How is okra used

Okra pods can bruise somewhat easily, so you have to store them with care. Fresh okra is best stored in the vegetable drawer of the fridge, either wrapped in a paper towel or in a loose paper bag.

Wait to wash it until you're ready to cook it. Okra will last up to four days in the fridge. To preserve okra longterm you can either can it or freeze it.

To freeze okra start by blanching the pods in boiling water and then shocking them in an ice bath. You then may either cut the pods prior to freezing or freeze the whole pods by placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer.

Once the okra is frozen, transfer it to a freezer bag and save for up to a year. You can easily grow okra in your own home. However, you'll need to have plenty of garden space. Okra plants can grow up to six feet tall. Here are some tips to help your okra plants flourish in your garden. By Melanie Fincher.

Soaking the whole pods in acidulated water for an hour can also help eliminate some of their liquid. If you do want to release the liquid, so that it can thicken a stew or soup, chop or slice thickly or thinly, according to your recipe. Stir-fry, chopped or whole mins ; steam whole 5 mins ; grill whole mins each side ; chop and add to soups, stews and casseroles.

Follow our guide on how to cook okra for lots more tips and easy recipes. Subscriber club Reader offers More Good Food. Sign in.

Store them in the fridge for up to four days before cooking. Usually, okra is used in soups and stews like gumbo. It contains mucilage, a thick substance that becomes gummy when heated. To avoid slimy okra, follow these simple cooking techniques:. Okra may benefit pregnant women, heart health , and blood sugar control.

It may even have anticancer properties. Cooking okra can be simple. Add it to your grocery list to try a new ingredient with powerful health effects. Find out what research says about…. You may think you have to get your protein from meat, nuts, or eggs.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Biologically classified as a fruit, okra is generally utilized like a vegetable in cooking. The best varieties are a rich green color. Avoid pods that are dull and dry looking, blemished or limp.

Store in a paper bag in the warmest part of refrigerator, as temperatures below 45 degrees can damage okra. It does not store well, so use within 2 or 3 days at most. Do not wash until ready to use, or it will become slimy. When preparing, remember that the more it is cut, the slimier it will become. Aluminum pots will discolor it. Mature okra is used to make rope and paper! Avoid those old woody pods!

Very young, tender pods can be sliced, dipped in egg, breaded with corn meal and fried a favorite here in the Southern U. Okra can also be steamed, baked, pickled, boiled or stewed. Because of its similar flavor, it can be used in place of eggplant in many recipes. Use it raw in salads.