How to Freeze Fresh Okra Without Blanching

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Freezing fresh okra is a great way to save extra produce to have all year round. Learn how to freeze okra without blanching with this easy tutorial.

Our family loves to grow our own produce, and living in the south one of our favorites is okra. Okra pods are a staple in so many southern dishes and is a soul food staple. Sliced okra is something I love to have on hand for a variety of dishes throughout the year.

Frozen vegetables make it easy for me to whip up a wide variety of dishes. From gumbo and stews to serving it as a side dish, okra is a must have in our home for many of our favorite recipes. We even love pickled okra, and sometimes add it to orza salad too.

Sometimes your harvest can result in too much okra to use before it spoils. The good news is okra freezes really well, making it a great vegetable to keep in your freezer for later use. Who doesn’t love okra year-round?

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Can you freeze fresh okra without blanching?

Yes, and it’s actually a lot easier to freeze fresh cut okra without blanching. If you are freezing it for 6 months or less, this technique works great.

When it comes to okra, I prefer to freeze it without blanching and without cornmeal. I’ve found this is the best way to allow me to use it for nearly anything I need down the road.

How to Freeze Okra Without Blanching

Whether your okra comes from the farmers market, grocery store or your own garden, this simple technique to flash freeze okra without blanching is the easiest way.

You’ll need fresh okra, a cutting board, sharp knife, freezer-safe bags or containers and a parchment-lined baking sheet.

First, rinse the fresh okra pods in cold water to remove any dirt. Don’t let it soak, or the pods will remove too much water. Excess water may result in mushy okra when you go to use it.

Allow the okra to dry on paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, and using a sharp knife, trim off the ends and cut okra into slices. Bite-size pieces will freeze best.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place the okra slices in a single layer on top. Put the entire thing into your freezer and freeze for about 2 hours or until frozen.

Once frozen, remove the okra from the freezer and baking sheet. Immediately place inside freezer containers or sealable ziplock gallon freezer bags. Squeeze any excess air out of the zip-top freezer bags to help ensure air pockets aren’t able to form inside the bag. Less air will result in less chance of freezer burn.

Label the bag with the date you froze the okra, and return to the freezer until ready to use. For best results, use within 6 months.

Frequently Asked Questions about Freezing Okra

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to “can I freeze okra?”

How long can you freeze okra?

Raw okra can be frozen and stored for up to 6 months without blanching. Longer than that may result in the quality of flavor beginning to deteriorate.

While the freezer bag solution works great, if you want to freeze your okra for longer I highly recommend using vacuum sealed bags like FoodSaver. FoodSaver bags (and similar vacuum sealer products) keep food preserved for longer. It makes a huge difference in frozen food quality when you can remove all the air this way!

Do you wash okra before freezing?

Yes, you should absolutely wash okra before freezing. A gentle rinse will suffice, as okra easily absorbs water. Be sure to let your pods dry completely before freezing.

How to freeze fresh okra whole?

I personally prefer to freeze okra in slices, to make it easy to add to dishes while cooking. However, you can also freeze okra whole.

To freeze fresh okra whole, use the same process as above, but increase the initial freezing stage from a minimum of 2 hours to a minimum of 4. Whole okra take longer to freeze. Large okra pods may take longer than small pods.

How to freeze okra with cornmeal?

If you prefer your okra breaded, you can actually freeze sliced okra coated in plain cornmeal. This will make it easy to make fried okra later!

After rinsing the okra, slice and add to a large bowl. Toss in cornmeal before allowing it to completely dry. This will help the cornmeal stick to the okra, making it perfect for frying okra. I’ve personally found that plain corn meal seems to freeze better on the individual pieces.

Freeze it in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet in the freezer before storing it for up to 6 months in a freezer bag.

I hope this easy step-by-step guide helps you during the height of okra season save a ton of okra from going to waste. This is one of the simplest ways to extend a great gardening season. Enjoy the health benefits okra recipes year round!

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