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    You are here: Home / How To Tutorials / How to Press Tofu Without a Tofu Press

    How to Press Tofu Without a Tofu Press

    Posted: Sep 15, 2020 Last Modified: Sep 16, 2020 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Want to know how to get crispy tofu? The secret is to press it before you use it! Here’s how to press tofu without a tofu press.

    What is Tofu?

    Tofu is a creamy high protein, low-fat product made of soybeans and usually pressed into blocks. Tofu is a “blank slate” as they take on flavours very well through sauces, marinades, and spices. While growing up, tofu was really only found in Asian grocery stores, however, now they can be found in nearly any chain grocery store! You can find them in different types of firmness: silken, soft, firm, and extra-firm. For this post, we’ll be working with extra-firm tofu.

    two packaged tofus

    Why Does Tofu Have To Be Pressed?

    When working with extra-firm tofu, you have to literally have to press out as much water as possible. Tofu is not only made with water but packaged in water as well so it can be a little waterlogged. Watery tofu can get mushy when cooked so it’s best to press it first. If you want crispy tofu, this is key! In addition, pressing the water out allows the tofu to absorb more flavour.

    When to Press Tofu

    I totally get wanting to skip the pressing. I’m a lazy gal and sometimes don’t plan ahead. Luckily, not all recipes require tofu to be pressed but like I mentioned earlier, if you’re trying to bake or fry crispy tofu, I suggest taking the extra time to press your tofu.

    What You’ll Need to DIY a Tofu Press

    • plate: to catch any excess water
    • clean linen/lint-free dish towel: to wrap your tofu with
    • paper towel: also to wrap your tofu with (or you can double up on the dish towel)
    • cutting board: the sturdier, the better
    • heavy objects: such as canned beans or books

    How to Press Tofu at Home Without a Tofu Press

    • Open your package of tofu and drain the liquid it’s packaged in.
    • On a rimmed plate, place a dish towel over top and a paper towel on top of it. Alternatively, you can use two dish towels.
    tofu on top of paper towel
    • Place the block of tofu in the middle of the paper towel and wrap it up in the paper towel first then the dish towel.
    tofu wrapped in paper towel and line towel
    tofu wrapped to be pressed
    • Place a cutting board on top of the wrapped tofu and then add some heavy objects on top such as canned tomatoes to press.
    • Press the tofu for at least 30 minutes before using.
    tofu being pressed DIY method without tofu press

    Ways to Use Pressed Tofu

    • Crispy Teriyaki Tofu
    • Korean Spicy Tofu Meal Prep
    • Air Fryer Tofu Cubes
    • Maple Soy Tofu

    How To Press Tofu Without a Tofu Press

    Want to know how to get crispy tofu? The secret is to press it before you use it! Here’s how to press tofu without a tofu press.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 30 mins
    Cook Time: 0 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 package extra firm tofu

    Equipment

    • rimmed plate
    • clean linen/lint-free dish towel
    • paper towel
    • cutting board
    • heavy objects

    Instructions

    • Open your package of tofu and drain the liquid it’s packaged in.
    • On a rimmed plate, place a dish towel over top and a paper towel on top of it. Alternatively, you can use two dish towels.
    • Place the block of tofu in the middle of the paper towel and wrap it up in the paper towel first then the dish towel.
    • Place a cutting board on top of the wrapped tofu and then add some heavy objects on top such as canned tomatoes to press.
    • Press the tofu for at least 30 minutes before using.
    Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Serving: 4servings | Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Author: Carmy
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      May 10, 2021 at 11:20 pm

      5 stars
      Works perfectly! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Cham

        May 17, 2021 at 6:11 pm

        5 stars
        I love this approach as it seems wasteful to use paper towels only to soak up tofu “juice”. We always have clean spare linen dishtowels around, and this is a great way to get use out of them. This works wonderfully, thank you!

        Reply
    2. Marisa Moore

      June 04, 2021 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      This was a great tutorial Carmy! THanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Carmy

        June 04, 2021 at 10:09 pm

        Thank you, Marisa!! :)

        Reply

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