Preservative for dehydrated tomatoes?

[tedln]

I purchase dehydrated (sun dried supposedly) tomatoes in cellophane packages frequently at the market. The package wrapping is barely air tight if it is at all. The instructions for home dehydrating tomatoes almost always end with instructions to freeze or refrigerate for a few weeks only.

Is a good preservative available which would allow storage for long periods at room temperatures without affecting the tomatoes flavor?

Ted

[RebelRidin]

I believe this post at another site is by the TVille brokenbar...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...543123572.html

[Rockporter]

Lock & Lock,(not lock n lock)

You can store for at least 1 year sealing out the excess air and humidity. These things are great.. Again, Lock & Lock not Lock n Lock. Two different brands and the second one is not so good at least in my opinion and I have had both brands.

[coronabarb]

You can dehydrate tomatoes and keep them on the shelf with no problem, w/o a preservative. There are issues if you want to store them in oil...then, you need to refrigerate as botulism becomes a possibility.

[Mudman]

Because I end up with a ton of them by the end of summer I leave one out and put the rest in the freezer with no preservative. I can't tell the difference after they have been frozen, and you don't have to thaw them to cut them, they are still a little soft.

[tedln]

Originally Posted by Rockporter

Lock & Lock,(not lock n lock)

You can store for at least 1 year sealing out the excess air and humidity. These things are great.. Again, Lock & Lock not Lock n Lock. Two different brands and the second one is not so good at least in my opinion and I have had both brands.

What are they?

Are they some kind of vacuum seal bag?

Ted

[tedln]

Okay Rockporter, I googled Lock & Lock and I know what you are talking about. Do you store them for a year outside the refrigerator or inside?

Ted

[Rockporter]

If you have dried your stuff(veggies) or whatever kind of food you want to store, even store bought flour, pasta, etc. You can store them at room temp in the dark cupboard for up to a year with no bugs, going bad, etc issues. If your product has any moisture in it at all I would store in the refer with a paper towel wrapped around them to absorb any excess and they probably wouldn't last as long but you can certainly use them for a much longer period than the usual method. Vacumm seal bags would also be a good ticket for them and are resealable too.

.

I use Lock & Lock for all my cupboard goods and my refrigerated goods, the things are awesome.