Homemade Tomato Powder

Nan_PA_6b · March 25, 2017

If you make tomato powder from tasty homegrown tomatoes, and sprinkle some on a store bought tomato, does it make the store bought tomato taste better, or -dare I say it- taste good?

Nan

imp · March 25, 2017

No, sadly.

pmcgrady · March 25, 2017

Why bother?

Nan_PA_6b · March 26, 2017

PMCGrady, for the long winter when the good tomatoes aren't available. If there's a way to dress up a grocery tomato by adding home-grown flavor, I want to know.

I can't do the experiment myself due to lack of taste buds: I can't taste most tomatoes

and my DH likes absolutely every tomato he has ever tasted, grocery store included.

So, Imp, you've already tried this?

Nan

oakley · March 26, 2017

I've not tried it. I use a good quality vinegar, just a splash, on store bought toms this time of year. Important to find a hot house tomato with good texture, not bland mealy.
Mexico and Canada both have decent ones now.

I needed one for a BLT and stopped by my local market last Thursday. Took forever to choose even with so many choices.

I still have probably 10 lbs in the freezer from last season that i use for salsas and sauces and soups and chowders. The powder i use in dressings and sauces. Rehydrating the powder seems to like a bit of heat. I'll try it tonight as i bought two grocery toms.

They even have a big section of mixed 'heirlooms' but were very soft. Not going there.

Nan_PA_6b · March 26, 2017

Holy moly, that's a lot of tomatoes, Oakley! No wonder it took you a long time to decide. Somebody needs to develop the superpower of being able to "see" tastes, so we can know which of those are the tastiest.

DH bought a package of Wild Wonders -they're in your pic- he says "They're good." That's not an endorsement, since he has said that exact same thing about every tomato on God's earth.

Nan

Worth1 · March 26, 2017

Experiment with a dilute solution of powdered citric acid and sugar spray on a slice of tomato and see what you think.
At least it will taste like something.

Heck I might be able to come up with a product called home grown tomato flavor spray.

Nan_PA_6b · March 26, 2017

Do it, Worth and all 20,000 Tomatovillians will buy it.

Nan

ddsack · March 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

If you make tomato powder from tasty homegrown tomatoes, and sprinkle some on a store bought tomato, does it make the store bought tomato taste better, or -dare I say it- taste good?

Nan

I don't know, but now that you have mentioned it, I think I might give it a try. Can't hurt! I have not used my dryer for a few years, but remembering back, the thinner sliced ones would have been brittle enough for a powder. The thicker slices seemed too leathery to break down easily. Is there a trick to making tomato powder?

Worth1 · March 26, 2017

Yes you have to keep drying them until they are crispy.
Once the moisture level is down to leather like you can take them out if the humidity isn't to high and forget about them.

Nan_PA_6b · March 26, 2017

Dehydrate until crispy to make powder. Depending on the thickness and the tomatoes, it can take 2-3 days at the fruit setting: 135 F. Test frequently, as they will burn if left on too long. But get them crispy. Then probably a blender.

Nan

oakley · March 26, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Experiment with a dilute solution of powdered citric acid and sugar spray on a slice of tomato and see what you think.
At least it will taste like something.

Heck I might be able to come up with a product called home grown tomato flavor spray.

Yuck. Something a bit more natural i can do at home. Maple syrup from my trees and
vinegar from my asian pear trees. Just avoid store tomatoes but if you must, like i do just a few times every winter...give a good splash of sherry vinegar...end of story.

I don't need another product ...that gets me nothing but salt and vinegar and sugars.

ilex · March 26, 2017

I haven't tried but the old trick might do ... salt, chilli and lime juice. It will taste as something, if not, add more chilli.

I don't eat tomatoes when I run out of mine.

MissS · March 26, 2017

Well, you can't taste them and DH likes them all, so why bother to go to any extra work? Nobody will notice.

Worth1 · March 26, 2017

I posted this in the cooking section called Chili Poppin Mamas.

Guaranteed to wake up any store bought tomato.

March 25, 2017	#1
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	Homemade Tomato Powder If you make tomato powder from tasty homegrown tomatoes, and sprinkle some on a store bought tomato, does it make the store bought tomato taste better, or -dare I say it- taste good? Nan

March 26, 2017	#14
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	Well, you can't taste them and DH likes them all, so why bother to go to any extra work? Nobody will notice. __________________ ~ Patti ~

March 25, 2017	#2
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	No, sadly.

March 25, 2017	#3
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	Why bother?

March 26, 2017	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Experiment with a dilute solution of powdered citric acid and sugar spray on a slice of tomato and see what you think. At least it will taste like something. Heck I might be able to come up with a product called home grown tomato flavor spray.

March 26, 2017	#13
ilex Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Spain Posts: 416	I haven't tried but the old trick might do ... salt, chilli and lime juice. It will taste as something, if not, add more chilli. I don't eat tomatoes when I run out of mine.