Okra Question

[Anon001]

I have a question about canning okra. I prefer fried okra. I don't really care for pickled or boiled okra.

I've always sliced up about half my okra and put in the freezer. The other half I have always canned whole pods in a weak brine. However, when I open a jar of okra, it's always mushy. I still manage to slice it and fry it. I've also battered it and baked it whole. The problem with freezing okra, is that I have a propane fridge and they don't have large freezers. I try to save my freezer space for leftovers and ice trays.

My question is this. I noticed in Ball's Blue Book that I can slice it to can it. Has anyone canned their okra sliced? If so, is it still as good fried as the frozen okra? Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to can okra?

Thanks.

[NCLee]

Paul, I've never canned just okra, so don't have any direct experience. However, I have canned tomatoes and okra for soup. Based on that, I don't think sliced canned okra would work for you. Suspect it's even more mushy sliced.

Have you tried dehydrating it sliced, then rehydrating it for frying. I don't know that it will work, but, again, suspect it will be better for frying than sliced canned. It takes a while to rehydrate it, so you may want to experiment with a small test batch first.

Wish I could be more help.
Lee

[sissy]

Have you tried dehydrating it sliced, then rehydrating it for frying. I don't know that it will work, but, again, suspect it will be better for frying than sliced canned. It takes a while to rehydrate it, so you may want to experiment with a small test batch first.

I'm trying that this year. I can't tell you how it will work yet. I'm still getting plenty to fry for now. I dried some with coating on it. It's not bad as a snak dried. I don't like it mushy ether.

Paul, how is it canned the way you do it?

Sissy

[Anon001]

Thanks....

Sissy,

When I've canned it, I just leave the pods whole and cold pack my jars, then pour hot water with salt over them and pressure can.

I may see if I can dry some, sliced. Don't know how well it will work. I'm going to try to look around more on google.

When you say you dried some with coating on it, I don't know what you mean. Did you dry the pods whole or sliced?

[sissy]

I sliced them & coated it with cornmeal, a little flour, & pepper. That is my coating. It's not bad as a snack that way. I'm drying some today plain. Latter on in the year I'll try to hydrate & fry. If nothing else I'll use in soup. I may can some the way you did. Thanks
Sissy

[Anon001]

Instead of canning the pods whole, I sliced them and have them in the canner now. I may try to dry the next batch.

Thanks for the responses.

[firegirl969]

Paul, I tried something new this year. I canned some okra sliced, but I added a tbsp of vinegar to teach jar to keep it from getting slimy. Don't know where I read to do this, but I am trying it. I will post the results later in the year.

[384sqft]

Paul I hate to tell you but you most likely will end up with jars of slimmy mushy okra.

Dry them without coating it will be easier to rehydrate then coat. Though dried with coating can be eaten as is and is tasty.

[krash]

Hate to say it Paul, but you probably need to plan on putting that canned sliced okra in some veggie soup. don't think it will fry worth a darn. I put quite a bit in freezer this year and dried some plain for throwing in soup, but think I will now try drying some as was mentioned seasoned for snacking.

[Anon001]

I was afraid they might be a bit mushy in the jars... We were right! LOL.... But, I think I will try to dry some seasoned.

Thanks y'all.