Quick Summary of the Discussion
- 💡 The Dilemma: Many growers love the taste of sun-dried tomatoes but absolutely hate the traditional method of storing them submerged in olive oil, finding it too greasy and heavy.
- ✅ The Solution (Paper Bags): If you dehydrate the tomatoes very thoroughly (removing almost all moisture), they can be stored dry in a simple parchment or paper bag in a pantry or cupboard. Growers report they easily last for up to 2 years this way.
- ❄️ The Freezer Method: Another popular oil-free method is to place the dried tomatoes into sealed plastic containers or ziplock bags and keep them in the freezer.
I don’t like making sun-dried tomatoes… actually, the sun-dried tomatoes themselves are tasty, but I hate that you have to submerge them in oil to store them. That is totally unappetizing to me. Now, if sun-dried tomatoes could just sit dry in a bag, like dried apples, that would be great.
Quote from Russi:
I hate that you have to submerge them in oil to store them, that is totally unappetizing to me. Now, if sun-dried tomatoes could just sit dry in a bag, like dried apples, that would be great.
Good afternoon, Anna! Sun-dried tomatoes actually store perfectly well dry in a parchment/paper bag. I used to bring them back from Italy, and they sell them exactly like that in 1 kg (2.2 lbs) dry bags. Some girls here store their sun-dried ones in plastic containers in the freezer. I don’t really like them packed in oil either.
Quote from Tiffany:
Sun-dried tomatoes actually store perfectly well dry in a parchment/paper bag.
Good afternoon, Yulia!
Very interesting! Question: do you keep the paper bag in the fridge, or just at room temperature? And how long can they be stored like that? I also hate them in oil.
Quote from Russi:
Now, if sun-dried tomatoes could just sit dry in a bag, like dried apples, that would be great.
That’s exactly how mine sit in a bag. I didn’t like submerging them in oil, it’s too greasy for me. Why drown them in oil if you can just store them dry? The only requirement is that I dry them very thoroughly. They easily sit in the pantry for 2 years without any problems.
