If you plan to fry okra later, after blanching, slice pods crosswise and dredge with cornmeal or flour. Freeze slices on a parchment-lined tray before placing into freezer bags. Frozen blanched okra works well in gumbo, boiled, stewed, smothered, or fried.

Can you freeze okra without cooking it?

While you can freeze okra, or any vegetable, without blanching, you should anticipate losing some of the okra’s taste, texture and color. To keep the best quality of okra possible while frozen, make sure you use a freezer container that is easy to seal and will keep moisture, especially vapor, …

How do you freeze okra without blanching?

Freeze Whole Okra Sans Blanching

Step 1: Wash okra under running water, and rub away the dirt. Step 2: Pat dry with paper towels. Step 3: Leave them out to dry for half an hour. Step 4: Place them in a reusable freezer bag and remove the excess air out of the bags before sealing it shut.

How do you preserve okra?

Wash and remove stems. Blanch small pods 3 minutes and large pods 4 minutes. Cool in ice water and drain.
Slice crosswise and dredge with meal or flour. Spread in a single layer on shallow trays.
Place in freezer just long enough to freeze firm. Package quickly, leaving ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

How do you thaw frozen okra?

How do you thaw frozen okra? To thaw the frozen okra , put it in a microwave and stir periodically. It can be also be thawed by placing them in a skillet over medium-low heat.

Does frozen okra get slimy?

Does frozen okra get slimy? If you freeze okra and cut it while it is still frozen, it will less slimy than when you cut it fresh. Finally, you can pre-cook okra at very high heat by sautéing, roasting, blanching or grilling. Then add cooked okra to your recipe and there will be hardly any slime at all.

Is it healthy to eat dried okra?

Potential Health Benefits of Okra Chips

While more research is needed, the vegetable’s seeds contain antioxidants that researchers believe may improve your endurance and energy levels. Studies show that dehydrating okra preserves most to all of its high antioxidant content and activity.

What happens if you freeze vegetables without blanching?

Blanching helps vegetables keep their vibrant colors and retain nutrients, and stops the enzymes that would otherwise lead to spoilage. Freezing vegetables without blanching them first results in faded or dulled coloring, as well as off flavors and textures.

Do you have to blanch fresh okra before freezing?

okra requires a brief heat treatment, called blanching, in boiling water or steam , to destroy the enzymes before freezing. Cook (blanch) small pods 3 minutes and large pods 4 minutes.

Can you freeze fried okra?

Can Fried Okra Be Frozen. If you want to make a large batch of fried okra or you want to make sure you always have some on hand, you can freeze some of the fried okra and have some for now and some for later. After the fried okra has cooled, you can put it into a freezer bag or an airtight container.

How do you store cut okra in the refrigerator?

Fresh okra is very perishable. Keep no more than two to three days in the refrigerator. Store in a paper bag or wrapped in a paper towel and placed inside a perforated plastic bag to keep pods very dry. Moisture causes pods to become slimy.

How do you freeze okra and tomatoes?

If you don’t plan to cook it all right away, it’s a good idea to freeze it for later use. You could chop it up, throw it into a freezer bag and pitch the bag into the freezer. That would work, but you wouldn’t like it much when it thaws.

How long can okra last in fridge?

Refrigerate unwashed, dry okra pods in the vegetable crisper, loosely wrapped in perforated plastic bags. Wet pods will quickly mold and become slimy. Okra will keep for only two or three days.