One of the reasons why sun dried tomatoes are amazing is that you can do a great number of things with them. You don't have to be a culinary genius to do this as they are a very simple ingredient to work with. However, remember that their taste is quite intense, so you'll need to temper your use of spices based on this.
You should definitely try making some sun dried tomato pesto as it's a healthy, delicious, and low-calorie kind of sauce. You can mix any ingredients you like, although this particular variety usually goes best with fresh basil, garlic, parsley, and pine nuts. Add a mix of balsamic vinegar and olive oil to thin out the sauce.
You can even add some red wine and fresh tomatoes to make it more juicy and flavorful.
How to Soften Sun Dried Tomatoes
However, if you want to use them in cooking, you'll need to soften them out first. The easiest way to do this is to soak dried fruits in warm water for about 20 minutes. Keep them in a covered pan during this time.
If you are looking to enhance their flavor, soak them in wine, preferably red. This would make your sun dried tomatoes taste quite exotic and can make a huge difference for any recipe including them.
Do Sun Dried Tomatoes Expire
Sun dried tomatoes are one of the products that has the 'best by' instead of 'expiration' date. This means that they don't expire in the regular sense. If they are packed in oil, they might go rancid, like any oily product. However, plain dried pieces won't spoil if you keep them in an airtight container.
It's best to store them in a cool place, such as a fridge, but even a pantry would do. You can also freeze them. In this case, you'll have to let them thaw before using.
Despite the fact that sun dried tomatoes don't really expire, they lose their nutritional value over time as the vitamins and minerals begin to disintegrate. They should last for about 2 years.