How To Freeze Okra – Give Recipe

Getting ready Okra For Freezing

Deciding on okra

Select high-quality okra. We wish pods which are vivid inexperienced, agency to the contact, and free from blemishes or discolorations. Keep in mind, freezing will not enhance the standard of okra, it solely preserves it. So attempt to discover the very best recent okra you should buy or choose the very best ones out of your backyard.

Washing okra in vinegar and water

Now, let’s give our okra an excellent clear. Washing okra in a vinegar (white vinegar or apple cider vinegar) and water answer is an important step as a result of it helps to take away any grime, germs, and even pesticide residues. We recommend a ratio of 1 half vinegar to 3 components water. 

Put the okra on this answer and let it soak for about 5 minutes. After soaking, give the okra an excellent rinse with cool water to take away any lingering vinegar.

Patting okra dry

After washing, it is important to pat the okra dry. So, take a clear towel or paper towel and gently pat the okra till it is dry.

Chop Okra

If you do not know how one can minimize okra, observe these steps:

First, minimize off the stems and suggestions (in order for you) of every pod, then slice the okra into rounds which are about half an inch thick. The scale does not must be precise, however retaining the items roughly equal ensures that they will freeze and thaw on the similar fee.

Keep in mind to deal with the okra gently to reduce the discharge of the mucilage – that is the slimy substance contained in the pod.

Alright, our okra is now ready and prepared for freezing!

Methodology 1: Blanching Okra

Blanching okra earlier than freezing is useful. This technique helps to protect its vibrant coloration, retain vitamins, and keep texture throughout freezing. 

It additionally eliminates any micro organism or enzymes current, extending the okra’s freezer life. Basically, blanching gives a technique to freeze okra whereas sustaining the very best potential high quality.

This is how we do it:

1. Boil the Okra: First, we’ll have to get a big pot of water boiling. Rigorously add the minimize okra into the boiling water. Boil them for two minutes. Keep in mind, we’re not attempting to totally prepare dinner the okra, simply give it a fast warmth shock.
2. Ice Bathtub: As quickly as our okra has completed boiling, we will switch it into a big bowl full of ice water. That is referred to as an ice tub, and it should cease the okra from cooking any additional, preserving its texture and coloration. We’ll depart the okra within the ice tub for five minutes after which drain.
3. Dry the Okra: Unfold the blanched okra out on a clear kitchen towel or paper towels and gently pat it dry.

4. Freeze the Okra: Now unfold them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Attempt to verify the okra items aren’t touching one another, which helps to forestall them from sticking collectively. Then, flash freeze it by placing the baking sheet within the freezer and letting it sit there for about 2 hours. This ensures that our okra freezes individually and never in an enormous clump.
5. Retailer the Okra: As soon as our okra is individually frozen, it is time to pack them up for long-term storage. Switch the okra into reusable freezer baggage. Keep in mind to press out as a lot air as potential earlier than sealing the baggage. Then, Place the baggage again within the freezer. Use a vacuum sealer if in case you have one.

Tip: For an alternative choice to blanching, you’ll be able to strive a fast oven prepare dinner. Preheat your oven to 300 F / 150 C. Organize ready okra on a baking sheet. Cook dinner for simply 3-4 minutes — we’re not absolutely cooking it, simply giving it a fast warmth therapy. Let the okra cool fully, then switch straight into freezer baggage. 

Methodology 2: Freezing with out Blanching

Alright, now let’s speak about freezing okra with out blanching. This technique is ideal if we’re in a little bit of a rush or just desire a faster course of. 

Have in mind, skipping the blanching step would possibly result in a barely completely different texture as soon as thawed, however it’s nonetheless a wonderfully good technique to freeze okra. This is how we do it:

1. Put together the Okra: Identical to within the blanching technique, begin by washing our okra in a vinegar and water answer, patting it dry, and reducing it into rounds (until we have chosen to freeze our okra entire).
2. Freeze the Okra: Now, as a substitute of blanching, we will transfer straight to the freezing step. Unfold out the okra rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making certain they are not touching one another, and put the sheet into the freezer. Let it sit there for 2-3 hours.
3. Retailer the Okra: As soon as the okra is individually frozen, switch it into freezer baggage. Identical to earlier than, attempt to take away as a lot air as potential from the baggage earlier than sealing.

Methodology 3: Freezing Entire Okra

Freezing entire okra is a unbelievable possibility if we plan on utilizing it in dishes that require entire pods. Nevertheless, in terms of freezing entire okra, blanching is an important step that we will not skip.

Why? With out blanching, entire okra pods can grow to be mushy as soon as thawed. Blanching, with its fast warmth and funky down course of, helps to maintain the pods agency and recent, stopping that mushiness.

This is how we do it:

1. Put together the Okra: Wash the okra in a vinegar and water answer, then pat it dry. Now, simply minimize the stem off hold the okra entire this time!
2. Blanch the Okra: Add the entire okra pods into boiling water. Let small pods boil uncovered for 3 minutes and bigger pods for 4 minutes. Instantly switch the okra with a slotted spoon right into a bowl of ice water to cease the cooking course of. Allow them to sit there 5-10 minutes.
3. Dry and Freeze the Okra: After the okra is totally cooled, dry it to keep away from any freezer burn. Then lay out the entire okra pods on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and ship it off to the freezer for 2-3 hours.
4. Retailer the Okra: Lastly, switch the individually frozen pods into freezer baggage, squeezing out as a lot air as potential earlier than sealing them up.
5. Use the Frozen Entire Okra: You should utilize them to make air fried frozen okra.

Professional Tip: Earlier than blanching, separate your okra into small and huge pods. Completely different sizes require completely different blanching instances. By separating them, you may keep away from overcooking smaller pods or undercooking bigger ones. Blanch in separate batches for finest outcomes. It is a fast trick to make sure completely blanched okra, irrespective of the scale. 

Methodology 4: Freezing Okra For Frying

If you’re planning to make fried okra, freezing prepped okra forward of time could make the cooking course of even simpler.

This is how one can put up okra particularly for frying:

1. Put together the Okra: After washing the okra in a vinegar and water answer, pat it dry and minimize it into rounds.
2. Blanch the Okra: Comply with the standard blanching course of, boiling the okra rounds for two minutes after which rapidly cooling them in an ice tub for five minutes. Switch them right into a colander to empty.
3. Dredge the Okra: Now dredge them in a mix of equal components of flour and cornmeal (or cornmeal solely), and your favourite seasonings. We use salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. This pre-coating will make the frying course of even simpler afterward.
4. Freeze the Okra: Subsequent, unfold the coated okra rounds in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making certain they are not touching one another. Then, into the freezer they go for about 2 hours till frozen.
5. Retailer the Okra: As soon as they’re frozen, switch the breaded okra into freezer baggage, seal the baggage and and retailer within the freezer.

Blanching vs. No Blanching

The tactic we select for freezing okra — blanching or not blanching — largely depends upon our private preferences and the way we plan to make use of the okra later.

Blanching: 

Blanching okra earlier than freezing entails somewhat extra prep work, however it additionally gives some important advantages. It helps to protect the colour, texture, recent style and dietary worth of the okra.

If we plan on utilizing the okra in dishes the place its texture is necessary, or if we’re freezing entire pods, blanching is our most popular technique. 

No Blanching: 

The no-blanching technique is the best technique to freeze okra. It skips the step of boiling and cooling the okra. If we’re in a rush, this technique will get our okra into the freezer sooner.

Nevertheless, the okra could endure adjustments in texture, and taste throughout freezing and thawing. If we’re utilizing the okra in stews, soups, or different dishes the place these adjustments are much less noticeable, or if we’re freezing okra rounds, the no-blanching technique can work simply fantastic. We do not desire freezing entire okra with out blanching.

Utilizing Frozen Okra

One beauty of frozen okra is that you simply normally needn’t thaw it earlier than utilizing. It could possibly go straight from the freezer into your cooking pot. This is how we are able to simply use every kind of frozen okra:

1. Frozen Sliced Okra: Frozen sliced okra is ideal for dishes that require much less cooking time. It is ultimate for soups, stews or casseroles. Because the items are small, they thaw and prepare dinner rapidly. They’re additionally nice to make roasted okra.
2. Frozen Entire Okra: Entire frozen okra is nice for dishes the place we would like the okra to stay intact, akin to stuffed okra recipes. It can be used for making entire fried okra or okra stew. It’d take a bit longer to prepare dinner than sliced okra, so we normally add it to dishes which have an extended cooking time.
3. Frozen Breaded Okra: In case you freeze okra to fry, it is so simple as heating up some oil and frying the okra till it is golden and crispy. No have to thaw first! You possibly can even make your breaded fried okra in air fryer!

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