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    Home » Kitchen Tips

    How to Press Tofu Without a Press

    Lindsay Moe

    890 shares
    How to Press Tofu Without a Press - Easy tips for how to cook with tofu, how long to press it, and how to get the water out without a press! #tofu #vegetarian #vegan #cooking #howtocook #press #kitchentips
    How to Press Tofu Without a Press - Easy tips for how to cook with tofu, how long to press it, and how to get the water out without a press! #tofu #vegetarian #vegan #cooking #howtocook #press #kitchentips

    Learn how to press tofu without a press!

    two slabs of tofu on a cutting board

    Tofu is quickly becoming one of my favorite vegetarian protein options.

    If tofu is a new food to you, it can be intimidating at first. What is it? What do you do with it?

    If it’s totally new to you, consider signing up to receive my 4 secrets to tofu success where I’ll share all my top tips for gaining confidence with this meatless option.

    a bowl of tofu

    I want to share some tips with you so cooking tofu can be easier. I like to choose extra firm tofu for general cooking, but be sure to check whatever recipe you’re using to ensure you choose the right kind of tofu.

    Short on time? Try my web story on how to press tofu without a press!

    Can you eat raw tofu?

    Tofu is essentially soy bean curd. It is generally considered safe to eat tofu out of the package without cooking it because the soy has been cooked and processed, however I definitely enjoy it more cooked!

    How do you dry out tofu?

    Tofu comes packed in water. It is a good idea to drain off some of this water either using a tofu press (<– affiliate link) or the method outlined below.

    two slabs of tofu on a cutting board with a knife

    How to press tofu without a press

    To remove the excess water from your tofu, simply slice it in half like a book. Place a few folded paper towel sheets underneath one of the tofu slabs and a few on top.

    Place the other piece of tofu directly over the top of the first one, making sure the edges line up. Place a few more paper towels on top of the second piece, then place a heavy skillet on top.

    a hand putting paper towel on tofu

    Fill the skillet with something heavy such as a jar of sugar, a bag of flour, a few cans, books, etc.

    a bowl of tofu

    How long do you need to press tofu?

    Allow the tofu to press a minimum of ten minutes, but 30-60 minutes will result in firmer, drier tofu.

    a heavy jar pressing tofu

    After the tofu has been pressed, remove the skillet and its contents and discard the paper towels. Cut the tofu into whatever size is desired and proceed with your recipe.

    A few tofu recipes you may enjoy:

    The Best Tofu Marinade

    the best tofu in a bed of noodles and salat

    The Best Crispy Tofu

    The Best Crispy Tofu served on two white plates with broccoli and rice

    Cajun Tofu

    Cajun Tofu - High protein tofu meets spicy cajun seasonings! #cajun #tofu #vegan #vegetarian #dinner #easy #healthy #baked #spicy

    Vegan Ham

    a plate of vegan tofu ham

    What is your favorite way to prepare tofu?

    How to Press Tofu Without a Press
    a bowl of tofu

    More Kitchen Tips

    • Tofu in a tofu press in a shallow bowl.
      How to Press Tofu With a Tofu Press
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      How to Ripen Avocados
    • A spoon holding a bite of edible cookie dough.
      How Do You Make Edible Cookie Dough?

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    1. Kathy says

      May 22, 2022 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks so much for the help. I never considered cutting it in half that way. I bought a tofu press but its pretty useless. I believe that removing the water makes the tofu so much better.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        May 23, 2022 at 11:57 am

        It definitely does, glad this helped!

        Reply

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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