Learn how to freeze okra with or without blanching. This is a true, tried and tested technique that will save you some few coins. This is the best way to preserve okra for later use. Okra is a popular vegetable present in most Nigerian kitchen and it is added to various types of dishes.
What do you do when you have a box of okra gifted to you or when it is in season and you have it in abundance? You freeze it!!! Don’t be a victim of store-bought frozen okra, as much as how convenient it might seem to be, it is expensive. You only get a little for the price you pay for it. Here in the UK, you pay almost £3 ($4.50) for 300g frozen okra from your local Asian store.
Here is why you need to freeze okra from fresh at home.
- You are guaranteed fresh okra at all times, you can label it correctly to be sure of how long it has been in your freezer.
- No preservatives
- You can decide if you want to blanch it or not as most frozen okra are blanched before preserving.
- It is convenient and no cooking is involved until needed
- You can cut the okra to the desired sizes you want.
- Portion into desired sizes for convenience
- There are other ways to preserve this vegetable like canning but freezing is sure, the best way for optimum freshness.
What is okra
Okra also known as lady’s finger is a type of vegetable green seed pod, it belongs to the Abelmoschus esculentus plant family. It is long and slender in shape and contains little round white seed when sliced into.
Okra originated from Ethiopia, and popularly grown in hot and humid region like Nigeria, Ghana and most parts of west Africa. It is also popular in India, Pakistan and the Caribbean. It is also called okro or ochro
What does it taste like
It is mild in flavour and often times need a bit of seasoning to boost its flavour. It is crunchy to bite especially when cooked well too.
How to cook it
Okra is cooked differently depending on the country or region of the world you are in. In Nigeria, okra is a popular soup but it is also cooked differently from region to region. While some like it chunky in their soups, I prefer it chopped into smaller bits before using in my dishes.
Okra can also be roasted, baked, pan-fried, fried, sauteed or breaded but the best way I enjoy it is cooking it the Nigerian way. I love my okra with all the sliminess I could get from it, that is what makes a good okra soup in west Africa. Plain okra soup is one of the most popular okra recipes on the blog
Regardless on how you decide to cook this vegetable it is simple and quick. I love it as it doesn't take long to cook.
How to freeze okra step by step
Before you start, it is important to ask yourself if you would be blanching the okra or not. Personally, I don’t do this but I am going to show you how to do this extra step. Just in case you want it. The pros of blanching the okra are that it halts the enzymes process. It brings the green colour alive, it is vibrant as it looks fresher. You will also cook it for a lesser time when using in recipes.
The best way to cook okra from frozen when not blanched is to cook it directly from frozen, literally from the freezer to the pan. If you leave it out for a long time on the countertop before use, it can change colour to brown due to oxidization. While this would not alter the taste, you may not find it aesthetically pleasing.
Right, let’s get into it! Make sure you use fresh okra for optimum result.
Wash and stem the okra! You can wash the okra with half part of water and vinegar, I just rinsed under warm water. Transfer into a colander to drain off excess water. Alternatively, pat dry with a kitchen towel. You are best working with dry okra, cut off the stem of the okra and set aside
Blanch the okra or not! As mentioned earlier, this is a personal preference. If you want to blanch this vegetable, all you have to do is submerge the okra with boiling water and soak between 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer the blanched okra to cold water to stop it from cooking further. Strain and set aside to air dry or pat dry with a kitchen towel.
Cut to desired sizes! Depending on the dishes the okra is being used for, you can slice it into any size you desire. You can leave whole or chopped into smaller pods.
Transfer to a freezer bag! if you have enough freezer space, you can place the chopped okra on a lined baking tray and flash freeze before storing. All I do is transfer into a freezer bag and lay it flat when placing in the freezer so it doesn’t clump up during the freezing process.
Freeze the okra for up to one year for best results. Make sure it is stored under the right temperature. The okra can loose taste or texture or colour if it gets freezer burnt
Nigerian Okra recipes to try
More cooking basics you should know
Learn how to cook basmati rice perfectly at all times.
If you do try this basic cooking technique, don’t forget to tag @myactivekitchen on Instagram, Facebook or simply send me an email. See you in my next post. Ajoke x
How To Freeze Okra
Equipment
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- Okra
Instructions
- Wash and stem the okra: you can wash the okra with half part of water and vinegar, I just rinsed under warm water. Transfer into a colander to drain off excess water. Alternatively, pat dry with a kitchen towel. You are best working with dry okra, cut off the stem of the okra and set aside
- Blanch the okra or not: As mentioned earlier, this is a personal preference. If you want to blanch this vegetable, all you have to do is submerge the okra with boiling water and soak between 2 to 4 minutes. transfer the blanched okra to cold water to stop it from cooking further. Strain and set aside to air dry or pat dry with a kitchen towel.
- Cut to desired sizes: depending on the dishes the okra is being used for, you can slice it into any size you desire. You can leave whole or chopped into smaller pods. You will need a sharp knife for this process.
- Transfer to a freezer bag: if you have enough freezer space, you can place the chopped okra on a lined baking tray and flash freeze before storing. All I do is transfer into a freezer bag and lay it flat when placing in the freezer so it doesn’t clump up during the freezing process.
- Freeze the okra for up to one year for best results. Make sure it is stored under the right temperature. The okra can loose taste or texture or colour if it gets freezer burnt
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE RATE IT AND LEAVE ME A COMMENT. USE #MYACTIVEKITCHEN OR TAG @MYACTIVEKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM SO I CAN SEE YOUR PHOTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. THANK YOU!
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