Freeze okra at home the right way
Okra is a summer vegetable that has many fans because of its special taste and many properties. By freezing okra the right way, you can enjoy the exceptional properties and taste of okra in other seasons of the year.
Okra is a delicious summer vegetable that's especially popular with Southerners. In Turkey, to store and use okra in the colder seasons of the year, they dry it. In Iran, in addition to drying okra, freezing okra is also one way to preserve this nutrient in the long term. In this article we present you the right way to freeze okra, so that you can use this plant whenever you want.
1- Prepare the okra
At the beginning it is necessary to choose fresh okra for freezing; Green okra without spots. Then, for a minute or two, wash the okra thoroughly in a solution of water and white vinegar. The citric acid in vinegar kills bacteria and removes pesticide residue or chemical toxins. Then cut off the stems so as not to damage the okra seeds. If the seeds inside the okra are visible, you have shortened the stem too much!
2- Boil the okra before freezing
Now it's time to boil the okra. In this way, pour some water into a suitable container and when the water boils, pour the okra into it and wait about 3-4 minutes depending on its size; Then take them out of the pot. In fact, this action stops the activity of the enzymes and makes the okra retain its colour, taste and aroma for a longer period of time. It is interesting to know that if the enzyme activity is not stopped, even if the okra is frozen, the degradation process will continue!
At this point, we pour the okra into cold water and after a few minutes we put it in a colander to get rid of the excess water. Doing so will make the okra look nice and fresh in terms of color and glaze. Now take the okra out of the cold water and spread it out on a piece of cloth. Wait until the okra is completely dry.
3- Freezing okra
To freeze okra, spread the okra pieces on a metal tray and place them in the freezer, this will prevent the okra from freezing into lumps, so you will have better control over the amount of okra when using.
Take out the frozen okra, place it in a freezer bag, and put it back in the freezer. This way you can store okra in the freezer for up to a year, after which time its quality will decline.
Some suggestions on freezing okra
By following these tips for freezing okra, you can take better care of this special plant:
If you want to use the okra as a stir-fry later, you can break it into smaller pieces and roll them in cornmeal or whatever mixture is more in tune with your mood, then freeze, or don't touch the look of the okra. . In any case, the choice is yours! Make sure the okra is completely dry before doing this. After you freeze the okra pieces, transfer them to a bowl or plastic wrap and put them in the freezer.
As a practical suggestion, you can keep in mind when to freeze okra by sticking labels on freezer bags so that you can eat it at the best possible time.
Be careful not to bring frozen okra to room temperature. Vegetables are brittle when they come out of the freezer, and if thawed, they will lose their shape and may fade. Even if you plan to fry the okra, put it straight from the freezer into the hot oil.
The conclusion
After you freeze okra in many foods such as okra stew and all kinds of salads, you can use it cooked or raw and take advantage of the properties of okra, this valuable food ingredient. Okra has a positive effect on human health by containing valuable nutrients such as vitamins A, C, B2, B6 and elements of manganese, cobalt, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, as well as protein, fiber and viscous substances.
