There are many ways to prepare okra when it is time to cook it. Some recipes call for roasting, boiling or simmering it down in liquid. What makes a difference in how your okra cooks depends on what kind of water you use it in.
The type of water used while preparing the okra will determine if and/or how gummy the pods get. The best way to wash fresh okra is to soak them in plain water first and then drain off the water. This removes any dirt or salt that may have been absorbed along with the starch from the plant matter.
Once it is clean they can be placed into their cooking liquid which should be filtered of excess minerals such as distilled water. Never add salty liquids to uncooked okra as this would cause it to stick together and become very heavy.
Look up okra water for labor
There are several recipes you can use your fresh or dried okra in to make this liquid. Most require pure distilled water as an ingredient, so be sure to check that out before adding the other ingredients!
Another key component of most okra water recipes is baking soda. This aids in digestion and helps keep stomach ulcers at bay. Since eating enough food can help with childbirth, having adequate amounts of both okra water and baking soda can aid this process.
Some people suggest mixing one part okra water with two parts baking soda and then drinking it right away to feel more comfortable during pregnancy. While not all studies show benefits from this, some do.
Peel okra
The next step in preparing your okra is to peel it! This will remove some of the thick, gel-like substance that contains vitamin A as well as other nutrients.
You can either use a vegetable peeler to do this or you can simply scrape off the skin with your fingers. Just make sure to wash your hands afterwards!
Once peeled, cut off any strings that may remain and set aside.
Boil okra
The next step in how to make water for labor with fresh okra is to boil it! When boiling okra, there are two important things to remember. First, do not cover the pot completely as this will result in the steam escaping and therefore drying out the okra. Second, don’t let theokrasink into the cooking liquid or they may stick to the pan and be wasted.
When boiling the okra, you want to keep an eye on it until it is soft enough where you can push it through your fingers easily. This takes around 5–7 minutes depending on the size of the pod that you cut up first.
After it has finished boiling, remove the pan from the heat and allow the okra to cool down before moving onto the next stage. You now have 2 options; either leave the pulp left over or discard it. We recommend leaving the leftover pulp so that you can use it later in another recipe. It will retain some moisture which makes it perfect for baking or even eating by itself.
Another option if you do not like cooked okra is to simply rinse off the dirt and salt under running water and then dry it using a paper towel. This will also help eliminate any flavor of the salty soil.
Let sit
After picking your okras, let them sit in water until you can either wash or dry them- this is called “wetting” the pods. Once they are wet, drain the excess liquid and put them in a container that has been lined with paper towels or other material to keep the moisture away from other items.
This will help preserve the shape of the pod and prevent it from sticking together. You may also have to do this step several times before washing or drying the okra!
After this, washtokras should be dried and prepped for cooking or eating. If you like the way soft, buttery okra tastes, then cook it slightly more than normal so that it melts down some. Just make sure not to overcook it as it will lose its flavor and texture.
General tips: remember that if there is a large amount of okra, it will take longer to cook, and possibly need additional time to soak up all of the water.
Okra water is ready!
Now that your okras are all well-hydrated, you can prepare their water for use in recipes. Simply rinse off the okra under running water and then drain it thoroughly.
Once it’s dry, add the okra water to your desired recipe. For example, when making fried chicken, you could mix the okra water with baking soda and sift this mixture into the meat before frying.
This will help keep the meat lighter and pack in flavor due to the presence of potassium. When baking dishes such as cakes or brownies, just whisk the okra water into the liquid used for cooking.
That way, the moisture content is increased and the cook time reduced! Both of these apply to breads and pasta as well. Just make sure to check if your recipe calls for milk or other liquids that may be affected by the okrah water.
