How to Freeze Okra
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Freezing vegetables doesn’t get any easier than this. Just a few minutes of effort will mean a freezer full of healthy okra ready to use at your convenience. Come learn how to freeze okra the easy way!
Okay fellow gardeners – your okra plants are bursting at the seams, struggling to keep up with the mass production of okra pods and you’re struggling to keep up with eating all of them. So what do you DO with all of that excess abundance? Okra doesn’t keep long in the fridge, your friends and neighbors are holding up their palms (“no more okra, please!”), and your kids are protesting your attempts at creative ways of sneaking it into every meal in an effort to use it up before it goes bad.
The solution? FREEZE ‘EM! Okra freezes extremely well but to add to that good news is even better news: It requires no special prep to freeze – no blanching required!
Ready to grab your garden fresh okra and starting freezing?
How to Freeze Okra
Let’s get started!
Wash the okra, thoroughly drain it, and cut off the stems. Slice the okra in to 1/2 inch rounds or your desired thickness.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the okra whole.
Lay the okra out single file on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Single layer will prevent the okra from sticking together in a big frozen mass.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours.
Transfer the okra to a ziplock freezer bag or freezer container. Having been frozen in a single layer they will come off the sheet easily as individual pieces of frozen okra.
Label your freezer bag/container with the date and keep frozen until ready to use. It will keep for 10-12 months.
To use the okra, simply remove what you need from the bag. If you’re adding it to a soup or stew there is no need to thaw it. If you’re planning on frying it, let it thaw and drain completely.
Be sure to also check out tutorials on freezing other vegetables:
- How to Freeze Kale (and other leafy greens)
- How to Freeze Zucchini
- How to Freeze Green Beans
- How to Freeze Leeks
How to Freeze Okra
Ingredients
- fresh okra
Instructions
- Wash the okra, thoroughly drain, and cut off the stems. Slice the okra in to 1/2 inch rounds or your desired thickness. If you prefer, you can also freeze the okra whole.Lay the okra out single file on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Single layer will prevent the okra from sticking together in a big frozen mass. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours.Transfer the okra to a ziplock freezer bag or freezer container. (Having been frozen in a single layer they will come off the sheet easily as individual pieces of frozen okra.)Label your freezer bag/container with the date and keep frozen until ready to use. It will keep for 10-12 months. To use the okra, simply remove what you need from the bag. If you're adding it to a soup or stew there is no need to thaw it. If you're planning on frying it, let it thaw and drain completely.
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet June 29, 2021
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
