Help! Preparing okra for freezing

[Sister Golden Hair]

I have 3 five gallon buckets of okra that I want to put in the freezer. The smaller pods I will blanch and freeze to cook in peas and butterbeans.

I want to prepare the rest for frying. Any suggestions on blanching it so it won't become slimy?

[pEtAl mIsFiT]

my gram always cuts it raw and freezes it?

[Sister Golden Hair]

Thanks for all the advice on okra- I actually tried all three ways. I baked some, fried some, and by 3:30 this morning, I was ready to try Petal Misfit's method of just cutting and bagging.

It was a slow, slow process and I have double ovens and two freezers. I can't imagine trying to put up that much at one time with a single oven and kitchen refridgerator freezer.

But the job is done (36 bags) and thanks for the direction!

[Sister Golden Hair]

I have a family of four- one of which is a 17 year old 6'4, 210 pound son. However, I am the oldest of seven sisters and we grew up working in the garden and putting away food for the winter.

I love that my parents taught me how to work and get great satisfaction from putting up food for my family. Besides- I would have a hard time cooking from just what is available at Wal-mart. Nothing like being able to go to my freezer or pantry and prepare a meal from the food thatI have canned or put in the freezer.

During the aftermath of the hurricane, we would have been in a world of hurt without the food we had put up from our garden...and so would many of our neighbors.

Thanks for the compliment, Hawkeye- means a bunch coming from you!