Drying

[brokenbar]

Originally Posted by instar8

You can buy booze at the dollar store in Wyoming?? Wow! And i was impressed by the drive-thru liquor stores in Colorado, and the fact that they sell beer and wine at Perkins in Canada!

Actually, I have to go to Billings Montana to the Dollar Store...I am 70 miles from anything here. We also have "drive through" liquor (it's called "package Liquor") and bars. You can buy a mixed drink or beer and drive off...bizarro No real "just a liquor store" here...either attached to a grocery store or it's a bar with a drive through.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by brokenbar

All I grow for is sun-dried market to Chef's. These are large, meaty, dry with few seeds and early or mid-season for me in Wyoming. As I soak my tomatoes in red wine prior to drying, these varieties hold up well.

Opalka
Chinese
Federle
Amish Paste
Carol Chyko
Denofrios German (these are HUGE-ripen early and have almost no seeds)
Leatha's Italian
Russo Sicilian Togeta
Big Black Heart (I received in trade, un-named-HUGE, Dry few seeds)
Sicilian Saucer
Memorial Polish Paste

Brokenbar, I've been looking around the 'net to find Denofrio's German, as I could use an early huge paste variety, but I can't find anywhere that has seeds. Where did you get 'em? Thanks!

[brokenbar]

PM me scott and I will send you some. Mary

And Carolyn told me I am spelling it wrong. I found a description where it was spelled "Donofrio's" and "Dinofrio's" but no seed offered. I got mine via Seedsavers and it is listed ike this:

TOMATO/PINK-PURPLE-
Dinofrio's German - TN JO M - HAS, 80 days, indet., regular leaf, very meaty red-pink oxheart fruit, large, 1-1.5 lb., tasty, very few seeds, From: IL LO N

This lister,TN JO M is Marianna's Heirloom Seeds, Marianna Jones

[gill_s]

I have read with great interest the tips for drying tomatoes. I bought a dehydrator to dry my excess tomatoes. It sounds a wonderful idea to soak them in red wine first. I read an idea for microwave dried tomato salad. I gave it a try and have been really pleased with the results. The method suggested halving or slicing them, putting in a large bowl and 'cooking' them on the lowest or 'simmer' setting for up to 3 hours. I never left them this long and timing obviously depends on size. The idea is to partially dry them and I then froze them. We have been defrosting and eating them sprinkled with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil with salad all winter. you get the wonderful concentrated flavour. I haven't bought any of the tasteless supermarket toms this year. I plan to do more next season. They can of course also be used for cooking and take up so much less space in the freezer than straight frozen tomatoes.
Gill

[brokenbar]

Originally Posted by gill_s

I have read with great interest the tips for drying tomatoes. I bought a dehydrator to dry my excess tomatoes. It sounds a wonderful idea to soak them in red wine first. I read an idea for microwave dried tomato salad. I gave it a try and have been really pleased with the results. The method suggested halving or slicing them, putting in a large bowl and 'cooking' them on the lowest or 'simmer' setting for up to 3 hours. I never left them this long and timing obviously depends on size. The idea is to partially dry them and I then froze them. We have been defrosting and eating them sprinkled with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil with salad all winter. you get the wonderful concentrated flavour. I haven't bought any of the tasteless supermarket toms this year. I plan to do more next season. They can of course also be used for cooking and take up so much less space in the freezer than straight frozen tomatoes.
Gill

Gil, that sounds really good. I will have to try it. Like how low on the Micro? I would probably have to use the defrost mode. Three hours...seems like they would be petrified wood! The wine soak makes a big difference. I think many people don't know how concentrated the flavor in dried tomatoes is...it adds an incredible amount of pizzazz to dishes. If everyone knew how great home-grown tomatoes tasted, the commercial growers would go broke...

[dustdevil]

Dried tomatoes make a nice snack all by themselves.

[gill_s]

Originally Posted by brokenbar

Gil, that sounds really good. I will have to try it. Like how low on the Micro? I would probably have to use the defrost mode. Three hours...seems like they would be petrified wood! The wine soak makes a big difference. I think many people don't know how concentrated the flavor in dried tomatoes is...it adds an incredible amount of pizzazz to dishes. If everyone knew how great home-grown tomatoes tasted, the commercial growers would go broke...

Hi. I am sure the microwave setting would do the job fine. On my machine there is virtually no difference in the 'simmer ' and 'defrost' settings. As I said I have never needed to leave them 3 hours but I suppose if they are big and not cut up it may be necessary. I did them for an hour to start then kept checking. On one occasion I forgot to reset the machine to very low and 'high' is the default setting! Not to be recommended. Good thing I was close at hand and rescued the situation just in time!

[Dukerdawg]

Looking at dehydrators on-line it looked like Excalibur might be the way to go. Anyone have one....or recommend something else? I seen there were commercial units that cost huge $$$$. What do you use for your business Carol?

Duane

[Suze]

I have a Harvest Maid dehydrator that does a great job. I don't know exactly how old it is, but it's pretty old. The instruction book is yellow and has started to fall apart. Handed down from a relative. Big and heavy, about the size of an old microwave.

I wonder if they still make Harvest maid dehydrators this well.