Okra can be preserved by drying. Okra’s suitability
for drying is fair to good. I like to dry okra because it makes a light weight
and portable vegetable that can be eaten as a crunchy snack or rehydrated in a
stew or soup. Also drying okra is easy to do and storing dried okra does not
require the use of freezer space.
Prepare the okra for drying by washing in cool
water. Only wash as much okra that can be dried at the same time. Okra can be
sliced into pieces or left whole for drying. Whole or sliced, whichever size
you decide to use is fine just as long as the pieces are somewhat uniform in
size so they will dry at the same time. I left the okra whole. I placed the
okra directly onto the drying tray in a single layer.
Then I placed
the tray immediately in the dehydrator. Okra is dried until it is brittle. It
took me 30 hours in the dehydrator to reach the brittle stage.
I tasted the dried okra and they are delicious and
crunchy! I could eat them plain straight from the dehydrator. They were that
tasty!
Did you put anything o them like salt? I just found you and love your helpful information.
ReplyDeleteNo, I did not salt them, but I do know of people who add different types of seasoning to them such as cajon seasoning or a lemon pepper rub before drying them. I imagine it would taste even better with a seasoning added.
ReplyDeleteHi, could you explain to me how your okra looks so good? My sister just bought a dehydrator and tried to make crispy veggies and fruit slices. However hers turned out chewy and leathery tasting. Please kindly advise
ReplyDeleteI don't consider myself an expert on dehydrating. I can only give you advice from my own experiences. What it sounds like to me when you say it is "chewy and leathery" is that it still has moisture in it and needs to stay in the dehydrator longer. If you live in a humid area like I do, we have to keep our food in the dehydrator longer than the recommended time so as to get all the moisture out of the food. A good book on dehydrating and preserving food is So Easy to Preserve, written by the Cooperative Extension at the University of Georgia. You can find more info about the book at the url address http://setp.uga.edu/book.html
ReplyDeleteThank you for your helpful directions. I bought some okra in the store today with the intention of dehydrating it. Other people's instructions had the okra shrinking up and turning black. Yours looks like what I bought at a produce stand that I became quickly addicted to.
ReplyDeleteYes, this okra can quickly become a healthy addictive snack! I hope the instructions are helpful to you.
DeleteI never would have thought to dehydrate okra! I usually put it in the freezer,I like this idea better. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed dehydrating food. The problem was that I was running out of freezer space because we butcher a cow and pig on a yearly basis and that was taking up all my freezer space. I decided I needed to find other ways to preserve food outside of the freezer. I should learn how to make jerky and how to can meat. Maybe I will soon. Have a good day!
DeleteOur freezer space was taken up with deer,home grown rabbit and quail. Also purchased chicken.
DeleteMy wife has become a specialist in hotpacking and pressure canning. The meats and veggies are now stored in a pantry. ALL meats are delicacies fresh from the jar. IMHO, safer than store bought canned meats such as chicken, beef stew, tuna and others. PLUS WE KNOW WHERE IT WAS GROWN.
Thankyou for your instructions. I have tried drying okra but it comes out very shrivelled up and tough. What tempterature are you usng for your dehydrator and any tips to prevent shrinkage?
ReplyDeleteI think shrinkage is part of the dehydrating process. Dehydration remove the liquid and therefore it will contract upon itself. As for as the temperature I use, I don't know. The dehydrator I have is just a simple electric plug-in dehydrator without a thermostat, with only vents on top and underneath to help control the air flow and aid in dehydration. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help with your questions.
DeleteWhat temperature do you use on the dehydrator?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I can't tell you what temperature I use on the dehydrator because I acquired my second-hand dehydrator many moons ago and it does not have a temperature selector. Instead, it regulates the temperature and humidity by opening and closing the air vents located at the top and bottom of the dehydrator.
Delete130°F or the lowest setting on your machine.
DeleteI would like to know too!
ReplyDeleteLove eating dehydrated okra! I buy the cut (sliced) frozen okra at the grocery store; but am going to try the whole frozen next time. Would you advise slicing it lengthwise or leaving it whole before dehydrating?
ReplyDeleteFor me it would depend on the size of the okra. If it was rather large, then I would slice it lengthwise.
DeleteI'm growing my own Okra for the first time, they are still seedlings at the moment but I'm hoping for a bumper crop. In preparation for this hoped for crop, I've been doing a bit of research on dehydrating them for future use.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to the above questions to "what temperature", it appears the consensus on other sites, to be around 50C (135F to 140F) or "medium" mark - depending on what sort of dehydrator you've got.
Thank you for more precise information about the temperature. Good thinking about planning for your garden. I need to get going on that as well.
ReplyDeleteOne recipe had the okra soak in vinegar for 15 min and then rinse. Wonder if this helps retain okra color. Any tjoughts?
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about soaking the okra in vinegar before dehydrating. It would try it and see if it does help it to retain its fresh green color. Let me know how it goes!
DeleteHow long is this dehydrated okra good for eating? I'm canning some right now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the exact longevity for its freshness, but I usually consume mine within a year. Just keep it in an airtight container.
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ReplyDelete