Tofu Tips

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When I posted my Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu recipe…

Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu

…I got quite a few comments from readers who are having a hard time getting their at-home tofu attempts to turn out like they hoped.  Never fear, I have some tips.

Here are some of my Tofu-Making Suggestions and Tips:

For anyone who doesn’t “like” tofu, it’s likely because of the preparation technique. Then again, Katie told me no matter what, she just doesn’t like it.  Fair enough.

In my opinion, raw/uncooked tofu is mushy, bland, and gross.  How to change that?

You must press it. Get that water out.  Get the mush out.

This is the tofu press I use and here is a post with a visual guide on using it.

Tofu Xpress machine

Tofu being pressed in Tofu Xpress machine

If you don’t have a tofu press and can’t see spending money on it, then press your tofu in between two heavy frying pans or heavy pots and pans. Be prepared to go through a lot of paper towels as the water is pressed out.  The nice thing about the tofu press is that the tofu juice, i.e. water, is all contained neatly in the box and a half roll of paper towels isn’t needed.

Tofu being pressed in Tofu Xpress machine

For cooking and just “regular” eating, buy firm or extra firm tofu. Leave the medium or soft tofu for baking applications in which you are blending tofu into recipes, i.e. a block of tofu blended as part of a pudding recipe.  Or, soft/medium is fine if you’re doing a tofu scramble.  But for all the recipes I have where you are eating tofu as an entree or star of the show, you want firm or extra firm.

Soft tofu has the most water in it, i.e. the mushiest.  Extra firm has the least amount of water in it, i.e. the firmest and will hold together the best for cooking.  Also, when you press tofu, the most water will “leak” out of soft and the least amount of water from extra firm.  I see no reason why one would ever buy soft tofu and then press it, but that’s a whole other post, I’m sure.

After pressing the tofu, you must marinade and flavor it or it’s bland and tasteless.  Some people are okay with this; most, including me, are not.

Use a stronger and more potent marinade than you think you need.   Lots of the marinade flavor gets lost or “disappears” in the cooking process so it’s okay to start stronger than you think you want the finished tofu.

Slice tofu into uniform sizes so everything cooks at the same rate.

I like thin strips because they cook faster, and are not mushy when done.  Cubes, “logs”, strips, triangles, it all works just keep in mind that if you choose to use cubes (cute) when you’re flipping them while cooking, there are lots of cubes per block of tofu in comparison to thin strips to flip (I usually get 17-19 thin strips per block of tofu).  It’s all about least amount of effort for me.

If you open a package of tofu, drain the water out, freeze the tofu in the white container, then thaw it, then press it, then bake it, you will get a bread-like texture.  Sounds like lots of steps but it’s just drain and freeze, press and drain, cook.

See my Pumpkin Honey “Bread” Tofu recipe for more info on the freezing tofu technique.

Pumpkin Honey "Bread" TofuIt’s like pumpkin “bread” rather than tofu.  Sponge-like and soft.

 

If you plan to bake your tofu after marinating, I like to bake at at least 400F but usually about 425-450 for about 25 minutes total, flipping once at about the 15-20 minute mark and then cooking on the second side until desired level.

I find a hotter oven temperature (like 425-450F/25 minutes) gives a nicer outer “sear” and crispness better than cooking at lower temps/longer duration (325F/45 minutes).

Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu

Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu sticks

If you plan to broil your tofu, 8-10 minutes on the first side, 3 to 6 on the second side, but do not leave the kitchen while broiling.  No exceptions as I stated in the recipe section for the Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu.  You don’t want to lose all your hard work by charring it which can happen in 60 seconds.  From raw to scorched in a minute under the broiler can happen.
Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu

If you plan to fry or pan-sear the tofu on the stovetop, I love sesame or peanut oil for this.  Start with a block of pressed and sliced tofu.  Don’t marinate it. (That’s an exception to my marinating rule)  After you fry/sear the tofu and flip over carefully in the pan to sear all sides, then add the marinade or sauce you’re using.  If you try to add sauce or marinade to un-seared stovetop tofu, I find the result to be mushy tofu that never really gets cooked properly.  And, the marinade just gets lost, too.  Sear/pan fry first, then sauce it up.

Maple Ginger Mango Tofu

Maple Ginger Mango Tofu

Cooked/prepared Tofu will keep in the refrigerator for many days.  I am not advocating you wait five days to eat your tofu leftovers but I have forgotten about tofu I’ve made five days later, eaten it, and lived to tell the tale without incident.  I think 2-3 days is a very safe bet.

If you’re going to the work of pressing, marinating, and baking it, you may as well make two blocks and have planned leftovers is my thought process.

Use parchment paper lined-cookie sheets when cooking your tofu.  Save yourself cleanup time!  Some people just use cooking spray but I take it one step further and just pick up the whole piece of paper and hardly even have to wash my cookie sheet when I’m done.

After all that Tofu Talk, it’s time for cookie dough and chocolate.

No Bake Toffee & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Toffee & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

From my last post about the Bars I reviewed and Creating Your Perfect Snack Bar, I am glad you liked my recipe ideas that were similar to the bars.

And thanks for filling me in on what ingredients would go into your perfect snack bar.  As I said, I’m using those comments for recipe development so if you have an ingredient you want used and incorporated, let me know.  Seems that peanut butter and chocolate were consistent favorites.  Surprise, surprise.

Questions

1. Do you like Tofu?  Favorite recipe or way to eat it?

I spent my life up until the past five years or so liking tofu that I ate when out or WF’s tofu, but could not for the life of me figure out how to recreate it successfully at home.

Once I figured it out, it’s been great because I don’t have to pay for WF’s hot bar tofu which for me comes out to about $10 bucks for what I guesstimate to be a block’s worth of tofu that I can buy for $1.50  Highway robbery!

So although I give WF’s tofu major props, making it at home is rewarding since I can control the flavors and save tons of money.

2. Do you have any tofu cooking or preparation tips?

Enlighten me!

All the tips I posted were based on my own experience and in no way are gospel and law on tofu, but just my tips and suggestions that work for me.  Your mileage may vary.

3. Need any other kitchen tip posts?

How to clean and core a whole pineapple at home in 90 seconds

How to wash and chop a head of lettuce at home in 90 seconds

How to save money on your grocery budget

 

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. The only way I’ve ever made tofu that I’ve liked (like at a Thai restaurant) is to fry cubes and have the edges chewy/crunchy and insides soft. Otherwise, the ways I’ve made tofu were epic fails.

    SO thanks so much for these tips. I really do like tofu, but if I don’t make it right, it’s just bleh.

    I will definitely be coming back to this post often!

  2. I am determined to try tofu again! I thought it was awful the one time I tried it, but like I said before I totally messed it up. It took forever to pick the tasteless tofu crumbles out of my stir fry, but I was glad to not eat them ;)

  3. You’re the tofu QUEEN! I don’t have a tofu press, in fact I didn’t even know they existed! I squeeze the water out by wrapping the tofu in a kitchen towel and placing in my over the pot steamer – you know those metal ones that come with pot sets? They look like a flat colander. So, I put it in there, and put it over the pot it fits in. Then, I push down on the tofu for awhile… take it out of the cloth, and push some more. We are a paper towel free house (so challenging at first, but totally worth it in the end) so this technique is awesome!
    My favorite way to enjoy tofu is baked, either marinated in gingerale (the good organic/natural stuff) or cut into triangles and sprinkled with salt + smoked paprika and then baked!

  4. Well, crap. Maybe I’m just preparing it wrong? I don’t think so though. I’m picky. :)

    I like the second half of the post though – I’m all about the cookie dough balls.

  5. My mom is Korean, so I grew up eating lots of tofu. She often marinates slices of it in soy sauce, sesame oil, and some turbinado sugar, then grills it. Then we eat it with rice and veggies, yum! Also, the Mayo Clinic cookbook has a recipe for sesame seed crusted tofu that is uh-maaaazing. I WILL try your peanut sauce tofu soon though, it sounds divine…

  6. These are such great tips! I actually enjoy tofu raw and plain- but I enjoy it the most when it’s nicely marinaded and baked until crispy! Mm, I think I know what I’m having for dinner! :)

  7. The things you do with tofu amaze me! I am bookmarking this page for sure. I want to make that pumpkin bread tofu so much!

  8. I actually made your peanut sauce tofu last night! It was really good, and I broiled it. I think next time ill try baking it. I don’t have a tofu press, so I can never seem to get enough water out. It was def delicious though!!

  9. Your tofu has some great sear going on- looks delicious!

    I do love tofu, but I am still working on perfecting it at home. My favorite way at restaurants is in a Thai Green Curry Sauce with lots of veggies. YUM.

    I don’t have a press, but I do use a clean kitchen towel rather than paper towels to absorb the water.

  10. wow, I knew about pressing tofu but didn’t know there was an actual tool for it!

    of course there is a tool for everything so silly me!
    I love tofu it just to be prepared in a flavorful way like it is in your post! :)

  11. Great tofu tips, thanks! I’m still debating if I need a press or not. So many great pics, I’ve gotta try another baked tofu recipe.

    1. Yes, I like to cooked it a lot of ways, I guess cream sauces and stir frys currently.
    2. Press it or buy the pre-pressed stuff.
    3. Lately I’ve been focusing on money saving tips, so I guess price comparisons and where you find the best deals.

  12. Thank you for the tofu tips! I sure need them, since the few times I’ve made tofu it didn’t turn out too well.

  13. Great Tofu 101 – I’m making that recipe sometime this week. I love the frozen bread adaptation too! Thanks for the tips!

  14. You already know my tips on freezing. I had someone tell me they press then freeze then thaw and it’s even firmer. I haven’t tried it yet, but plan on it.