Air Fryer Sun Dried Tomatoes

If you love sun dried tomatoes, you should definitely give these Air Fryer Sun Dried Tomatoes a try. It’s a really fast way to make perfect dried tomatoes in half the time it would take in the oven, and a small fraction of the time to make them sun dried.

I really needed some sundried tomatoes for a recipe but didn’t have any. Then it occurred to me that I could probably make some in the air fryer really easily. So I tried it. Yep, I was right. It’s so easy.

If you have some cherry tomatoes and olive oil, you’re all set. It’s just a few ingredients you need to make these perfect dried tomatoes. It also takes just an hour and a half in the air fryer.

» You might also like Air Fryer Banana Chips and Air Fryer Dried Cranberries.

Why You’ll Love It

• Intense Flavor: Air frying concentrates the natural sweetness and tanginess of the tomatoes, enhancing their flavor and making them a delicious addition to salads, pastas, and more.
• Quick and Easy: Unlike traditional sun-drying methods that take days, air frying sun-dried tomatoes is a speedy process, giving you gourmet-quality ingredients in a fraction of the time.
• Healthy Snacking: Air fried sun-dried tomatoes are a healthy, low-calorie snack option. With the air fryer’s ability to use minimal oil, you get a nutritious snack that’s also packed with flavor.

Ingredients You Need

• Cherry tomatoes – You can make sun dried tomatoes with any size tomato you want. I’ve used the little round ones and the oblong ones. I’ve even used roma tomatoes.
• Olive oil – A good olive oil gives them extra flavor as they cook down, so be sure to use a high-quality one.
• Salt and Italian seasoning – I usually put on some salt and Italian seasoning. However, if you want them to be plain, you can leave the seasoning off.

Helpful Tips

• Opt for plum or Roma tomatoes for the best results, as their lower moisture content and meatier texture make them ideal for drying in the air fryer. Slice them evenly to ensure consistent drying.
• Before air frying, lightly season your tomato slices with salt, and consider adding herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme for extra flavor. A small drizzle of olive oil can also help enhance their taste and texture.
• Air fryer temperatures can vary, so start checking the tomatoes regularly towards the end of the drying time to prevent them from becoming too dry or burnt. Remember, they will continue to dry out a bit after you take them out of the air fryer, so it’s okay if they’re slightly pliable when you finish cooking.

How to Make Air Fryer “Sun Dried” Tomatoes

Step 1: Preheat the air fry

Preheat your air fryer to 240° F. On most air fryers, this is simple. On mine (the Ninja Max XL), I can’t use the air fry setting because it only goes as low as 300° F. So I have to use the Air Roast setting. You might find this is the case on yours too. There’s always a workaround.

Step 2: Prepare the tomatoes

Place the halved tomatoes in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle on the salt and Italian seasoning. Toss to coat.

Step 3: Air fry

Pour the tomatoes into your air fryer basket. You can dry as many at a time as you can fit in your basket in one layer. You don’t want to overlap them because they won’t dry properly. Cook the tomatoes for 45 minutes.

Use a fork or spatula to lightly smash down the tomatoes. Be careful when you do this because the hot juices from the tomato tend to squirt out. You don’t want to mash them entirely, just smash them down a little bit. Continue cooking for another 45 minutes.

Step 4: Cool the tomatoes

When done, spread the tomatoes out on a paper towel lined plate and allow them to cool for at least 1 hour. This will continue the drying process and will result in a chewy, delicious dried tomato.

How to Use Sun Dried Tomatoes

These sun dried tomatoes are a great addition to salads and pastas. They add a lot of concentrated tomato flavor to your dish.

Any dish that you would normally add fresh tomatoes to is a candidate for sun dried tomatoes. Think outside the box and start adding them to salads, soups, pastas, and even sandwiches.

What Tomatoes to Use

I always say that the best tomatoes to dry are the ones you have too many of. If you have a garden, you’ll likely have cherry tomatoes of some kind, or maybe Roma tomatoes. You can dry them all! It’s best to dry ones that can be easily halved and aren’t too big.

How to Store Sun Dried Tomatoes

Unlike the sun dried tomatoes that you buy at the store that have tons of preservatives in them, these homemade ones won’t last that long. They also cannot be stored on the counter or in a bag in the pantry, because they aren’t shelf stable.

To store your sun dried tomatoes, be sure to dry them enough so that the juices are all gone. Wait for them to cool completely. Then place them in an air tight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will last for a couple of week.

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