Yahoo Lifestyle These Genius Tofu Presses Make Waterlogged Blocks a Thing of the Past
- 1/6
These Genius Tofu Presses Make Waterlogged Blocks a Thing of the Past
One of the most essential ingredients in a plant-based kitchen is tofu. A staple in East and Southeast Asian cooking for over 2,000 years, tofu now has growing popularity in Western cuisine as a meatless source of protein. Made from the curds of coagulated soy milk, tofu is available in varying firmnesses, ranging from silken to super firm.
If you are planning to pan-fry your tofu, you’ll want to opt for a block that’s on the firmer end of the spectrum, and you’ll want to make sure it’s free of any excess whey (the watery substance that’s separated from the solids) before cooking with it. That’s where having one of these tofu presses comes in handy.
The Best Tofu Presses
Why Use a Tofu Press?
Although tofu can definitely be pressed without using any special kitchen gadgets, many users say that DIY methods like lining a plate with dish towels and weighing the tofu down with cookware tend to be messy and take a long time. Plus, unless you're diligently replacing or squeezing out the towels you're using, your tofu will usually have quite a bit of moisture left over.
Using a tofu press instead, you can squeeze the majority of the water out in just 20 to 30 minutes, but you can also leave it in your fridge overnight to press the tofu for even longer. Using tofu that's been pressed as dry as possible will allow it to sear or brown nicely during the cooking process while also enabling it to absorb delicious new flavors.
What to Consider
Adjustability
The biggest consideration when it comes to buying a tofu press is its design and ease of use. Many (but not all) tofu presses are adjustable, so you can gradually squeeze more whey out of your block for the driest consistency possible.
Some of these tofu presses use springs that you can crank with a knob to increase the pressure, others use silicone bands or metal wingnuts, and some simply snap into place. If you have limited mobility in your hands, this is particularly something to be aware of. We suggest the TofuBud Tofu Press for those who have issues with getting a stable grip, as its knob is a big button that's easier to press than almost any other device in this guide.
Ease of Cleaning
Many tofu presses can be washed on the top rack of a dishwasher. The YARKOR Bamboo Tofu Press is the only pick of our list that is not dishwasher-friendly, but it's a very easy piece to wash and dry.
How We Chose
The five tofu presses in this list provide a variety of design options to accommodate users who either want to be very involved or completely hands-off with their tofu pressing. We focused on reviewer-favorite models that are easy to clean but may or may not be adjustable.
Draining and drying out your tofu no longer has to feel like a day-long chore — these five tofu presses squeeze out all of the moisture, so you can start stir-frying faster and enjoy perfectly cooked and more flavorful meals as a result.
Best Products; Courtesy NOYA - 2/6
1) Tofu Press
Tofuture
amazon.com
$25.95
The Tofuture Tofu Press is a three-piece device that makes it incredibly easy to press all of the whey out of your firm or extra-firm block. It's easy to clean in the top rack of a dishwasher, affordable, and completely streamlined with no unnecessary components. For these reasons and for making the lives of tofu lovers everywhere way easier, we're naming it as the best tofu press overall.
To use, the tofu is placed in the middle compartment, which sits in a base that catches all of the liquid. Its top level presses down on the block using silicone bands that provide constant yet gentle pressure. The bands can even be adjusted to three different levels to help prevent the block inside from crumbling under pressure. Do keep in mind that users say these bands are not dishwasher-safe (they may snap), and they may be difficult for people with arthritis to use.
The brand claims that it'll take just 20 minutes for straight-from-the-package tofu to be completely drained and ready to cook. Reviewers say that the longer you wait, the drier and better the results will be, but this press will still drain a significant about of liquid if you're cooking in a rush.
Says one person, “This tofu press is the perfect size to press a block of my favorite fresh locally-made tofu and it eliminates all the awkward hassle of DIY pressing with plates, books and towels. It looks good and is really sturdy.”
More: Level Up Your Health This Year With These Cold Press Juicers
amazon.com - 3/6
2) Adjustable Tofu Press
NOYA
amazon.com
$22.99
The NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press has a measured viewing window so you can keep track of how condensed your tofu block is getting. This press design uses a knob that forces the internal spring down onto the covered block of tofu. Whey will drain out of the block, which you can pour out of the device's lid without having to take it apart.
With every bit of water you drain, the knob can be tightened to press even more liquid out. And when you're done using it as a press, you can clean out the base and snap on the included lid to use as a food storage container!
A lot of reviewers like the look of this design, calling it “cute” and “compact,” and some use it not just for tofu, but for pressing homemade butter and cream cheese, “pumpfu” (aka tofu made from pumpkin seed milk), and paneer. As one person says, “This product is extremely easy to use. My tofu came out great — very firm and readily absorbed the marination. Plus the tofu press is easy to clean.”
One small complaint that some users have is one side of their tofu block will sometimes be more compressed than the other. While it's possible this could be because of the tofu itself, it can be remedied with the (maybe slightly annoying) extra step of taking the device apart and flipping the block so that all sides are evenly pressed.
amazon.com - 4/6
3) Tofu Press
YARKOR
amazon.com
$17.98
The YARKOR Tofu Press is basically a mash-up of the previous two presses. Its three-part design fits a block of tofu right in the middle. However, instead of using a silicone band to put pressure on the top lid, this press has two snaps on either side that secure the top while the inner spring presses up from the bottom. And because of its transparent build, you can see the whey draining from the tofu and can easily pour it out of the top without having to take the whole piece apart, too.
As one person sums up, “Some tofu presses are too simple and some are overdone, but this one has everything and is easy to use and clean.” The biggest drawback of this one is that it isn’t adjustable. But if you’re a set-and-forget type of person who doesn’t plan to check on how your tofu is draining too often, this model will still suit your needs.
amazon.com - 5/6
4) Tofu Press
TofuBud
amazon.com
$26.95
The TofuBud Tofu Press is one of the most user-friendly we've found — it uses a knob-powered spring to apply pressure to your tofu block, letting you drain out the excess from its side spout.
While many tofu presses are critiqued for being rough on the hands or hard to fit together without using your body weight, this is one of the more accessible and user-friendly designs. Simply press the top knob like a big button and turn it with the palm of your hand to tighten the press. As one person sums up, "Easy to use with arthritic hands … a blessing!"
Some users also experience uneven pressing with this one, but as long as you don't force the spring too quickly and can rotate the block, you should end up with your ideal consistency.
amazon.com - 6/6
5) Bamboo Tofu Press
YARKOR
amazon.com
$24.98
We get it — not everyone wants to add yet another piece of plastic to their kitchen. If you're looking for a more eco-friendly product, try the YARKOR Bamboo Tofu Press. It comprises a lid, a slatted surface for your tofu, and a tray underneath for collecting and pouring out the whey. Two stainless steel screws with wingnuts on either side can be tightened to increase pressure.
We particularly like the open sides and wider surface area of this bamboo tofu press. If you make your own tofu or want to press multiple blocks at once, this press can accommodate larger pieces better than any other model. And while this press isn't dishwasher-friendly, the bamboo it's made from is easy to hand-wash and dries quickly.
As with a few other of these adjustable presses, reviewers say that the wingnuts can be a challenge for some people to tighten, but they provide a much more even press overall. As one person sums up, “I always thought I was just *bad* at cooking good tofu, but I realized that I just needed to buy this! Works like a charm, easy to clean and use, simple design, and best of all: no plastic!”
amazon.com
