Baked Italian Herb Tofu Recipe + How To Press Tofu Like a Champ (2024)

FAQs

How do I 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.

How long to press tofu? Pressing tofu can take up to one hour. The longer it's pressed, the more moisture will be drawn out, making it a better consistency for recipes that call for marinades.

Why won't my tofu get crisp? This could likely be a result of not drying out the tofu enough to drain out the extra moisture. It's also possible that your oven temperature is not hot enough. Make sure it's preheated and heat the pan in the oven for extra crispness.

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.

Contrary to popular belief, pressing tofu really isn't necessary at all. In fact, it's better not to press it. Needless to say, soft tofu should never be pressed because it has the texture of a custard and will likely disintegrate if you put too much weight on it.

Transfer the pressed tofu cubes to a shallow dish or a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the marinade over top. Cover with a layer of plastic, then place the dish in the fridge. Let the tofu marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight for more flavorful results.

Can you over-press tofu? You don't have to worry about over-pressing tofu when you follow instructions, and only do it when the recipe calls for it. If you press tofu for recipes when you don't really have to, it can result in crumbly and even mushy tofu.

The essence of pressing tofu is to apply steady weight to squeeze out the moisture from the block. Be careful, though, not to apply too much weight or the tofu will be crushed and you will be unable to cut it into slices or blocks.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Why is my baked tofu rubbery? ›

Why does tofu get rubbery? Because it was probably overcooked, it was probably exposed to too much heat. I don't know if it was roasted baked air fried or sauteed, but when it becomes, uh, overcooked, it's gonna get very, very tough.

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.

Place a heavy pan on top of the tofu and add two canned items in the pan to apply weight to the tofu. Make sure that the weight is balanced to press down evenly on the top of the tofu without being too heavy to break the tofu. This will help to squeeze out the moisture from the tofu block.

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.

Stand the press up on one of its sides on a rimmed plate or baking dish to catch the liquid. Tighten the screws every 5 minutes or so for 15-60 minutes or until the tofu is no longer dripping and has reached your desired firmness.