How to make Tomato Powder from Tomato Skins

Tomato powder is created from dried tomato skins that are ground into a fine powder, and used to enhance the flavor and color of various dishes. 

Dehydrating tomato skins to make tomato powder has quickly become one of my favorite preservation techniques. After wanting to try it for some time, I finally decided to give it a go this year! What I like moste about this approach is that it repuposes tomato skins that would usually end up in the trash. I enjoy the challenge of of turning food scraps into something useful.  

If you're not familiar with tomato powder it's an intense, shelf stable seasoning made from dehyrated tomato skins that are grinded down into a fine powder. This concentreated vegetable powder is used to enhance the flavor of soups, stews, sauces, dry rubs, and vegetables, making it a versatile additon to various dishes. Additionaly, tomato powder can also be combined with water to create a tomato paste, sauce or juice. 

This year we harvested about 60+ lbs of tomatoes, which is less than in previous years, but still enough for making a variety of items to put up in our canning pantry. While we typically grow paste tomatoes, any type can be used to make tomato powder, heirlooms, slicers, romas or cherry tomatoes. 

Producing a good amount of tomato powder requires a significant amount of tomatoes, as only the skins are utilized. From this batch I managed to collect just over a half pint of powder, but moving forward, I intend to dry the skins from all the tomatoes I process and keep adding them to my jar for future use. If you're interested in making your own tomato powder, follow along and I will show you the process.  

COLLECTING TOMATO SKINS: If you're blanching the tomatoes and removing the skins for a canning project save the skins as you are processing the tomatoes. If you are using a food mill to remove the skins and seeds, run the seeds and skins through the food mill twice to remove as mush liquid as possible and then proceed to the next step.  

🍅 INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES NEEDED: 🍅

• Tomato scraps and skins leftover from tomato processeing
• Paper Towels to pat the tomato skins dry. 
• Parchement paper to line dehydrator trays. 
• Dehydrator 
• Magic bullet, Ninja Blender, Blender or Food Processor. 
• Mason jar with lid or Airtight storage container.  

DRY THE SKINS: Lay out the tomato skins on a baking sheet and pat dry with paper towels. 

ARRANGE THE TRAYS: Place the clean tomato skins in a single layer on a parchement paper lined dehydrator trays.  

DEHYDRATE: Set the dehydrator to 135°F and let the dehydrator run for 8-10 hours, or until the scraps are completely dry and brittle. 

COOLING: let the tomato skins cool to room temperature. This prevents condinsation from forming when you store the powder.  

GRIND INTO A POWDER: Grind the dried tomato skins in a blender, ninja blender or magic bullet until the dried skins become a fine powder. Add salt while grinding if desired. 

STORE: Add the tomato powder into a mason jar or and air tight container. 

🍅 HOW TO USE TOMATO POWDER: 🍅 

• Use tomato powder to add a pop of color to soup, stews, sauces and chili. 
• Use it as a dry rub for meats or spinkle on top of roasted vegetables. 
• Add water reconstitute the tomato powder into tomato paste, sauce or juice. 
• Add to spaghetti sauce to use as a thickener and deepen the flavor.  
• Use it as a dough enhancer for breads, pizza or or homemade pasta. 
• Tomato powder can be used to create a tomato based dip for vegetables or crackers. 
• Add tomato powder into marinades and dressings. 
• Use tomato powder to make homemade dry meal mixes such as lasagna hamburger helper.  

Looking for more easy recipes? Check out the Mommy's Kitchen & Homestead Recipe Box!