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, out. This will help preserve the okra longer. Always freeze foods at a temperature setting of 0 degrees Fahrenheit for safety.
Wash the okra and pat dry with paper towels. Make sure the okra is fully dry. If the okra is still damp it can cause condensation to develop in the bag which will affect the quality of the frozen okra and potentially breed bacteria.
Add the okra to freezer bags and pack full, but not too tight.
Freeze the okra at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Your frozen okra will keep for six to eight months.
References
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Pointers
- “Preserving Summer's Bounty: A Quick and Easy Guide to Freezing, Canning, and Preserving, and Drying What You Grow”; Rodale Food Center and Susan McClure; 1998
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Okra
- “Keeping the Harvest: Preserving Your Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs (Down-to-Earth Book)”; Nancy Chioffi and Gretchen Mead; 1991