the jar is spectacular. These are sort of like sun-dried tomatoes without the sun. Fabulous idea!
Sam
It would be fun to try to dry them in the sun, wouldn’t it? With the weather we’re having, I think it would work!