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You can eat it raw or cooked, stewed, grilled, pickled, or fried. Put it in soups and stews, or season it and make a snack of it. It’s all good, and good for you, too.
What do you do if okra is too big?
When you find pods that are just too old or too big to really be edible, leave them alone and let them dry out. The pods should be brown and starting to open; at that point, remove them from the plant, slice them open and remove the seeds.
What do you do with an abundance of okra?
11 Ways to Use Okra Gumbo. This Louisiana dish is probably what’s given okra its slimy reputation—the vegetable is sliced and simmered so all of its goo leaches out. Quick vegetable stew. Stuffed peppers. Pickled. Dipped. Sautéed. Grilled. Double fried.
Can you cook overgrown okra?
Cooking Giant Okra Slowly cook your overlarge okra into a gumbo or stew to soften their pod structure. The key here is to cut the okra into bite-size pieces, so the fruit (yes, okra technically is a fruit) is tender. Continue cooking uncovered until your stuffed okra and add-ons are nicely brown.
Is okra bad if the seeds are brown?
Always select fresh and green young okra pods, because they tend to be the most tender and easiest to cook. Larger okra pods may be overmature and tough with brown seeds inside. Avoid buying okra that looks brown, shriveled, dry or decayed.
Can you freeze okra?
To keep your okra from freezing in one giant clump, you’ll need to first give them a “flash freeze.” To do this, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the okra on top in a single layer. Make sure none are overlapping. Place in the freezer until okra is completely solid, about four hours to overnight.
How can you tell when okra is ripe?
How to Harvest Okra The first harvest will be ready about 2 months after planting. Harvest the okra when it’s about 2 to 3 inches long. Cut the stem just above the cap with a knife; if the stem is too hard to cut, the pod is probably too old and should be tossed.
What can you do with leftover fried okra?
How to Reheat Fried Okra: The leftover okra holds up surprisingly well in the refrigerator! To reheat the okra, place it on a baking sheet and place it in a 350-degree F oven for about 8-10 minutes (or until crispy and warm again).
Is okra useful or harmful in humans?
Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Okra is also a good source of: Magnesium. Folate.
Can you eat okra right off the plant?
Harvest regularly once the plant starts flowering. After planting, you can start picking most varieties of okra in about 60 to 70 days. Okra is best when it is eaten right after it is harvested. It is commonly used in soups and gumbo, or you can boil or fry it.
How do you make okra not stringy?
A second trick for reducing sliminess is to soak the okra in vinegar for half an hour before cooking it. Rinse it and pat dry before cooking. Finally, you can pre-cook okra at very high heat by sautéing, roasting, blanching or grilling. Then add cooked okra to your recipe and there will be hardly any slime at all.
Can you freeze sliced okra?
Once they’re frozen, place them into freezer bags. If you plan to fry okra later, after blanching, slice pods crosswise and dredge with cornmeal or flour. Freeze slices on a parchment-lined tray before placing into freezer bags. To slice frozen whole okra, allow pods to thaw slightly before cutting crosswise.
Can chickens eat okra?
Okra is deemed to be one of the safe organic foods to feed your chickens. So yes, definitely your chickens can eat Okra. Despite the fact it is rich in nutrients, Okra still contains a low solanine level. However, Solanine is a toxin compound that prompts health issues to your poultry.
What is black on okra?
↑ What causes black spots on okra? Temperature, moisture and improper handling can cause previously bright green okra pods to develop discolored dark or black spots. Serve okra in stews, battered and fried, or as whole roasted pods.
Are black spots on okra OK?
Black discoloration: Okra is very susceptible to bruising and will turn black – keep handling to a minimum; do not drop shipping containers on the floor. Pitting; discoloration; water-soaked spots; decay: Indication of chill injury – do not store okra below 45 degrees F/7 degrees C.
What does it mean when okra seeds are black?
Some okra seeds turn brown or black when it is getting more mature (like watermelon), where other varieties stay lighter colored. The color has nothing to do with the edibility of the okra, although more mature okra pods tend to get tougher with age.
Why is my okra slimy?
Why is Okra Slimy? Okra pods are known as “mucilaginous,” which results in a slimy or gooey mouthfeel when cooked. This “mucilage” or slime contains soluble fiber that we can digest. In the traditional gumbo recipes, the pods are cooked for long amounts of time that will eventually breakdown the mucilaginous materials.
How do you store okra after cutting?
Place fresh okra in a paper bag, or wrap it in a paper towel and place the paper towel in a perforated plastic bag. Store okra in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Can you freeze whole okra without blanching?
While you can freeze okra, or any vegetable, without blanching, you should anticipate losing some of the okra’s taste, texture and color. To keep the best quality of okra possible while frozen, make sure you use a freezer container that is easy to seal and will keep moisture, especially vapor,.
How long will fresh okra last in the refrigerator?
Okra will keep for only two or three days. When ridges and tips of pods turn dark, it needs to be used immediately. Once it starts to darken, it will quickly deteriorate. To prevent cross contamination, keep okra away from raw meat and meat juices.
