Lycopene, polyphenols and antioxidant activities of three characteristic tomato cultivars subjected to two drying methods

•Vc, lycopene, polyphenols and antioxidant activities of tomatoes were analyzed;•Freeze-dried tomatoes showed preferable appearance and higher polyphenol contents;•Oven drying is superior considering both costing and contents of lycopene;•There was significant difference of bioactive compounds among different cultivars.