Sun-dried tomatoes are made by drying ripe tomatoes in the sun, intensifying their flavor and extending their shelf life. Ripe tomatoes are washed, cut, and sometimes salted to draw out moisture. They are then spread on trays in sunny areas. After several days to a week, when the tomatoes are leathery and concentrated in flavor, they’re stored airtight. They are commonly found jarred in olive oil or as an ingredient in various packaged foods.