How to Clean Okra

Co-authored by Dorrenda Smith

Last Updated: August 17, 2023

Okra is a staple of Southern cooking as well as many African and South Asian recipes. It can be eaten on its own or used as a thickener in dishes like gumbos and stews. It is really easy to wash and prepare before adding it to your dishes, especially if you want to take advantage of its thickening properties. However, if you want to cut down on the slimy liquid that the okra releases, there are a few additional techniques you can use during preparation and cooking to do so.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Washing and Preparing Okra for Cooking

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1
Rinse the okra thoroughly under cold running water. Place the okra pods in a strainer and hold it over the sink under cold running water from the tap. Move the pods around with your hands to make sure you rinse them all off. ^{[1]
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- If you plan to cook a lot of okra and the strainer is very full, then you can work in smaller batches to make it easier to clean the pods thoroughly. If you are just using a small number of pods, you can wash them individually by holding 1-2 in your hand at a time rather than using a strainer.
2
Trim off the very tip of the stem with a paring knife. Cut around the base of the stem without cutting into the okra pod. Discard the tips of the stems. ^{[2]
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- This part of the stem can be very woody and not good for eating. The rest of the okra pod can be eaten whole.
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3
Rub spines off older, larger pods under running water. Okra pods begin to grow small, fuzzy spines as they mature that you need to remove before eating them. Hold any such pods under running water and gently rub them all over with a scouring pad, vegetable brush, or paper towel to remove the tiny spines. ^{[3]
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- In general, smaller, younger okra pods are better for cooking, as they are more tender and have not yet developed spines. Try to use okra pods that are under 6 in (15 cm) long, as these are younger and fresher tasting.
4
Pat the okra dry with a paper towel and leave it to air dry completely. Lay out the okra pods on a flat, clean surface after rinsing them. Pat them dry with a paper towel as much as you can and then let them sit until they are totally dry to the touch. ^{[4]
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- Wet okra pods will release more liquid, or slime, than dry ones.
Tip : If you want to store any leftover okra long term, you can freeze or pickle it.