Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I never blanch okra before freezing. Instead I just pick it as its ready, prepare a 1 gallon ziplock freezer bag with flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and cut the okra up as I harvest it and add to the bag I store in the freezer as the year progresses (with the year written in sharpie marker on the bag). Shake the bag up a few times, place it back in the freezer. Then I use FIFO method (first in first out aka first in the freezer, first to be used or first out) It never gets freezer burn and makes it quick to just get what I need out of the freezer already ready for frying in a cast iron skillet. I do a similar thing with other vegetables, sometimes I do blanch them though. You can really add any spices that you want but I keep it simple and then modify it as needed so my basic okra in a freezer bag recipe is:
Eds Spiced flour breading:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic
Optional 1 tablespoon onion powder
Optional 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon any other spices - sometimes i do red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper which is the same thing, or any other spice you like, you just have to experiment with the amount.
This same recipe can serve as the base recipe for any breaded things you make and is way cheaper than buying "breading" or "spiced flour" at the store for chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, etc. Some things like chicken does do best with an egg wash before breading with spiced flour but okra, as we all know, is already sticky when you slice it.
I never blanch okra before freezing. Instead I just pick it as its ready, prepare a 1 gallon ziplock freezer bag with flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and cut the okra up as I harvest it and add to the bag I store in the freezer as the year progresses (with the year written in sharpie marker on the bag). Shake the bag up a few times, place it back in the freezer. Then I use FIFO method (first in first out aka first in the freezer, first to be used or first out) It never gets freezer burn and makes it quick to just get what I need out of the freezer already ready for frying in a cast iron skillet. I do a similar thing with other vegetables, sometimes I do blanch them though. You can really add any spices that you want but I keep it simple and then modify it as needed so my basic okra in a freezer bag recipe is:
Eds Spiced flour breading:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic
Optional 1 tablespoon onion powder
Optional 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon any other spices - sometimes i do red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper which is the same thing, or any other spice you like, you just have to experiment with the amount.
This same recipe can serve as the base recipe for any breaded things you make and is way cheaper than buying "breading" or "spiced flour" at the store for chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, etc. Some things like chicken does do best with an egg wash before breading with spiced flour but okra, as we all know, is already sticky when you slice it.
