Where Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes in the Grocery Store?

Here’s where to find sun-dried tomatoes in most grocery stores:

• In the canned produce aisle (either near canned tomatoes or olives)
• In the Italian foods aisle
• In the fresh produce section

Still have questions now that you know where to find sun-dried tomatoes in the grocery store? We’ve got you covered with tips on how to use sun-dried tomatoes, how to store them, how long they last and more.

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What Are Sun-Dried Tomatoes?

You might think sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have been dried in the sun… and you’d be right. 

Before people knew how to freeze and can produce to preserve it, Italians found a way to enjoy tomatoes long after the harvest. Sun-dried tomatoes are sliced garden-fresh tomatoes that have been allowed to dehydrate in the sun. Classic sun-dried tomatoes are made from red-ripe plum tomatoes, but these days, you will find red, orange and yellow varieties. 

If you want to make sun-dried tomatoes at home, you don’t need to dry them in the sun: a food dehydrator works just fine, too.

What Do Sun-Dried Tomatoes Taste Like?

Sun drying proved to be more than just a preservation technique. Those culinary pioneers accidentally ended up with a more intense, flavorful tomato with enhanced sweetness. Many sun-dried tomatoes are spiced or flavored during the drying process as well. Here’s what you can expect sun-dried tomatoes to taste like:

• Chewy: They’ve been dried out and will be a bit harder to chew or cut than fresh tomatoes.
• Savory: Depending on the drying process, you might have a more pronounced tomato taste and flavor.
• Sweet: Dehydrating the tomato concentrates the sugar in it, enhancing the sweet taste profile of the tomato.
• Umami: Umami is rich and satisfying, and it means that with sun-dried tomatoes, a little will go a long way.

How to Use Sun-Dried Tomatoes

There’s no secret to how to use sun-dried tomatoes: if there’s a recipe that calls for cooked tomato, swapping in sun-dried will add a punch of flavor and elevate the dish. Here are some tips on how to use sun-dried tomatoes in your next dish:

• Simmer garlic and onions on the oil. The oil preserving your jar of sun-dried tomatoes will retain a lot of the flavor. Even if you’ve used all the tomatoes, the oil will still do the job.
• Spice up your one-pan dishes. The flavor profile of sun-dried tomatoes allows them to stand out in a crowd, making them a perfect complement to your one-pan pasta meals.
• Pesto. Find a recipe or get creative, but whatever you do, you have to try sun-dried tomato pesto. A perfect spread or sauce that combines the umami of the sun-dried tomato with the basil and pine nuts of classic pesto.
• Slow cooker meals. Sun-dried tomatoes are great in any meal that cooks for extended periods of time and pulls out the flavors. From beef stew to chili to tuscan chicken.
• Compound butter. Make a butter with sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, basil and garlic, then go to town. We recommend using it with a favorite fish like salmon.

Now that you have some tasty tips, we hope you’ve got a new answer to where are sun-dried tomatoes in the grocery store: your cart.

Do Sun-Dried Tomatoes Need to Be Refrigerated?

Yes. And no. Sun-dried tomatoes need to be refrigerated after they have been opened. If they haven’t been opened (or you have just canned your own sun-dried tomatoes), you can expect them to last at least a year if stored in a cool, dark pantry.

How Long Do Sun-Dried Tomatoes Last?

Sun-dried tomatoes can last for at least a year while preserved in oil. After opening, you should use your sun-dried tomatoes within a month. Your answer to “how long do sun-dried tomatoes last” could be much shorter if you aren’t careful: use a clean spoon or fork every time to avoid introducing bacteria into the jar, or else they could go bad.

You can also freeze sun-dried tomatoes (though we recommend doing it only with dry tomatoes, as freezing the oil means needing to thaw the oil). Frozen sun-dried tomatoes can be good for up to two years. Incorporating long lasting ingredients like these into your recipes is a great way to save money grocery shopping in the long-term.

Do Sun-Dried Tomatoes Go Bad?

Yes, sun-dried tomatoes can go bad. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Mold or slimy film on top of the oil
• Bubbling or fizzing in the jar (this could indicate yeast or bacteria)
• Unusual smell on opening the container

If you notice any of these things, you should take your newfound knowledge of where sun-dried tomatoes are in the grocery store and bring home a new jar.

What Can I Substitute for Sun-Dried Tomatoes?

Just because you know where to find sun-dried tomatoes in the grocery store doesn’t mean you know where they are in your pantry! It’s good to know what you can substitute for sun-dried tomatoes in a pinch. Here are a few suggestions: 

• Roasted red peppers: They won’t be quite the same, bringing a bit more of the roasted/charred flavor profile, but they satisfy the sweet and savory (and the color).
• Tomato paste or puree: If you’re making a sauce, a tomato paste or puree can deliver the concentrated tomato flavor you might want sun-dried tomatoes for.
• Tamarind paste: If you make Asian dishes regularly, you might have some tamarind paste around the house, and it will bring the umami flavor of sun-dried tomatoes.

There’s no rule on what you can substitute for sun-dried tomatoes, though: anything that hits those flavors we mentioned above should do the trick.

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