Dehydrator question....

[maddy]

My Dad has lent me his old harvest maid dehydrator, to see if I'll actually use one, before I purchase one of my own.
Of course instruction book is missing, so how long and what temp. Would you use for slightly larger cherry tomatoes?
We have lots in the garden, and I want to make some semi dried ones, and possibly tomato powder as well.

[cookie1]

Could you get it from the internet Maddy?

[maddy]

Looking but not coming up with much.

[shan_k]

Try these - they are general times not specific to a brand of dehydrator but should be an OK starting point:

http://www.food-dehydrator.com/resource-center/what-are-the-best-food-dehydrator-drying-times.aspx

and

http://www.food-dehydrator.com/resource-center/food-drying-times-using-a-food-dehydrator.aspx

[Bonsai]

My Mum bought  me a dehydrator for Christmas which caused the fuse to trip in my house the first time I used it. I won't mention the supplier here but PM me if you're thinking of getting a dehydrator. I've found the after-sales service is woeful (for the type I have, I'm sure may others are OK)  and I'm still trying to get it fixed or replaced a month after it failed. 

[keiramax]

My fowlers book suggests 8-12 hours at 55 - 63 degrees C but it does depend on the type of tom

However cherry toms have very little flesh and lots of seed and can be watery which may take longer.  In my experience they were ok as a semi dried, but did not make a good powder as the seeds made it bitter.

[maddy]

Thanks all.....I'll go ahead and experiment.

[Meagan]

Grape toms cut in half lengthwise 55deg C 20-24 hours it says in the dehydrator bible. Tons should feel dry and be slightly pliable with no sign of moisture inside when broken HTH

[maddy]

Thanks Megan....wow, that's a long time isn't it!

[JulieO]

I haven't dried cherry toms yet, but yes it does take a while.  The idea is to dry without cooking which is what happens in the oven, so that's why it takes so long on such a low heat. 

[andiesenji]

Most of the cherry tomatoes I get are 1 inch or a little larger in diameter.
I cut them in half and  put them in the dehydrator for 18 hours at 165° F. which converts to 74° C.
I then reduce the heat completely and leave them for another 8-12 hours or overnight. 

However, I do check on them from time to time - depending on how the Gods or the Stars are aligned, sometimes they get to the finished stage sooner.

For medium sized Roma (paste type, more solid) tomatoes, I leave them in the dehydrator for 24 to 36 hours at 150° F.,  - 65° C., which seems to leave them dry enough to store and yet still flexible and tender. 
With this type of tomato, it seems that a higher temp makes them more leathery and tough.

[JulieO]

Thanks for the tips Andi, have saved them for the next lot I do.