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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…Or skip the trip to the store and earn rewards grocery shopping online with Fetch Shop 

You can save yourself the hassle of aimlessly walking up and down the aisles trying to find what you’re looking for and earn rewards at the same time when you grocery shop online using Fetch Shop. With Fetch Shop, you’ll earn points per dollar on the purchases you make at select stores when placing your online order through the app. So whether you schedule a grocery pickup at Target using their Drive Up service or stock up for a big get-together shopping online at Sam’s Club, you can turn your grocery purchases into Fetch points that can be redeemed for free gift cards, all while simultaneously avoiding the frustration of trying to find where everything is located in the store.

Here’s how to earn rewards on groceries with Fetch Shop (from the comfort of your couch):

1. Download Fetch.
2. Open the app, and navigate to Fetch Shop; on your “Discover” (home) tab, you’ll find the Fetch Shop icon directly to the left of the camera icon at the bottom of your screen.
3. Once in Fetch Shop, scroll to the “Food & Drink” category, click where it says, “See all,” then find the grocery retailer of your choice, and select that store.
4. Tap “Go shopping!” and then simply do your normal grocery shopping online.

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.

Fetch makes grocery shopping more rewarding

Open the Fetch app and check the special offers as you make your shopping list. Be sure to favorite the special offers you like so you remember to find them when you’re walking down the aisles hunting for sun-dried tomatoes at the grocery store. Snap your grocery store receipt after checking out, and you’ll be on your way to earning rewards with Fetch!