Is your okra plant bursting at the seams? Then, you must know how to freeze your okra harvest.
Luckily, you are in the right place!
Those delicate greens don’t last long in the fridge. After two short days, they’ll turn brown and slimy.
And no one wants slimy okra!
Fear not, okra fans- freezing okra is easy-peasy (only 6 steps). And while it is easy to freeze, it is even easier to prepare.
You can roast it, toss it in soup, or even deep-fried it- straight from frozen.
So, follow these easy steps to freeze okra and enjoy fresh year-round.
How to Freeze Okra
Once harvested, okra isn’t long for this world. Even in the fridge, it only lasts up to 3 days tops.
But, with this simple freezing method, you can have fresh okra 12 months out of the year.
Check out these simple steps to learn how to freeze your bountiful okra harvest.
1. Wash. Fill a bowl with one part water and vinegar each. Soak the pods for a few minutes to remove pesticides, fertilizers, and bugs.
Then, remove from the water and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
2. Trim. Once the okra is dry, cut off the tough stems.
3. Blanch okra. Think of blanching like the “Control+Save” button. It halts the enzymes that cause discoloration, so the okra stays crisp and green.
Place okra in a pot of boiling water for 1-4 minutes. Then, immediately drain and place the okra in an ice bath to cool.
4. Chop. Chopping okra is optional, but it makes cooking a little easier. Chop the okra into smaller pieces. If you prefer okra whole, skip this step.
5. Flash freeze. Place the okra in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flash freeze for at least four hours. This step prevents the okra from sticking together in the freezer.
6. Place in a freezer bag. After four hours, transfer the okra to a freezer bag, date, and pop it back in the freezer. Enjoy!
Can You Freeze Okra Without Blanching?
Absolutely! If you don’t have time, you can freeze okra without blanching. To freeze okra, follow the steps above.
When you get to the blanching step- skip it. Easy peasy.
However, unblanched okra won’t stay fresh as long in the freezer.
It stays fresh for up to 6 months. After that, your okra may turn brown.
Unblanched okra is a fantastic method if you know you’ll use it in six months.
It might not keep as fresh as blanched okra, but it saves a little time this summer.
How Long Can You Freeze Okra?
It all depends on the freezing method. Here’s a guide on how long okra lasts in the freezer.
- Blanched okra. Blanched okra stays fresh for up to 12 months in the freezer.
- Unblanched okra. If you skip blanching, okra will stay fresh for up to 6 months.
How can you tell that okra is past its prime? The color and texture say it all. Okra is always a vibrant green. If it’s brown, it’s turned.
Also, if the texture feels slimy or sticky, it is no good. Buy it a one-way ticket to the garbage can.
How to Thaw Frozen Okra
While thawing okra isn’t necessary for most recipes, you must if you want crispy, crunchy fried okra!
Thawing frozen okra is as easy as freezing. When you need thawed okra for a recipe, you have two options.
- Thaw in the refrigerator. Place your portion of okra in an airtight container. Let the okra thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Thaw in cool water. If you are short on time, thawing in cold water is quicker. Place the airtight bag of okra in a bowl of iced water. It takes around 1-2 hours.
How to Use Frozen Okra
Using frozen okra couldn’t be easier. Most times (except for frying), you can use unthawed okra.
You can transfer those frozen green nuggets of goodness directly into the oven or saute pan.
I suggest chopping your okra before popping it in the freezer. Pre-chopped okra is so much easier to work with in most recipes.
It doesn’t require any thawing or extra chopping. Remove from the freezer (this is why flash-freezing is so vital!), and use it in your favorite recipes.
Some fantastic okra recipes include this amazing Air Fryer Okra or this spot-on copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Okra.
How to Freeze Okra
Want to know how to freeze okra? Follow my easy methods (blanched and unblanched) to preserve your okra harvest. Now, you can enjoy delicious okra year round!
Ingredients
Fresh Okra
Equal parts vinegar and water
- Equipment
1 Large Bowl
1 Pot
Bowl of Ice Water
Baking Sheet(s)
Parchment Paper
Freezer Bags
Instructions
- Fill a bowl with one part water and vinegar each. Soak the pods for a few minutes to remove pesticides, fertilizers, and bugs. Then, remove from the water and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
- Once the okra is dry, cut off the tough stems.
- Place okra in a pot of boiling water for 1-4 minutes. Then, immediately drain and place the okra in an ice bath to cool.
- Chopping okra is optional, but it makes cooking a little easier. Chop the okra into smaller pieces. If you prefer okra whole, skip this step.
- Place the okra in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flash freeze for at least 4 hours. This step prevents the okra from sticking together in the freezer.
- After 4 hours, transfer the okra to a freezer bag, date, and pop it back in the freezer. Enjoy! It will last up to 12 months.
Notes
- You can skip the blanching step. Follow the directions as written without blanching (skip step 3). Unblanched okra will only last 6 months.
