How to press tofu (2024)

FAQs

How to press tofu? ›

Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel then put it on a large plate with a lip. Put something heavy such as a frying pan on top, weight it down further with cans and jars, and leave for 30 mins. The tofu will be about two-thirds its original thickness, and up to 100ml water will have been removed.

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

You do not need to refrigerate the tofu while pressing, although you can if you have space. Just make sure your pressing and marinating time comes in under 2 hours if you're not refrigerating during that time.

A block of tofu is like a big saturated sponge: Blotting it dry with towels may help the surface crisp and brown, but using pressure to squeeze out the water from the interior produces firmer, chewier, denser, creamier pieces that don't fall apart as you're cooking.

Whichever make you have, simply put the tofu between two plates, tighten the press, and place it somewhere that will catch the liquid drained (inside a clean sink or a rimmed baking sheet). Press the tofu for 15 to 20 minutes.

How long does it take to press tofu? It takes around half an hour to press the tofu in preparation for cooking. It's simple to do and requires very little effort. You only need a plate, some absorbent fabric or paper, such as clean tea-towels or kitchen paper, and a weight – we often use a frying pan.

Depending on how the product is packaged and marketed, it may have some of the moisture already squeezed out of it. Firm and extra-firm tofu is still moist but has been pressed enough that the tofu holds its shape fairly well.

But I found that marinating for a longer time without pressing the tofu yields a better result than say, pressing the tofu and marinating it for a shorter time. So, if you can get organized and do the prep ahead of time, you can skip the pressing part and still yield a super flavorful result.

While some experts recommend pressing it before freezing, Wee says, "Since freezing tofu helps remove water, you don't actually need to press the tofu before putting it in the freezer." And while you can freeze it whole, she does suggest cutting the tofu into slices or cubes before freezing it, for quicker thawing and ...

And if tofu is vacuumed packed or firm already, you definitely don't need to press it. Here's why: moisture in tofu is a good thing. Tofu is over 80% water, and that moisture is what makes it such a succulent, juicy source of protein. Pressing it can make the tofu unnecessarily dry and strip it of its intended texture.

Can you press tofu with paper towels? ›

To remove the excess water from your tofu, simply slice it in half like a book. Place a few folded paper towel sheets underneath one of the tofu slabs and a few on top.

How to safely eat raw tofu. While tofu comes in a variety of textures — silken, firm, and extra firm — technically any of them can be eaten raw. Before enjoying raw tofu, drain off any excess liquid from the packaging. It's also important to store tofu properly to prevent germs from growing on any unused portions.

Five-spice doufu gan comes already pressed: This dense, chewy, and flavorful type of tofu holds up particularly well to stir-frying. But most of the time, you can skip the pressing step and get away with it.

The longer the block of tofu has been pressed during the production process, the less water content there will be and the firmer the resulting tofu will be. Firm tofu and extra-firm tofu have an almost meat-like texture, making them a perfect meat substitute when they are flavored and seasoned.

Microwaving: Wrap tofu in a clean dish towel and microwave on high for 1 minute. Unwrap, rewrap with a fresh towel, and repeat. This is an easy, speedy option, though Nguyen points out that you then need to wait for the tofu to cool.