This is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate RoTel tomatoes with chilies. Their website shows the spelling as Ro*Tel, but for ease of writing, we’ll call them RoTel. Dehydrating RoTel tomatoes in your food dehydrator is easy to do. Dehydrated RoTel tomatoes hydrate quickly and are a perfect ingredient for use in camping and backpacking meals.

These dehydrated tomatoes and chili peppers are also great for longer-term food storage since they can be used in many recipes.

one 10 ounce can of RoTel diced tomatoes that has been dehydrated | dehydrated RoTel | dehydrating RoTel | dehydrating RoTel diced tomatoes | best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — This is one 10-ounce can of dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes with green chiles, about 14 grams.

RoTel produces a delicious array of canned tomatoes that can be easily dehydrated. We like them all. The no salt added diced tomatoes with green chilies are a favorite but sometimes hard to find.

We like the RoTel brand canned tomatoes with chili peppers because each can has a good amount of tomatoes with minimal excess liquid. Some brands seem to have a lot of liquid at the expense of tomatoes.

So, let’s get started dehydrating a few cans of RoTel tomatoes.

How to Dehydrate RoTel Tomatoes
Supplies Needed for Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes
Step 1. Process for Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes
Step 2. Preparing for Dehydrator for Dehydrating the RoTel Tomatoes
Step 3. Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes
Step 4. When are the Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes Done
Step 5. Equalizing and Conditioning of Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes
Step 6. Storing the Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes
Hydration
Weights, Measures, and Serving Sizes
Dehydrated RoTel Diced Tomatoes Nutrition
Insider Tips

How to Dehydrate RoTel Tomatoes

Canned diced tomatoes, like RoTel, are easy to dehydrate. They are great to have on hand. We tend to dehydrate individual ingredients versus dehydrating entire meals, other than leftovers to have later.

Today we are dehydrating RoTel tomatoes with chili peppers to add to our long term food storage pantry | best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — Today we are dehydrating several cans of RoTel tomatoes with chili peppers. They were on sale, so we picked up a few extra cans to dehydrate and add to our prepper pantry for long-term storage and later use.

I see these canned tomatoes on sale quite frequently. So be on the lookout and pick up a few extras to dehydrate them for longer-term storage. Of course, as canned products, they all have best-by dates for a year or more.

All you need to dehydrate RoTel diced tomatoes is a good quality food dehydrator. We use the Nesco food dehydrators. You can check out our food dehydrator guide to learn why we think Nesco offers the best bang for the buck. We believe this is the best food dehydrator for our long-term food storage needs.

For planning purposes, two 10-ounce cans or one 28-ounce can of RoTel diced tomatoes will fill one 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray lined with a fruit roll sheet.

Supplies Needed for Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes

Food dehydrator
Removable fruit roll sheet inserts, one for each dehydrator tray
Standard kitchen tools such as cutting boards, can openers, spatulas, strainers, etc.
Wide-mouth canning jar funnel
Clear canning jars with tight-fitting lids
Mesh strainer
Desiccant packets (optional)

Step 1. Process for Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes

To start, there isn’t much to do to process these canned tomatoes for dehydration.

There isn’t excessive canning liquid if you are dehydrating the smaller 10-ounce (283 grams) cans of RoTel tomatoes; it’s mostly diced tomatoes and peppers. However, larger cans, like the 28-ounce (794 grams), have more liquid. So, it’s best just to drain them.

Simply open the can and drain the excess canning liquid using a mesh strainer.

Draining the excess canning liquid using a mesh strainer from these diced tomatoes that we will dehydrate and use in our homemade dehydrated camping meals and to stock up the pantry. Dehydrated diced tomatoes are among the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage because they are used in so many of our recipes. — We’re draining the excess canning liquid from these diced tomatoes. There isn’t much to drain. However, today, we’re loading up the dehydrator to capacity with canned food items. Dehydrated diced tomatoes are among the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage because they are used in so many of our recipes.

Because the tomatoes are already diced into suitable-sized pieces for drying, there is no need to break them down any further.

Step 2. Preparing for Dehydrator for Dehydrating the RoTel Tomatoes

You’ll need to use fruit roll sheets for dehydrating the diced tomatoes and chili peppers.

Nesco fruit roll sheets | best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage | making dehydrated meals for camping | homemade dehydrated meal recipes | make your own dehydrated camping food | homemade dehydrated camping meals | homemade dehydrated backpacking meals — These inexpensive Nesco 13.5-inch fruit roll sheet inserts come in 2 to a pack. You’re going to need one for each dehydrator tray and maybe a few extra. They are perfect for making fruit rolls, drying sauces & soups, and catching drips to make cleanup easy. The no-spill lip allows you to dry liquids and semi-liquids like fruits, sauces, soups, and gelatins. They do stain when drying tomato products, but no worries.

We will use these removable Nesco fruit roll sheet inserts on our food dehydrator for today’s project. They have over 3000 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, which is evidence of a great product. Check out other Nesco food dehydrator products here.

Scoop out the contents of the strainer onto the fruit roll sheet inserts. Use a spatula to get a thin even layer.

Rotel diced tomatoes and chili peppers on a dehydrator tray | best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — This is two 10-ounce cans of drained RoTel diced tomatoes with chili peppers on a 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray with a fruit roll sheet insert. We’re making the most of our time and dehydrating 6 cans of RoTel diced tomatoes along with other canned food items to stock up our pantry.

Evenly spread out and create a thin layer of the diced tomatoes and chili peppers onto the removable fruit roll sheet inserts to promote even drying.

A close-up of the RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies on the fruit roll sheet inserts. Now we’ll get these into the dehydrator.

The Nesco 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray has close to 119 square inches or .8 square feet of surface area for drying.

Step 3. Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes

We’ll dehydrate the canned diced tomatoes at a drying temperature of 160 °F / 71 °C for the entire time because there is much liquid that needs to evaporate. Plan on 8 to 10 hours, depending upon the ambient temperature and humidity and how crowded you fill your trays. Remember to use drying times as a guide.

We have set the dehydrator temperature control to 160 °F / 71 °C for drying the RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies.

Step 4. When are the Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes Done

Start checking for doneness in 8 hours. The diced tomatoes usually take 8 to 10 hours to fully dehydrate at 160 °F / 71 °C, depending on your food dehydrator, the ambient temperature and humidity, and the amount of food on the tray.

For convenience, we often put them in the dehydrator and let them go overnight, 24 hours or more. There are no worries about over-drying the diced tomatoes.

The dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes and chili peppers are ready for the next steps of equalizing and conditioning in a clear canning jar with a tight-fitting lid. After that, we'll add them to our food pantry to make homemade dehydrated camping meals. — After 10 hours of drying time, these dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes are done. We let the trays cool for about 30 minutes. The diced tomatoes and peppers are hard to the touch; nothing is soft or squishy.

Drying times will vary depending on your dehydrator. Refer to your dehydrator owner’s manual for recommended temperatures and times for dehydrating specific foods. Remember to use drying times as a guide.

Thoroughly dried, the tomato pieces will be hard little bits.

A close-up of the dried RoTel tomatoes and chili peppers | best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — A close-up of the dried tomatoes and chili peppers. They have cooled down and everything is firm to the touch. Nothing is soft or squishy. So, the next step is to remove the dried food from the fruit roll sheets and put it into a clear canning jar before it absorbs too much of the ambient moisture. We live in a fairly humid area.

Warm dehydrated food in the food dehydrator will feel somewhat pliable, and you may believe they need more drying time. Unplug the dehydrator, or just remove the tray and let it cool down. Then check again to be sure. They should be crisp or brittle when done. When bent, they will snap into pieces like a potato chip.

Helpful Tip: For the easy release of the dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes, slightly flex the fruit roll sheet. This is easily done by removing the sheet from the tray and placing the sheet on a flat work surface. Use your thumb to hold the sheet stationary by placing it at the center opening. Then lift the edges of the fruit roll sheet approximately 1.5 to 2 inches. Then rotate the tray slightly and flex again. Repeat until you have made 3 or 4 circles rotating the tray. As you do this, you’ll hear the dehydrated tomato pieces releasing from the fruit roll sheet.

Step 5. Equalizing and Conditioning of Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes

We always recommend letting food items cool completely after dehydrating and before packing them into an airtight storage container for equalizing and conditioning. Warm food may cause sweating, which could provide enough moisture for mold to grow.

It does not take long for dehydrated food items to start hydrating from ambient household humidity. Only leave dehydrated food items exposed to the elements as long as necessary because of the increased risk of mold growth.

After a short cooling period, pack the dehydrated RoTel tomatoes into a clean, dry, insect-proof, and air-tight storage container. We use pint or quart-size canning jars for conditioning. Since the canning jars are clear, it’s easy to see what’s inside.

equalizing and conditioning our dehydrated RoTel tomatoes and chili peppers| best foods to dehydrate for long term storage | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — This is six 10-ounce cans of dehydrated RoTel tomatoes and chili peppers in a 1-quart clear canning jar. Later, we’ll add a food-safe desiccant packet to help with moisture control as we live in a fairly humid area. Properly conditioned, these should last for at least 12 months, depending on the environment of your food storage area.

A wide-mouth canning jar funnel is handy for the task of getting dehydrated food from the trays into the canning jars with minimal spillage. It’s not a necessity, but having one does make the job easier and faster. If you need one, check them out on Amazon.

When the dehydrated tomatoes are removed from the dehydrator, the remaining moisture may not be distributed equally among the pieces because of their location and position in the dehydrator. Equalizing and conditioning is a process for freshly dehydrated foods that ensures any residual moisture remaining in any piece is spread or equalized among all the other pieces in the batch. Let the dehydrated tomatoes and chili peppers equalize and condition in the storage container for 7 to 10 days.

Every day, check the jar for moisture. Roll the jar contents around and note any clumping or sticking. If seen, put the contents back on the dehydrator for several more hours. Since canning jars are clear, it’s easy to see what’s inside.

If you notice any mold, even the slightest bit, throw it all out. What you see are the mold spores blooming enough to make them visible. But there are more, even tinier mold spores in the rest of your jar that make your dehydrated food inedible. Toss it out and start another batch.

Step 6. Storing the Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes

Use an appropriately sized canning jar for storage. The dehydrated tomatoes might keep up to 12 months, maybe more. Exactly how long depends upon your pantry storage conditions.

Six cans of dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes with green chili peppers in a 1-quart canning jar are ready for the camping food pantry. The common foods you eat every day are the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage and for your homemade dehydrated camping food recipes. — These dehydrated RoTel diced tomatoes are ready for the camping food pantry. Diced tomatoes are a common ingredient in many of our recipes, so we’ll dehydrate a lot of them. The label identifies the canning jar contents, and the date helps with the rotation schedule. The first in, first out rotation helps us to use items that have been on the shelf the longest so we’re using the oldest food first. This method helps us maintain the integrity of dehydrated products.

We’ll use a food-safe desiccant packet for moisture control because we live in a fairly humid area. For our pint-size or quart-size mason jars, we’ll use a single food-safe 5-gram desiccant packet.

Wise Dry desiccant packets | dehydrating food for long term storage | dehydrated food recipes for long term storage | dehydrating meals for long term storage | food dehydrator for long term storage — These food-safe 5-gram desiccant packets will absorb moisture from small enclosed spaces, such as our canning jars. Use one packet for a pint, quart, or half-gallon size canning jar with a tight-fitting lid. They come sealed in a heavy-duty reusable zip-top bag to protect the desiccant packs from moisture before use. The orange indicators will turn dark green when they need to be recharged or replaced. They can be easily recharged either in a microwave or oven.

We use these inexpensive food-safe desiccant packets, which are available from Amazon. These 5-gram packets have over 5000 of mostly 4- and 5-star customer reviews, with an average of 4.7 stars out of 5. Our bag of 60 desiccant packets will last quite a while because they can be recharged and reused multiple times. Other food-safe sizes are available.

Attach or include a short note describing the contents and the date the product was dehydrated. The note also informs us where to go in the dehydrator logbook to make an update.

Hydration

Hydrate the dried tomatoes using a 1-to-1 ratio of dehydrated tomatoes to boiled water. Plan on at least 15 to 20 minutes to fully hydrate.

Weights, Measures, and Serving Sizes

This information is from a recent entry from the notes we keep on most of our food dehydration efforts.

The RoTel nutrition label shows that each 10-ounce can is about 2.5 servings.

Before dehydrating, the entire contents of each can, including liquid, averaged 280 grams on our inexpensive digital kitchen scale.

After dehydration, each can average weight was 14 grams.

Doing the math, a single serving of dehydrated RoTel tomatoes would be 5.5 grams, but we’ll round it down to 5 grams.

Dehydrated RoTel Diced Tomatoes Nutrition

Nutrition information for the RoTel diced tomatoes & green chilies with no salt added.

Insider Tips

Besides the dehydrated meal recipes found here on this website, add dehydrated tomatoes with chilies to any of your favorite freeze-dried meals for more flavors. Just be sure to compensate by adding a bit of extra boiled water in a 1-to-1 ratio and allow enough time for adequate hydration.

Practice making dehydrated camping meals at home using the same gear used in the field. We practice reinforcing the skills we have learned. Practice makes perfect.

How to Dehydrate RoTel Diced Tomatoes

Dehydrator Chef

This is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies. Dehydrating these RoTel diced tomatoes is real easy to do. Just like in our everyday cooking, many of our dehydrated camping meal recipes use them. So it just makes good sense to dehydrate what you use day-to-day and have it on hand in your pantry for when it’s needed.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe

Prep Time 30

Dehydrating Time 10

Total Time 10 30

Course Dehydrated Food Ingredient

Cuisine Backpacking, Camping, Dehydrated Food, Hiking

Servings from one 10 ounce can

Calories 25 kcal

Equipment

Food dehydrator
Removable fruit roll sheet insert (one for each dehydrator tray)
Common kitchen tools (including cutting boards, chef's knife, strainer, etc.)
Canning jars with tight-fitting lids
Wide-mouth canning jar funnel
Desiccant packets for moisture control (optional)

Ingredients

several cans RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies

Instructions

Process the RoTel Diced Tomatoes

Open and drain excess liquid from the tomatoes using a strainer.
several cans RoTel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies

Prepare the Dehydrator

Spread and layer the drained RoTel diced tomatoes on the fruit roll sheets; two 10-ounce cans will fill one 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray. If it’s too crowded, prepare another tray.

Dehydrate the RoTel Diced Tomatoes

Set the dehydrator thermostat temperature to 160 °F (71 °C). Dry for 8 to 10 hours until done.

When is the Dehydrated RoTel Diced Tomatoes Done

When done, the dried RoTel diced tomato pieces should be crisp and brittle, with no wet or mushy pieces. When bent, they will snap into pieces like potato chips.

Equalizing and Conditioning the Dehydrated RoTel Tomatoes

After a short cooling period, loosely pack the dehydrated tomato pieces into a clean, dry canning jar with a tight-fitting lid, leaving some headspace.
Every day, for 7 to 10 days, check the jar for moisture. Roll the jar contents around and note any clumping or sticking. If seen, put it all back on the dehydrator for several more hours.
If you notice any mold at all, even the slightest bit, throw it all out.

Storing the Dehydrated RoTel Diced Tomatoes

Use appropriate-sized canning jars for storage. Depending on how well you dehydrate them and your pantry storage conditions, the dehydrated tomatoes should keep for at least 12 months.
An optional food-safe desiccant packet will aid with moisture control.
Attach or include a label describing the jar contents and the date the product was dehydrated. The label identifies the canning jar contents, and the date helps with the rotation schedule. A first-in, first-out rotation helps us to use items that have been on the shelf the longest, so we're using the oldest food first.

Notes

Drying times will vary depending on your dehydrator and environmental conditions. Refer to your dehydrator owner’s manual for recommended temperatures and times for dehydrating specific foods. Remember to use drying times as a guide.

Nutrition

Serving: 5gCalories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gSodium: 15mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2g

Nutrition information is only an estimate and may differ depending on the ingredients you use.

Keywords dehydrating food for long term storage, how to dehydrate RoTel diced tomatoes, how to dry RoTel diced tomatoes

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One reply on “How to Dehydrate RoTel Tomatoes – Dehydrating RoTel Tomatoes, A Step-by-Step Guide”

We live on this stuff. I put it in almost everything I cook. My husband would eat just pasta and Ro-Tel if I would let him. Now we can dehydrate Ro-Tel for our camping trips. Great ideal.