Tofu is probably one of the most, if not the most, versatile foods on the planet. It is known for its incredible ability to absorb thousands of flavor combinations across the spectrum, and its ability to be transformed into a vast amount of textures. From a silky smooth chocolate pie to a hot and crispy buffalo tofu dish, tofu can do it all! On top of its versatility, it happens to be one of the most budget-friendly foods. You can find a block of tofu weighing about 14 ounces for less than $2 at the grocery store — that’s an incredible steal! Preparing it, however, can be kind of intimidating, especially for newly plant-based eaters who have no experience with the act of ‘pressing the tofu’ which is what this guide is all about!
In order for the tofu to absorb the spices and flavors you’re going for, the excess moisture that it’s contained in needs to be pressed out of the tofu block. If that sounds even just a tad bit daunting to you, well you are in luck as there are a few ways! There are several tofu pressing devices on the market to help with the pressing process and I’ve selected four of the top-ranked devices to review for you, and I’ll also teach you how to simply do it with what you have already! Let’s dive in!
You can manually press the tofu without a device by taking the tofu block out of the container, placing it on top of one to two layers of dish towels, place another one to layers of dish towels on top of it, and then place something heavy (like a cast iron skillet or several pots) on top of the tofu for about an hour or so. The weight of the pressure will slowly press the moisture out of the tofu so that it will be absorbed by the towels, leaving you with a more solid and firm block of tofu, which is exactly what you want to make the best tofu dishes!
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: Currently, it’s $19.95 on Amazon and has a one-year guarantee!
Time: 15 minutes did the trick for me with tightening the knobs every 2-3 minutes. The user manual recommends anywhere from 15-60 minutes depending on how much time you have to cook and if you are okay with some cracking (the slower you press and apply pressure, the less likely you are to develop cracks in the tofu).
Does it work? Yes, absolutely! The novel design of starting off with curved plates led to a very consistently pressed tofu block that came out perfectly firm and moisture-free in 15 minutes! The tofu did have a few minor cracks in it, however, it did not crumble apart.
Tips: To help with the drainage of the excess moisture, I found that placing the device on its side in the sink or on a plate helped! I rotated it to different sides as I tightened the knobs every 2-3 minutes.
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: This device is $22.49 on Amazon.
Time: I checked on the tofu block every 2-3 minutes and at the 7 minute mark, the block seemed fairly firm and ready to be utilized for a marinade, however, I continuously tightened and pressed it for 15 minutes.
Does it work? Yes! It definitely did the job as I was left with a firm block of tofu ready to be used! There were minor cracks at the edges and by squeezing the entire block, you could tell that the outer edges were more pressed, however, it was definitely effective enough to be cut nicely into squares for these sweet & salty tofu bites which came out absolutely delicious!!
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: $22.49 on Amazon
Time: This device requires an overnight or full day period in it’s container to get the job done! I let it press overnight for about seven hours and that seemed to do the trick.
Does it work? It does! If you’re looking to set it and forget it, this pressing device is for you! You could physically see the drained water collected in the outer basin and the tofu block was firm and more than ready to be cut up and seasoned for the perfect tofu in this Buttery Lemon Tofu dish.
Tips: Because this device is made of plastic, place it on the top rack of the dishwasher when washing to promote longevity of it! (the bottom rack gets the most hot due to its proximity to the heating element)
Pros:
Cons:
Cost: $14.99 - the cheapest out of the four devices!
Time: I let the tofu press throughout the day for about eight hours and it came out great. Despite their suggested pressing time of 15-30 minutes, I believe that this type of device style delivers a better press with a longer sustained time.
Does it work? Yes, this device is effective if you have the time to let it do its thing! The tofu came out slightly crumbled, but still intact enough to be made into a delicious Coconut Thai Tofu dish!
Overall, all four devices did a great job in pressing! If you’re looking for something that will deliver quick and ready-to-be-marinated tofu, I recommend the Tofu Press - By Healthy Express! It’s unique, novel design and ability to produce well-drained firm tofu with minimal to no cracking in 15 minutes is a winner in my eyes! If you’d like something that you don’t have to pay attention to, I recommend the Yarkor Tofu Press. It’s easy to set and forget with no mess or waste from excessive paper towel usage involved!
I hope that this guide decreases any stress that you may have towards pressing your tofu and that you’re inspired to make the most amazing dishes now! Remember that anything new can be intimidating at first until you get a few repetitions under your belt, so I’d love to hear that you’re giving the pressing action a go! When you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of all things tofu, here are some super delicious recipes that I know you’ll enjoy and will come out extra spectacular with your new tofu pressing device, tips and tricks!
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