Woody Okra

Woody okra

Or, slit the pods down the side and stuff them with a bit of cheese or spicy meat mixture (an Indian mixture like kheema would be delicious) and bake at 350 F to 375 F, covered, until everything is wonderfully tender. Continue cooking uncovered until your stuffed okra and add-ons are nicely brown.

Why is my okra woody?

If you leave them too long, the pods get hard and woody. Once you're done picking okra, store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator where they will last about a week or freeze the pods if you have too much to use.

What can be done with overgrown okra?

There are several things you can do with overgrown okra, including stewing and baking. You can either use outgrown okra as biofuel, decorative ornaments, coffee, or flavor substitutes.

Can you eat okra when it's big?

In my experience (I'm Texan, I've seen my share of okra), 2.5-3" is pretty small, and 6" is on the big side but I wouldn't expect it to be inedible. It's certainly going to be much more tender at 2.5-3"; there's no possible way it'll be too tough to eat.

Can you eat woody okra?

Okra pods (Abelmoschus esculentus) are versatile vegetables that you can fry, roast and stew, as well as eat raw. The pods are tender when young but become tough and develop an unpalatable, characteristic okra woody texture when they are bigger.

How do you know if okra is too tough?

You can come on down it a little bit but you can still hear top and through that thing will be too

Why is my okra hard and stringy?

Why is my okra hard and stringy with poor flavor? It sounds like your okra was overripe. Harvest tender pods when they are 2-3 inches long.

Why is my okra knotty?

Root-knot nematodes are microscopic roundworms that can pierce the roots of certain plant species and lay their eggs inside the roots. This gives the roots a “knotty” appearance (Figure 1 and Figure 2) and results in a wilted or stunted appearance of the whole plant.

How do you rejuvenate okra?

Cutting back okra allows the plants to rejuvenate to produce a late summer/fall crop. Cut back plants using a mower or pruning shears, leaving 6 to 12 inches of each plant above the ground. Refertilize with 15-0-14, 8-0-24, or 13-0-44 to encourage regrowth and development of side branches.

What does baking soda do to okra?

Viscosity peaks at neutral to alkaline pH, Preston said, which is why exposing okra to acidic ingredients, such as vinegar or tomatoes, tones it down. Some African cooks, she said, go in the other direction, adding baking soda (which raises pH to a more alkaline level) to okra soup to augment its thickening effect.

What plants should not be planted near okra?

Okra is very susceptible to nematodes, and nematode populations may boom at the end of the season. Avoid growing squash, sweet potatoes, or solanaceous crops (like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant) after okra (and vice versa), as they may be plagued by nematodes from the previous year.

What does vinegar do to okra?

One popular way to reduce okra's sliminess is to "soak it in vinegar for 30 minutes [before cooking with it], which helps to break up and dissolve the slime," says food scientist, food industry consultant, and author Bryan Le.

When should you not eat okra?

If you detect any sliminess or stickiness, the okra pod has already spoiled and should be discarded straight away. Once cooked, okra is known to feel 'slimy', due to its high-fibre base. However, it should not feel slimy before being cooked, nor should it feel sticky to the touch before it's been prepared.

Who should avoid okra?

People with diabetes should be careful when considering adding more okra into their diets. Although okra may be able to help people better control their blood sugar, it can also interfere with metformin, a medication often used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

What does okra do to your stomach?

Okra's insoluble fiber helps keep your digestive system in great shape and lubricates the large intestine. The fiber in okra also feeds the good bacteria in your gut, which promotes a healthy intestinal tract. That ultimately leads to less cramping, bloating and other unpleasant stomach problems.

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.

Should okra be soft or hard?

Too large and the okra will have a flat taste, and may be too tough to eat. Too small, and the okra will be difficult to cook. Avoid okra that look shriveled or are soft when squeezed. The okra should snap rather than bend.

What is the gooey stuff in okra?

Okra pods are known as “mucilaginous,” which results in a slimy or gooey mouthfeel when cooked. 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.

How long does okra take to soften?

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.

How big should okra be when you pick it?

One of the main tips that okra enthusiasts will share with new okra growers is when to harvest okra. The pods should be harvested when they are 2-3 inches in length. Bigger than this and you will find that the pods are woody and not as tender as they could be.