Air Fryer Frozen Okra
This easy method for Air Fryer Frozen Okra shows you how to get perfectly crispy and tender okra by using your air fryer or Ninja Foodi in just 15 minutes or less! Air Fryer Okra makes an excellent side dish or snack and can be made with breading or without.
I was never a huge fan of okra. Everything I heard about it described it as this slimy strange vegetable that people in the south absolutely love.
Then – I moved to the south. My stint living in Charleston South Carolina gave me the chance to try some different types of southern food and that included okra.
What I’ve realized about okra is that it tastes great in Healthy Jambalaya and also when it’s fried. This method for cooking okra uses the air fryer to make a crispy okra straight from frozen that isn’t slimy in the least bit.
Shouldn’t I just use the directions on the packaging?
Since the air fryer is a small convection oven, it uses dry heat to circulate air around the food making it cook fast. This means that the time and temperature may need to be adjusted and will be different from what’s on the package instructions. This is especially true with frozen foods as they are thawing AND cooking during the air frying process.
🤔Why Cook Frozen Okra In The Air Fryer?
There’s not much to clean up! No sheet pans or roasting pans means less clean up after cooking. The only thing that gets (mildly) dirty is the air fryer basket which is super easy to clean.
Crispy Texture. This okra is not cooked in any liquid which means it won’t get slimy at all. In fact because of the way the air fryer cooks, the texture is crispy on the outside and nice and tender on the inside.
It cooks FAST. These green little gems cook straight from frozen in just 15 minutes with minimal effort on your part.
They are MUCH healthier. Fried okra is amazing, but the extra oil is not. Making okra in the air fryer is a much healthier option because it doesn’t require the use of any excess oil.
🍽 Ingredients & Equipment
Frozen Okra – You can find frozen okra in the frozen vegetable section of your local grocery store, especially in the south. Frozen okra comes breaded or plain. The time and temperature for either will work the same.
Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi – You’ll need your favorite air fryer to make this recipe. There are so many on the market that it can be confusing to choose the best one. My tried and true brand is Ninja Foodi. I use the multi-cooker and the Ninja Foodi Grill which both have air frying capabilities.
📋How To Air Fry Frozen Okra
1️⃣ Preheat your air fryer to 400F. This will take 3-5 minutes depending on your air fryer. It’s important not to skip this step since the okra will be thawing AND frying during this process.
2️⃣ Add the okra to the air fryer. You’ll need to add the okra in a single layer to ensure that the heat has enough room to circulate around the okra. If your air fryer basket gets too full, you may have to make this in batches.
3️⃣ Cook the okra. Set the timer for 15 minutes. At the halfway mark, shake your air fryer basket or flip with tongs and continue to cook the rest of the way until browned and crispy. Remove with tongs and serve hot.
⏲ Best Time & Temperature for Air Fried Okra
The amount of time it takes to air fry frozen okra depends on how big and thick they are. Below are general recommendations. Always check regularly within the last 5 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t burn or overcook as every air fryer is different!
- 1 inch thick – 12-15 minutes at 400F
- ½ inch thick – 10-12 minutes at 400F
🔁Storing & Reheating
Storing: Store cooked and cooled okra in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: To reheat the okra, add it to an air fryer that is preheated at 325F and cook for 6-8 minutes or until warmed through and crispy.
❔FAQ
Yes! This technique gives a similar taste and texture to okra without any of the excess oil from deep frying making it a much healthier option.
To keep your okra from getting soggy in the air fryer, you must make sure that they are in an even single layer. You also must make sure the air fryer is hot enough at at least 400F preheated to keep them from steaming.
Lots of people love to add a layer of foil to the bottom of their air fryer basket to help with clean up. I don’t recommend this because it doesn’t allow any air to circulate properly causing it to only cook from the top which can result in uneven cooking and soggy okra. You can add a layer of foil UNDER the air fryer basket but only if it is weight down so it does not get sucked into the heating element.
More Air Fryer Frozen Foods
Air Fryer Frozen Okra
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 12 oz Frozen Okra breaded or unbreaded
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F. This will take 3-5 minutes depending on your air fryer. It’s important not to skip this step since the okra will be thawing AND frying during this process.
- Add the okra to the air fryer. You’ll need to add the okra in a single layer to ensure that the heat has enough room to circulate around the okra. If your air fryer basket gets too full, you may have to make this in batches.
- Cook the okra. Set the timer for 15 minutes. At the halfway mark, shake your air fryer basket or flip with tongs and continue to cook the rest of the way until browned and crispy. Remove with tongs and serve hot.
Notes
⏲ Best Time & Temperature for Air Fried Okra
The amount of time it takes to air fry frozen okra depends on how big and thick they are. Below are general recommendations. Always check regularly within the last 5 minutes of cooking to ensure they don’t burn or overcook as every air fryer is different!- 1 inch thick – 12-15 minutes at 400F
- ½ inch thick – 10-12 minutes at 400F
Love my air fryer!!!!
I love fried or boiled okra. Another way is add it to fresh shelled peas and serve with cornbread.