Homemade tomato powder is an easy, zero-waste way to turn leftover tomato skins into a rich, concentrated seasoning packed with fresh tomato flavor. Whether you use fresh tomato skins from canning or fresh tomatoes, this tomato powder is perfect for adding bold flavors to sauces, spice blends, soups, and more. Best of all, it's simple to make in a dehydrator or oven.
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🔍 Quick Look: Tomato Powder Recipe
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🍅 Main Ingredient: Tomato skins from canning or fresh tomatoes
🌿 2 Easy Methods: Dehydrator (6 hours) or oven (4 hours) for skins
🥣 Yield: 4 tablespoons tomato powder
⭐ Best For: Soups, sauces, spice blends, chili, pasta, and more
❤️ You'll Love It Because: It's an easy zero-waste recipe that transforms leftover tomato skins into a rich, concentrated tomato seasoning.
A Note from my Kitchen
This year, I worked hard in my backyard growing a beautiful vegetable garden. One of my biggest goals was to can as many tomatoes as possible so I could enjoy that "fresh from the garden flavor" all year. I've been happily filling jars, but after tossing a large pile of tomato skins into my compost, I started thinking, "There has to be a better use for these."
My compost worms were thrilled, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was throwing away something packed with incredible tomato flavor. That's when I discovered homemade tomato powder, and it was a total game changer.
Simply dry the tomato skins and grind them into a fine powder. The result is an incredibly rich, concentrated tomato seasoning similar to the flavor of sun dried-tomatoes. I call it, "Tomato Gold." It's perfect for soups, sauces, chili, pasta, homemade spice blends, Bloody Marys, and so much more.
It's become one of my favorite zero-waste kitchen hacks because it transforms what most people throw away into a pantry staple you'll reach for all year long. I absolutely love it and had to share it with you. Enjoy! Xoxo-Katie.
Tomato Powder Ingredients
- Tomato skins- I'm using tomato skins left over from canning tomatoes, making this a delicious zero-waste recipe. Don't have leftover skins? No worries! You can make tomato powder from any type of fresh tomato. Simply wash and slice larger tomatoes before dehydrating. Cherry and grape tomatoes only need to be cut in half.
How to Make Tomato Powder
Follow these simple steps to make tomato powder using either a dehydrator or your oven. Both methods produce a rich, concentrated tomato seasoning.
How to make Tomato Powder in the Dehydrator
- Arrange the leftover tomato skins from canning in a single layer on the dehydrator trays, leaving a little space between each piece so air can circulate. If using whole tomatoes instead of skins, wash and slice them before placing them on the trays. For cherry or grape tomatoes, simply cut them in half and arrange them cut-side up on the dehydrator trays.
- Set your dehydrator to 135°F and dehydrate the tomato skins for about 6 hours or tomato slices for about 8-15 hours. (Drying times vary based on thickness and moisture.) They are ready when the skins or tomatoes are completely dry, brittle, and snap easily when bent.
- Grind in a blender, coffee grinder, or spice grinder until a fine powder forms. Remove any large pieces. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
How to Make Tomato Powder in the Oven
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the leftover tomato skins from canning in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece so air can circulate. If using whole tomatoes instead of skins, wash and slice them before placing them on the baking sheet. For cherry or grape tomatoes, simply cut them in half and arrange them cut-side up on the sheet.
- Set oven to the lowest possible oven setting (around 150°F to 200°F) with the door slightly cracked. Monitor carefully. Bake about 4 hours for tomato skins and for tomato slices 6-8 hours. (Drying times vary based on thickness and moisture.) They are ready when the skins or tomatoes are completely dry, brittle, and snap easily when bent.
- Grind in a blender, coffee grinder, or spice grinder until a fine powder forms. Remove any large pieces. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Watch how to Make
How do you use tomato powder?
Homemade tomato powder adds rich, concentrated tomato flavor to your favorite recipes. Sprinkle it into pasta sauces, pizza sauce, soups, dry rubs, dips, and Bloody Marys.
You can also rehydrate it to replace canned tomato products:
| To Make | Tomato Powder | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato Paste | 1 tablespoon | 1 tablespoon |
| Tomato Sauce | 1 tablespoon | 2 tablespoons |
| Tomato Juice | 1 tablespoon | 4-8 tablespoons |
*Stir until smooth, then add more water if needed to reach your desired consistency.
How do you store tomato powder?
Store tomato powder in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dark place away from heat and moisture. For best results, use within 6 to 12 months. Use a dry spoon when measuring it, because any added moisture can cause the powder to clump or spoil.
For longer storage, freeze tomato powder in an airtight container for up to 2 years. Let the container come to room temperature before opening it to prevent moisture from clumping the powder.
If you make this tomato powder, please leave me a comment and tell me how it went. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your tomato seasoning on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
How to Make Tomato Powder from Tomato Skins (Zero-Waste)
Equipment
- dehydrator
Ingredients
- tomato skins from 20 pounds of tomatoes
Instructions
How to make Tomato Powder in the Dehydrator
- Arrange the leftover tomato skins from canning in a single layer on the dehydrator trays, leaving a little space between each piece so air can circulate. If using whole tomatoes instead of skins, wash and slice them before placing them on the trays. For cherry or grape tomatoes, simply cut them in half and arrange them cut-side up on the dehydrator trays.tomato skins
- Set your dehydrator to 135°F and dehydrate the tomato skins for about 6 hours or tomato slices for about 8-15 hours. (Drying times vary based on thickness and moisture.) They are ready when the skins or tomatoes are completely dry, brittle, and snap easily when bent.
- Grind in a blender, coffee grinder, or spice grinder until a fine powder forms. Remove any large pieces. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
How to make Tomato Powder in the Oven
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the leftover tomato skins from canning in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece so air can circulate. If using whole tomatoes instead of skins, wash and slice them before placing them on the baking sheet. For cherry or grape tomatoes, simply cut them in half and arrange them cut-side up on the sheet.
- Set oven to the lowest possible oven setting (about 150°F to 200°F). Leave the door slightly cracked to allow moisture to escape. Monitor carefully. Bake about 4 hours for tomato skins and for tomato slices 6-8 hours. (Drying times vary based on thickness and moisture.) They are ready when the skins or tomatoes are completely dry, brittle, and snap easily when bent.
- Grind in a blender, coffee grinder, or spice grinder until a fine powder forms. Remove any large pieces. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
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