Sun-Dried Tomatoes Selection and Storage

Sun-dried tomatoes selection

Now comes another personal choice: do you want oil-packed or just dried? Many commercial sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil use an inferior oil and may be over-spiced. You can easily remedy this by using dried tomatoes, adding your own good olive oil and preferred herbs and/or spices, seal and refrigerate. Make up new batches as you need them.

Sun-dried tomato storage

Homemade dried tomatoes should be placed in an airtight bag or container and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for six to nine months for optimum shelf life.

Unopened commercially-dried tomatoes will be fine without refrigeration for six to nine months. Refrigerate or freeze after opening.

When packing your own in oil at home, be sure to keep them refrigerated, especially when adding fresh herbs or garlic to avoid the risk of botulism. Once opened, oil-packed dried tomatoes should be refrigerated and used within two weeks.

More About Sun-Dried Tomatoes:

• Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes Basic Recipe
• Should sun-dried tomatoes be seeded?
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes Cooking Tips and Hints
• Sun-Dried Tomato Selection and Storage
• Sun-Dried Tomato History
• Sun-Dried Tomato Recipes
_{Sun-Dried Tomatoes Photo © 2011 Lindsey Carrasco, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Cookbooks

•	Sun-Dried Tomatoes
•	You Say Tomato : Peel, Chop, Roast, Dry, Freeze, Preserve, and Enjoy
•	The Tomato Cookbook
•	The Good Cook's Book of Tomatoes
•	More Cookbooks