Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to thaw okra before air frying? ›

Yes, you can cook frozen okra in the air fryer—and it will be delicious. But you shouldn't try to coat it in breading. It won't stick.

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place 1/2 the breaded okra slices in the basket of the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Cook 4 minutes.

One way to reduce the slime in frozen okra is by thawing it completely before cooking. Thawing allows excess moisture to be released, which helps reduce the sliminess. Additionally, you can try blanching the okra or using acidic ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar to counteract the slime.

Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place okra, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; stir gently to coat. Arrange okra in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in the preheated air fryer for 10 minutes, tossing the basket halfway.

Frozen okra needs to be thawed completely before cooking, but just be warned, the thawed okra will be wet (which can make it mushy). We recommend draining it and patting it dry completely with paper towels before breading and frying.

The trick is to use plain milk — not buttermilk — and let the chopped okra soak in a combination of milk and egg for 15 minutes or so prior to frying. The moistened okra adheres to the breading during frying. Breading does not stick to dry okra.

I use my air fryer every day and have done so many things. Some of the best things it does is cook anything that is breaded. I love chicken (any cut) and pork chops done that way.

Whether picking it yourself or shopping for it at the store or farmer's market, you want the tender, young okra. Bigger is not better. The larger okra pods have tough husks and are too chewy.

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.

Use an acid: Adding an acidic ingredient like lemon juice or vinegar can help to reduce the sliminess of okra.

How to fry okra without slime? ›

Lemon juice, chopped tomatoes, vinegar, or a splash of wine will not only add depth to your recipe, but it will also lower your slime quotient. A vinegar bath also does wonders to reduce the slimy consistency.

What is okra slime? Okra slime is made up of a type of sugar—a soluble fiber, if we're getting specific. What we call slime is actually called mucilage (sorry) in the plant world, similar to the jelly of aloe or nopal. You're more likely to see it after okra pods have been cut and exposed to moisture.

Toss frozen okra (do not thaw) with oil, freshly squeezed lemon, and seasoning of choice, coating them as best as possible. Spread them in a single layer on the rack of the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, tossing halfway through. Serve as a side dish or even a snack and enjoy!

I much prefer this made with fresh okra, but in all honesty, frozen cut okra works really well. And a lot of the work is already done for you being that it's been washed, trimmed, and cut into bite size pieces. You'll just need to thaw it completely first.

According to the USDA, it's perfectly safe to cook meat straight from frozen, but it's important to note that it will take a tad bit longer than if you were cooking thawed or fresh meat. On average, it should take around one and a half times as long, so plan accordingly.

Skip the defrost function on your microwave and use the air fryer to speed up cooking dinner! An air fryer's ability to use heated air instead of heated oil to deliver crispy chicken wings, chicken nuggets and french fries is magical. Plus it can revive cold slices of pizza to just-out-of-the-pizza-oven perfection.