Itching to make tofu but missing a press? No worries! I’ve got everything you need to know so that you can learn how to press tofu without a press. Tofu is one of my favorite plant-based protein options, and thankfully, you can save money (and space in your kitchen drawers) by trying these options instead.
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What Is Tofu?
Tofu, another word for bean curd, is a byproduct of soybeans. It is a high-protein food often used as a plant-based meat alternative.
Tofu comes in various degrees of softness and is most often found in Asian foods. It has a chewy or soft texture and takes on the taste of whatever it’s prepared with when combined with other sauces or spices.
Tofu is a versatile plant-based protein that can be eaten cooked or raw.
Why Does Tofu Have to Be Pressed?
Tofu is made with and packaged in water. Because of this, it needs to be pressed to remove the excess liquid.
You won’t remove enough excess water without pressing tofu, and leaving the water will affect its finish. It will not be nearly as crispy, nor will it take on the intended flavors.
Do You Really Need to Press Tofu?
Think of tofu like you would another meat you cook with, like chicken or pork.
For example, when grilling a chicken breast or roasting a pork chop, the recipe typically instructs you to pat the meat dry. This is because you are about to put olive oil, spices, rubs, or other flavor enhancers on top of the piece of meat.
If you fail to follow that instruction, the water blocks the oil or spices from fully mixing with the meat, leaving them with a weaker flavor. It also makes it more difficult for the meat to crisp up, which affects the overall texture.
Tofu is the same as meat in that way. The water inside it will block the spices and the crispiness. Unless you want flavorless, chewy tofu, you need to press it.
How Long Do You Press Tofu?
The amount of time it takes to press tofu depends on your method. With a press, it usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. But, you can use other items that could take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.
Also, the amount of time will depend on how much water is in your tofu. But, again, this could vary from brand to brand or even package to package.
Pressing tofu does take some time, so make sure you are timing your recipe accordingly. If you need to chop vegetables or prepare a side dish, do so while you press your tofu.
You can also press tofu hours before or even the night before using it and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
2 Ways to Press Tofu Without a Press
Here are a couple of my favorite ways to press tofu without a press!
A Heavy Skillet
One of the most common methods for pressing tofu is using a skillet. You simply wrap your tofu in a towel, set it on a plate, and place a skillet on top of it.
You may need to fill your skillet with items to increase the weight depending on how heavy your skillet is.
If you have a cast-iron skillet, it’s probably heavy enough, but ones of different materials may be too lightweight.
You can use anything heavy, like cans or a bag of flour, to fill your skillet. Just make sure the weight is evenly distributed and not so heavy that it wrecks any of your kitchen items.
A Cutting Board
Another common method is using the cutting board. This is essentially the same as using a skillet; instead, you’re using a cutting board.
Some people prefer to use a skillet because it holds items safely inside its rim. But if you’re using a cutting board, simply use items that won’t move around, like books or sturdy jars.
Recipes with Tofu You May Like:
- The Easiest Recipe for Korean Soft Tofu Soup
- How to Make Miso Soup from Miso Paste
- Easy Homemade Shabu Shabu
- The Easiest Pad Thai with Tofu Recipe You’ll Ever Make
3 Tips When Pressing Tofu
If you’ve never pressed tofu before, here are some helpful tips:
Tip 1. Use a Towel
Don’t skip using a towel. This will help absorb the water and protect the tofu from whatever is pressing it. You can use a dish towel or paper towels.
Tip 2. Use Something to Catch the Liquid
Make sure you have something to catch the excess liquid; otherwise, you’ll have a huge mess.
For example, you could put your tofu on a rimmed plate or a rimmed baking sheet or just set it in your sink.
Either way, you want something to catch all that liquid.
Tip 3. Don’t Press for Too Long
You shouldn’t need to press your tofu for more than two hours, and even that is much longer than it’ll likely take.
You also don’t want to leave it sitting out unrefrigerated for too long as it could go bad.
Once it has been pressed enough, either use your tofu or put it back in the refrigerator and use it within a few days of pressing it.
How to Press Tofu Without a Press (Step-by-Step)
Step 1. Cut the Tofu Block in Half
To start, cut the tofu block in half as evenly as you can. Here, we are using an extra firm tofu block.
Step 2. Place Folded Paper Towels in Between the Tofu
Place one half of the tofu block on a sheet of paper towel, or kitchen towel if you have a spare.
Then, place another folded paper towel on top of the first block.
Followed by the second half of the tofu block directly on top. Make sure the edges line up.
Finally, place one more folded paper towel on top of the second half of the tofu block.
Step 3. Press the Tofu
Place a heavy object, like a cast iron pot or skillet, on top of the tofu block. If you need it to be heavier, place more objects inside the pot or skillet. Then, allow the tofu to press for a minimum of 15 minutes, but preferably 30 to 60 minutes.
After the tofu has been pressed, carefully remove the paper towels.
Your tofu is now fully pressed and ready for cooking!
Additional Info on Pressing Tofu
Not all tofu will need to be pressed, like some you purchase vacuum-sealed.
If you think it does not need to be pressed, dab it with a towel to see if it picks up any moisture. If it does, press the tofu. On the rare occasion that it doesn’t, you can skip the pressing.
You can use that same method to ensure your tofu has been pressed for long enough.
If, after dabbing the tofu with a towel, it is still picking up moisture, continue pressing it. You could easily collect half a cup of excess liquid from pressing tofu.
We typically refer to firm and extra firm varieties when discussing pressing tofu, as they will need the most pressing.
On the other hand, you do not want to press silken tofu because it will crush and ruin its texture.
The Takeaway
Tofu is a fantastic plant-based protein that goes with many dishes that generally require meat. If you eat a lot of tofu and you’re wondering whether or not you need a tofu press, I hope you know now that it’s definitely unnecessary. There are plenty of ways to press tofu without a press. Try one of these methods and let me know what you think!
