A member of the same family as the hibiscus and cotton, okra is a seasonal crop that thrives in hot climates. With a tough exterior and a center filled with soft seeds and mucilaginous juice, these long green pods are effective at thickening stews and lending texture and flavor to dishes. Okra perishes quickly, so if you can’t use it right away, you will need to preserve it. Dehydrating -- the process of eliminating the moisture -- enables you to store okra for a much longer period.

Wash the okra pods with a vegetable scrubber under cool running water to remove dirt.

Slice off the stem and the hard tips from the pods with a knife.

Slice the okra pods into 1/4-inch slices.

Place the okra into the tray of a dehydrator preheated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Allow the okra to dry for eight to 10 hours. Check the temperature with a thermometer every couple of hours to make sure that it remains between 140 and 150 degrees.

Check the okra after the eight-hour mark and every hour after that by taking out a couple of slices and cutting into them. When no moisture is rendered from cutting or squeezing and the texture is brittle, they are done.

Cool the okra at room temperature before packaging it in an airtight container.