Did you get a small overzealous at the Farmer market or have a rather abundant harvesting from the garden ? While harvest a great harvest time has its payoff , it also creates a storage problem . We ’ll show you how to put in okra using several different techniques and create tasty recipe for tenacious term storage .
This scrumptious vegetable is fresh class - round in the south , where it ’s a favorite in creole cuisine , but only useable from May through October in other region . Oddly , okra belongs in the same flora family line as hibiscus and cotton .
But , that does n’t stop us from savoring its unique texture and mild flavor . It takes about two months for these veggies to grow , and once harvested , fresh okra only hold out two to three days in the fridge .
Storing, Preserving, and Cooking Fresh Okra
The icebox does n’t give you much clip to cook the warm fuel pod in a favorite okra recipe . as luck would have it , there are other way to store okra pods that sustain their shelf life .
We enjoy this various veggie in many slipway , from deep-fried gumbo and lady’s-finger to charmer and pickles . Whether you aregrowing Hibiscus esculentus from seedsor you buy them from the farmer ’s market , it ’s crucial to know what to do with them afterward .
These vegetables only last so long whengrowing gumbo in container , a raised bed or in the garden , and not stash away it the correct way solvent in a slimy and undesirable veggie . It ’s easygoing to save okra in various way , include the electric refrigerator , freezer , and pantry .
Choosing the Best Okra for Storage
You have a large pile or bushel of impudent Hibiscus esculentus after a plentifulokra grow seasonand program on fit it for computer memory . Before you get too far , it ’s indispensable to make certain that those veggies are healthy and tasty to get the most out of their computer storage .
Whengrowing okraor purchasing it , there are unlike type of okra , including ridged varieties , and each has a trenchant penchant . Begin by separating the small seedcase from the big pods . Smaller okra pods are idealistic for pickling , while the larger size are great for fade into soup .
await for whole okra plant that is bright green and choose whole pods that are no long than four inches in length . Stay away from veggies that are disfigure , bruised , sonant , and softened in appearance , and avoid over - ripe okra that has a sticky grain .
Ways to Store Fresh Okra Short-Term
If you have a small amount of gumbo that you contrive on cooking soon , one of the elementary ways to store fresh okra is in the fridge . Like storing baby cultivated carrot and Cucumis sativus , bring through veggies in this manner stay fresh them novel for two to three days .
utilise a twain of scissors to cut okra straight above the detonating gadget . If it is unmanageable to edit , this means that it is too old for storage and needs tossing .
Do not wash the pods to prevent mould emergence and localise them directly into a theme traveling bag or a perforated charge card bag . Keep them in the vegetable crisper for up to three day .
How to Blanch Okra for Storage
If you plan on freeze your okra to lengthen its storage , it ’s crucial to pale them first .
These veggies hold back bacteria that change the taste and grain of okra while demolish nutrient during the freeze unconscious process . blench your vegetables destroys these enzyme and keeps them look and savor fresh .
cut down off the stem ends without turn out into the pods , rinse them to remove dirt , and set them aside . Bring a stockpot or large pot of H2O to seethe .
contribute the okra to the stewing water and boil for three to four minutes . Fill a shuffle roll or container with cold water and frosting , and engulf the okra into the ice water supply .
Storing Okra in the Freezer Long-Term
lay in okra plant in the freezer is quick and light to do . freeze is ideal for long term reposition , and these vegetable last up to 12 calendar month . However , it ’s important to blanch the vegetables beforehand to maintain their relish and texture . Freezing lady’s-finger without blanchingis possible but not recommend .
Determine how you design on using the okra before freeze them and cut the blanched pods into desirable piece . For stew and soups , slew them into chunks . If you plan to use them in a side saucer , slit them into strips .
put parchment report on a baking sheet and spread the slice out in a single layer . Set the sheet in the Deepfreeze to flash - immobilise them for about one minute to ensure that they are firm .
Fill freezer bag with the icy pieces , leave an inch near the top of the bag . Squeeze as much of strain out as potential and seal off them tightly to prevent deep freezer burn . judge the storage bags with the contents and date .
Storing Cooked Okra in the Fridge or Freezer
Perhaps you made just a little bit too much Hibiscus esculentus , cornmeal fry gumbo , or casserole and have enough left for another few meals . Not to worry , those leftover dishes are easy to save in the fridge or freezer for future dining .
It ’s life-sustaining to store cooked okra within two 60 minutes of cooking . To reheat your remnant within a day or two , rate the lady’s-finger in a sealable storage container or cover it with a sheet of plastic wrapper or Al foil and store it on the refrigerator ledge .
For long term storage of your leftovers , rank the cooked okra in freezer suitcase and press as of the much air out as possible before sealing . Label the top - side with contents and date and freeze for several month .
How to Store Okra by Pickling
pickle are not just reserve toconserve cucumbers . You easily learn aboutcanning okra for fryingbut trying pickled okra is a must .
Okra pickles are crunchy and yeasty and a majuscule agency to store your vegetables for the long shelf sprightliness . This formula uses a weewee bathtub canner rather than a insistence canner , is relatively easy to prepare , and hold out a year or more in the pantry .
Do n’t be afraid to spice up up this basicrecipe for pickled okraby lend some of your preferent spice and veggies .
Wash and lop the ends of the pods , leaving the lady’s-finger whole . ignite a large pot over medium heat , tote up all of the pickling spice and toast them for two to four minutes until they embrown .
append the vinegar , water , table salt , and sugar to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil before reducing the heating plant . Slice a half lemon yellow into four slices , put each slice into sterilized canning jars , and then add the seedcase to the jars , result a half - in headspace .
Fill each jar with the hot saltwater , making sure to keep the half - column inch of headspace . Tap the jarful or use a knife to remove all of the air bubbles and screw the lids in spot .
Process the canning jars in a H2O bath canner for ten minutes . dispatch the jars and permit them cool for up to 24 - hours before checking the seal and storing .
Making Refrigerator Pickles with Okra
If your time or patience is lacking , regard make a quick batch of icebox pickles to sustain their ledge - life . Unlike canned pickled okra , these refrigerator pickles last about two months in the fridge , unopened .
separate the Allium cepa , Allium sativum , and dill into the bottom of two jars . wash away and trim the stems off the pods and load down them in each jar , bequeath an inch of headspace .
place a saucepan over high-pitched estrus and add the water , acetum , salt , and saccharide , stirring until the mixture dissolve . Add the mustard , coriander , dill weed seeds , crushed red pepper , and peppercorns to the brine and simmer for a few minutes .
polish off the raging seawater from the stove and pour it over the top of the veggies to cover them . Screw the lid in position and allow them to chill entirely before refrigerating . Store in the fridge for one calendar week .
Drying Okra for a Tasty Snack
dry okra ? Yes , dry out okra really is a thing . While dried Hibiscus esculentus is not very pretty to look at , they are a tasty , crunchy collation that is difficult to resist .
dehydrate your veggies is a corking way to bear on an abundant harvest home , and they last a class or more with proper store .
wash the okra and trim the stems before slicing them to the desired slight shape . The fuel pod are also tasty left whole , but the drying clip is significantly longer .
Set them into a bowl and drizzle them with olive oil . bring the cayenne pepper pepper and table salt and toss the veggies to coat them exhaustively .
Spread the Abelmoschus esculentus pieces on food dehydrator tray in a single level and dry them for about 12 to 18 hours , calculate on the veg ’s size of it . The Abelmoschus esculentus is breakable and crispy once it is dry . Store the dried gumbo in a repositing container .
depot is often a dilemma after you harvest okra and other vegetables . Do you designate to eat them flop away , or do they require long term storage ?
The skillful newsworthiness is that stack away okra is easy than you think , whether you decide to refrigerate , freeze , pickle , or dry out this vegetable .
memorise how to store Abelmoschus esculentus to enjoy in soup or as a tasty pickled collation is easy , so why not portion out our okra plant storage pourboire and recipes with your family and friends on Facebook and Pinterest ?
