How to Press Tofu – Sharon Palmer, Plant-Based Nutritionist

Learn how to press tofu to create delicious, healthy dishes with these handy step-by-step instructions, along with tips for the best tofu press and my top tofu recipes.

Have you ever wondered whether you should press your tofu before cooking it? You may find it helpful in many recipes. In fact, you may have seen recipes calling for “pressed tofu” and wondered what that meant. Tofu is a mild-flavored, wholesome, nutritious food that has a long history of use in many countries in Asia and is served in a pool of liquid (learn how tofu is made on my field trip to a tofu producer ). So, why press out the liquid? When you press tofu, you remove this excess liquid so it acts like a sponge, absorbing any flavor it’s soaked in, which can determine its flavor and texture of the dish. By removing this excess liquid, the tofu can absorb the spices, marinades, and flavors it is paired with. I particularly like pressed tofu in stir-fries, curries, grilled tofu, and rice bowls. Additionally, pressing tofu makes it easier to break up, making it ideal for recipes like stir-fries or stuffings. Learn more about the different types of tofu in this ultimate tofu guide.

How to press tofu
If you wish, you can use a tofu press to press the tofu.

Press tofu with paper towel

An easy way to press tofu is to simply wrap a piece of firm or extra-firm tofu in a few paper towels, sandwich it between two plates, and secure it with something heavy, such as a book. How long does it take to press tofu? It will take about 15 minutes to remove any excess liquid from a block of tofu.

How about a tofu press? Sometimes it’s easy to think that pressing tofu is a hassle. Luckily, with the growing interest in using tofu in the kitchen, tofu presses are now available, making pressing tofu even easier. What is the best tofu press? I have a few different types of tofu presses at home that I like to use, such as the TofuXpress and the EZ Tofu Press. They work in a very similar way – you simply place the cube of tofu into the device, apply pressure through the device’s crank, let it sit for a few minutes to let the liquid drain out, and then remove the tofu. Check out my step-by-step guide to pressing tofu below.

How to Press Tofu: A Step-by-Step Guide

For this tutorial, I’m using a TofuXpress, but you can try other types of tofu presses for similar results.

How to press tofu
Open a container of firm or extra-firm tofu.
How to press tofu
Remove from packaging and drain any visible liquid.
How to press tofu
Place the tofu into the container of the tofu press.
How to press tofu
Make sure the metal coil is connected to the crank and top of the tofu press as shown in the photo above left.
How to press tofu
Place the top of the lid over the tofu inside the tofu press and turn the top crank so that it snaps into the two slots on either side of the tofu press.
How to press tofu
When the top is locked, it looks like this (above). You will see liquid start to collect at the top.
How to press tofu
Let the tofu rest in the tofu press for up to 15 minutes while the liquid is pressed out of the tofu and collects on top. Pour off the liquid.
How to press tofu
Open the top of the tofu press and remove the lid and crank.
You will find pressed tofu cubes in your tofu press, ready to use.
Remove and use it in your favorite recipes! You can also store it in the refrigerator to prepare it later for your recipes.
Tofu, get ready to cook it together!

Bonus tip: I like to do this while preparing all the other ingredients for the dish (like a stir-fry or curry). The tofu is ready to eat while I sauté the onions and chop the vegetables.

Check out some of my favorite tofu recipes here:

Vegan Tofu Pho
Pan-fried Tofu with Moroccan Apricot Sauce
Spicy Grilled Tofu
Vegan Stir-fried Long Bean Tofu
Buffalo Cauliflower Tofu Skewers
Crunchy Citrus Tofu Salad
Asparagus and Dill Tofu Omelette
Kale and Tofu Vegan Bowls with Turmeric and Sesame Heart Topping
Delicious oatmeal with spinach, mushrooms and tofu
Thai Tofu and Vegetable Noodle Bowl

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