Easy Tomato Drying Rack.

Need a quick tomato drying rack? I grow tomatoes and found myself with a lot of tomatoes, so many that I wasn't using them fast enough. I happen to love sun dried tomatoes and chili's and decided I would throw together a quick drying rack. This is what I came up with from things I had around the house.

Step 1: Secure Tomato Cages Together

Using larger zip ties I attached all the vertical rods on two tomato cages together with the rings offset enough to make several layers.

Step 2: Paint (optional)

Thought it would look nice in white.

Step 3: Prep the Screen.

Purchase or clean some old screen door mesh.

Step 4: Make Shelves

Cut the screen to fit the rings. Using zip ties secure the mesh to the layers.

Step 5: Shrink Wrap.

I wrapped the cages to to bottom leaving one slit down the side to access the shelves.

Step 6: Fill It.

Find someone to full it full of fresh tomatoes!

Step 7: Sun Dry.

find a nice spot to catch some sun.

Comments

[SophiesFoodieFiles]

Cool & so practical too! :)

[samsat6000]

[altaurone]

I love snacking on them, the tomatoes lucky enough to avoid that go into bruschetta, pastas or baked onto bread. I have purchased it in powdered form for cooking and may eventually make some. I like to make chili powder from the Bhut Jolokia chili's on the bottom rack.

[mountainmasha]

I like the build. What foods do you usually put your dried tomatoes in? Or do you just snack on them?

[mivaca83]

muy buena idea.

[rimar2000]

Insteresting, thanks for sharing.

How many days (average) you must wait?

[susiefreckleface]

nice. I'll try your version. ha! I heard bugs don't bother them too.....false. I tossed a whole tray bc flies found a way under my cheesecloth.

[pat.sing.18]

Good idea & Perfect Machine .. :)

[altaurone]

The plastic wrap was to help keep it hot inside as well as clean, as for the bugs, they don't seem to be interested in them.

[bosstone75]

What about bugs? No bugs crawling in the little hole in the top?

[mnmama]

Pretty creative. Question: Why did you use plastic to wrap the outside? If you used screening, wouldn't that keep the bugs away and allow better air circulation, or do you need a greenhouse thing going on to raise the temperature inside?

[JON-A-TRON]

I like how you used a tomato trellis to make it.

[altaurone]

Thanks for the comments! It only took two days with good sun, and quarter inch slices. I cover them in a little salt and pepper.

[IT-BY-TRADE]

Great way to dry erb's thanks for the diy

[baecker03]

would it be possible to put a material that absorbs water on the bottom of this device to speed up the drying process?

[MsSweetSatisfaction]

Multi-level drying system! That's so awesome, and you gotta love the price point! Thanks for sharing!