What Is Tofu?
Most people know that tofu is a soy-based something, but what is it actually? The making of tofu parallels the making of cheese. With cheese, you take milk and add rennet or an acid, causing the casein proteins in the milk to aggregate into clumps. With tofu, you take soy milk and add calcium sulfate, as the coagulant, causing similar clumping. Then you just take these coagulated clumps and press them together into the classic tofu cube! The amount of water pressed from the cube determines the firmness of the tofu. Much like tempeh, it’s known for its mild flavor and high protein content, and it has been a staple in East Asian cuisine for centuries. Its sponge-like properties give it the ability to absorb flavors and adapt to a variety of recipes. We will link a few of our favorites that are appropriate for the different types of tofu. Oh, and if you need some advice on how to press tofu, we have that covered.
How to Store Tofu
RefrigerateTofu can either be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. To store in the fridge, keep fresh tofu in the water it comes in. Every few days, replace the water with fresh water. FreezeFreezing tofu is probably not what you think. If you feared your tofu might go bad, you could freeze it to extend its useful life, but there are two better reasons to freeze tofu. These are texture and firmness.
Types of Tofu
We’re going beyond silken and firm tofu! Here are 14 different kinds of tofu for you to try.
Silken or Soft Tofu
About: Silken tofu has a smooth and creamy texture, largely due to its high water content. It is made from coagulated, uncurdled soy milk. The liquid is poured into molds, but unlike other types of tofu the whey is not pressed out. The result is a block of silky (thus the name) tofu that is difficult to pick up without it falling apart. Uses: We think the best uses of silken tofu are in inherently soft recipes like non-dairy smoothies. Try this mocha protein frappuccino. It is also a good option for dressings like this vegan ranch dressing. Silken is ideal in raw applications. Try it right out of the package with fruit in the morning, or perhaps as a savory appetizer in this 5-minute spicy silken tofu recipe. Soft tofu can easily be crumbled or mashed into the consistency of a soft cheese making it a good option as a non-dairy sour cream substitute, ricotta substitute, or even in a pinch as a feta substitute.
Regular or Medium Tofu
About: Regular tofu, also known as medium tofu, strikes a balance between silken and firm tofu in terms of texture. To make regular tofu, soybeans are soaked, ground, and boiled to extract the soy milk. The milk is then coagulated and pressed into blocks. The pressing process removes some of the water, resulting in a firmer texture compared to silken tofu but with a softer consistency than firm tofu depending on the desired firmness. Uses: Medium tofu’s texture makes it ideal for a wide range of cooking methods. It holds its shape well when diced, sliced, or cubed, making it suitable for stir-fries, soups, stews, and grilling. We say suitable, not ideal as in some recipes of these types you are better off with a firm tofu. If you are vigorously stirring your stir fry, for example, a medium tofu is likely to break apart. Medium tofu absorbs flavors well taking on the taste of marinades, sauces, and seasonings. Additionally, medium tofu can be crumbled and used as a meat substitute in dishes like tacos, chili, and pasta sauces, providing a protein-rich alternative for vegetarian and vegan diets. We like it in vegan tofu scrambled eggs as it crumbles ideally to match the consistency we want. You can use these eggs in quick and easy vegan breakfast tacos.
Firm
About: Firm tofu holds its shape well and has a denser texture than silken or regular. To make firm tofu, soybeans are processed similarly to regular tofu, but the resulting curds are pressed for a longer period to remove more moisture, resulting in a firmer texture. Firm tofu is the most sold of all the types and can support a lot of uses. If you are going to keep one tofu on hand, this would be it. Uses: Due to its firm texture (similar to feta), firm tofu is ideal for slicing, cubing, or crumbling, making it a good option for stir fries, soups, stews, and grilling. Like regular tofu, It absorbs flavors well, making it a popular choice for marinating or seasoning with sauces and spices. It is ideal for absorbing flavors in recipes like this vegetarian coconut curry. We prefer firm over extra-firm in recipes where you want the distinct flavor, of say curry, to be absorbed in the tofu as firm will absorb flavors better than firmer tofu. Firm tofu can also be breaded and fried to create crispy tofu dishes like almond crusted tofu nuggets or added to salads for a protein boost. Its ability to hold its shape makes it a preferred choice for dishes where texture is important.
Extra-Firm Tofu
About: Extra-firm tofu has less water than firm tofu, which you notice in the difference in texture. The culinary possibilities of firm and extra-firm are almost the same, but extra-firm tofu doesn’t absorb marinades as well. On the other hand, extra-firm is easier to pan-fry, stir-fry or deep-fry. Follow your personal preference. Uses: It’s perfect for skewers, kebabs, and dishes that require longer cooking times, as it won’t break apart easily. Extra firm tofu can also be sliced thinly and used as a meat substitute in sandwiches or wraps. We have found that extra firm tofu gives great results in any of these recipes holding up nicely in cooking, but you can easily replace it with a firm tofu and expect good results in recipes like these Vegan Chicken Caesar Wraps and Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets.
Super-Firm Tofu
About: If you look at super-firm tofu you can easily mistake it for meat because it is so dense. In fact it makes great meat substitutes! Super-firm tofu is not widely available but is easy to make. Uses: Cut the tofu into regular-sized slices, sticks, or cubes, mix with a hot marinade, and pan-fry stir-fry, or deep-fry. This is the go-to tofu for a vegetarian juicy tofu burger. It also works well in this Coffee marinated tofu. If you need tips on how to marinate tofu, we have you covered in how to marinate tofu. You can generally use extra-firm and super-firm in any recipe that calls for either.
Seasoned Tofu
About: One of tofu’s superpowers is that it, depending on the type, absorbs flavors well. But, you don’t have to take on flavoring yourself. Pre-seasoned tofu is available at many groceries. This saves you the time of doing it yourself. Uses: Seasoned tofu is generally a firm or extra-firm variety and a good option for pan-fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, grilled, roasted in the oven, and barbecued recipes.
Smoked Tofu
About: Smoked tofu is generally extra-firm and comes right out of the package with a pleasant smoky flavor. Smoking was once mostly done over tea leaves, but today it is generally done over beech wood. Uses: You can use it in stir-fries, pan-fries, etc, but we think the best uses are raw like in salads.
Tofu à la minute
About: Tofu à la minute is a cooking technique in which tofu is quickly pan-fried or sautéed to create a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender interior. The term “à la minute” is French for “at the minute,” indicating that the dish is prepared to order, usually requiring only a few minutes of cooking time. How To Make It: To make tofu à la minute, you typically start with extra-firm tofu, which holds its shape well and can develop a nice crispy crust when cooked properly. The tofu is usually pressed to remove excess moisture before cooking, which helps it achieve a firmer texture and allows it to absorb flavors more effectively. Once the tofu is pressed, it’s cut into cubes or slices and then seasoned with herbs, spices, sauces, or marinades based on the recipe’s intent. Common seasonings include soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, chili flakes, and various herbs and spices.
Fermented Tofu
About: You can make your own, but it is really easier to just buy it at your local Asian grocery. Tofu is generally pickled in rice wine with water and salt and has a strong umami flavor. Uses: In Chinese cuisine fermented tofu is used as a flavoring.
Tofu Skin
About: Okay, tofu doesn’t really have a skin or peel, so I guess you could call it tofu scum. Not very appetizing, but when you heat soy milk a skin forms on the surface of the liquid. This is tofu skin, and it has its uses. Uses: Skins can be marinated and pan-fried, you can stuff them and deep fry them. You may see them commercially sold as Yuba which is bought to make Dim Sum and other Asian recipes like a vegetarian duck or goose substitute, or a noodle substitute.
Tofu Sticks
About: Tofu sticks are sun-dried, rolled tofu skins. You can buy them commercially, but read the package carefully as they sometimes are actually beancurd. How To Make It: You can make your own tofu sticks for deep frying by simply cutting your pressed and drained block of tofu into ½” x ½” by 2 ½” sticks then deep frying them.
Fried Tofu
About: If you don’t want to fry your own tofu, you can purchase it already seasoned and fried. This is a good option if you just want to add them to a recipe that calls for fried tofu, but don’t want to do it yourself. Uses: It is generally sold in strips or strings for use in soups or in small squares filled with rice for use in sushi.
Tofu Surrogates or “Faux” Tofu
About: Okay, this really seems like a crazy idea. We have spent this entire post showing how to use tofu in place of meat, cheese, pasta sauce, or you name it. Now we want to discuss fake tofu? Well, we had a request from a reader a while ago saying she couldn’t eat soy, and asked if there was a way to make a non-soy tofu. We said, ya there are commercial varieties of chickpea tofu, but when we tried one it wasn’t so great. The thing is, chickpeas are a top five ingredient here at Live Eat Learn, so…. we experimented a bit and came up with this chickpea tofu. Uses: It has a unique nutty flavor and a dense texture that make it perfect for stir-fries, salads, and more. Plus, you only need 3 ingredients! Give it a try and leave us a note in the comment section. About: This post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that cooking tofu in your air fryer is a great option to save time and energy. Try Crispy air fried tofu in yours. That wraps up our look at different types of tofu. We hope you found this article helpful, and as always happy cooking!
