Look for brightly colored pods. Pods should be no more than 4 inches long. Avoid dull, bruised, soft, or blemished pods. If okra is too ripe, it will have a very sticky texture.
What does fresh okra look like?
Fresh okra should feel firm but not hard. Look for bright green pods with unblemished skin. A little browning on the stem shouldn’t be a concern, though the greener it is, the fresher the okra.
Is okra still good if slimy?
This “mucilage” or slime contains soluble fiber that we can digest. Some folks enjoy this texture, while others try to mask the slippery nature of the pods. Keeping the pods intact and briefly cooking (think stir fry) can help to minimize the sliminess of the pod.
How do you pick fresh okra?
Look for smooth, tender, blemish-free, bright green pods. Avoid pods with brown spots or dry end. If you’re cooking it quickly, like in a sauté, use okra that’s under 4 inches long. If you’re stewing it or using it in a gumbo, look for the tougher, larger pods.
How long does it take for okra to go bad?
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.
Do you wash okra before cutting?
It’s important to wash Okra, irrespective of what anyone says to you to get rid of any dirt or chemicals still stuck to the skin. But what’s more important is to dry it well before cooking. Wash uncut Okra under running water, and then pat it dry with a cloth towel before cutting.
What is the black stuff on my okra?
Cercospora Leaf Spot of Okra
Spots on okra leaves may also be the result of the pathogen Cercospora abelmoschi. Cercospora is a fungal infection wherein spores are carried by the wind from infected plants to other plants.
How do you remove slime from okra before cooking?
5 ways you can easily remove slime from okra
- Pat and dry. Before cooking, slice the okra into tiny pieces, rinse them in water, then pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Freezing. The day before cooking, place your okra in the freezer.
- Vinegar.
- Tomatoes.
- Fry in high heat.
Can you eat old okra?
Okra is considered suitable for eating when it is small and young, maybe two days old or so, with the pods less than 4 to 5 inches long. Age is a better indicator of edibility than length. If you leave the pods on the plant for too many days, they dry out and develop an okra woody texture.
Is raw okra slimy?
While raw okra pods (which are entirely edible!) release less mucilage than cooked pods (and are therefore less slimy), the mucilage is still present, so you’re likely to perceive a bit of a gooey sensation nevertheless.
When should I buy fresh okra?
Okra is usually available fresh year-round in the South, and from May to October in many other areas. You can also find okra frozen, pickled, and canned, and in some regions, you might find frozen breaded okra for deep frying.
Can you eat okra raw?
Okra pods can even be eaten raw. The less cooked okra is, the better it is for you. It’s high in fiber, folate, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. Slice off the stem, cut the pods into 1-inch pieces and give them a quick saute to reduce the green taste.
How do you prepare okra to eat?
How to Cook Okra on the Stovetop
- Place okra in a saucepan; add enough water to cover the okra and salt to taste; bring the water to boil.
- Cover the pan and cook eight to 10 minutes or until the okra is tender.
- Drain well and, if desired, toss with a little butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.
Is okra still good if the seeds are brown?
Larger okra pods may be overmature and tough with brown seeds inside. A fresh okra pod will have white seeds hidden within it. Avoid buying okra that looks brown, shriveled, dry or decayed.
Can okra make you sick?
Eating too much okra can adversely affect some people. Gastrointestinal problems: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fructans can cause diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people with existing bowel problems. Kidney stones: Okra is high in oxalates.
How do you keep okra fresh for a long time?
How to Store Okra
- Don’t. Don’t wash okra pods.
- Seal. Wrap okra in dry paper towels and seal in a Glad® Food Storage Zipper Bag.
- Cut. Cut holes in the bag to allow for air circulation.
- Use. Okra is best used as soon as possible.
Why is my okra not slimy?
Let the okra sit at room temperature for a while before using it. The liquid that makes okra feel slimy comes out when you cut the okra, so try to limit how much you cut the vegetable. Okra can be cooked whole; just cut or pull off the stems. If you are going to cook them whole, try to buy smaller pods.
What part of okra do you eat?
If you dig “nose-to-tail” veggie eating, this vegetable is for you: the leaves, flowers and seeds are also edible. Young okra greens can be cooked like spinach or beet greens (or eaten raw) and the seeds can even be ground and used as a coffee substitute.
Which is the most serious disease of okra?
Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV):
This is the most important and destructive viral disease in bhendi. The disease infects at all the stages of crop growth and severely reduces growth and yield. The disease is transmitted by white fly.
What kind of bugs get on okra?
Arthropod pests of okra include caterpillars (larvae of Lepidoptera), aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and mites. Leaf-feeding caterpillar pests (lepidopteran larvae) that attack okra include beet, southern, and fall armyworm, cab bage looper, and corn earworm. Cabbage looper and corn earworm can also bore into pods.
Can you eat moldy okra?
Avoid okra that is moldy, limp, or dried out.