How To Remove Water From Tofu

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Since tofu is fabricated of by and large h2o, you demand to dry it before you cook it to get the all-time texture. Pressing out the water likewise allows the tofu to absorb more flavors from any marinade or seasonings you might employ. There are several methods you can endeavour, including pressing, freezing, soaking, or microwaving your tofu. Pressing is the about traditional method, but it takes the longest, while either freezing or microwaving the tofu will alter the texture.

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Drain a block of tofu and pat information technology dry with newspaper towels. Open a 15 oz (425 m) container of tofu and pour off the h2o that's inside. Take the tofu out of the container and pat the surface dry with paper towels.^[1]
- You don't take to squeeze or press the tofu at this signal. Just dry the surface as much as possible.
- If you're using silken tofu, just pat the surface dry. Information technology is not firm plenty to withstand pressing.
2
Place the tofu on a plate betwixt vi-8 layers of paper towels. Stack about iii or 4 layers of paper towels on a sturdy plate and place the cake of tofu on top of the newspaper towels. So, either wrap the paper towels effectually the block of tofu or add another 3-four layers of newspaper towels on top.^[2]
- The paper towels will aid absorb the water released past the tofu as yous printing information technology.
- If your plates are securely concave, you lot may want to turn the lesser plate upside-downwards.
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Add another plate and a 2 lb (0.91 kg) weight on acme of the newspaper towels. One time you've stacked the tofu and paper towels together, identify a second plate on top of the stack. Then, add something heavy—like a cast iron skillet or several cans of food—to the top so the tofu will be pressed between the two plates.
- Look around your kitchen to see what you can utilise! Try a canister of flour, for instance, or a large cookbook.
- You can purchase a pre-fabricated tofu press, but unless you'll be drying tofu frequently, in that location'south no need to take upward your cabinet space with something you lot won't use oft.
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Drain the h2o off the plate every thirty minutes until no more than water comes out. Every thirty minutes, tilt the plate over your sink and cascade off any water that'southward collected on the bottom plate. If the paper towels get completely soaked, replace them with new ones.^[iii]
- The type of tofu you employ will touch on how long it needs to bleed. Super-business firm tofu might be completely drained in 30 minutes to an hour, while medium-firm tofu might even so need to be pressed for three-four hours.
In a Bustle? Slice your tofu first, so press it for well-nigh fifteen-xxx minutes. Your tofu might not get quite as crispy when you cook information technology, but this technique will still remove most of the h2o!
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Utilise the tofu correct away or store information technology for 2-iii days in the refrigerator. Once you've pressed the water out of your tofu, it's set up to marinate or cook. If y'all're not planning to swallow it correct away, place it in a resealable plastic bag and keep it in the refrigerator for up to iii days.
- When you dry your tofu, it volition be able to blot more of the flavors from a marinade, and information technology will develop a crispier exterior one time y'all cook information technology.
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Place your tofu in a microwave-safe container. The tofu volition release some liquid in the microwave, so you may want to use a container with a rim. For instance, yous might utilize a microwave-safe takeout container or a apartment-bottomed bowl.^[4]
- Leave the tofu uncovered when you put it into the microwave.
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Microwave the container on high for 2 minutes. Identify the tofu in your microwave and make sure the power is set to high. Then, turn information technology on for about 2 minutes.^[5]
- Endeavour not to open the microwave while information technology's cooking, as the tofu may not rut all the way through the center.
3

Let the tofu cool until you lot can comfortably handle it. Advisedly remove the container from the microwave and permit the tofu to sit down for virtually 5 minutes. The tofu and the liquid in the bottom of the container volition be very hot, so don't try to touch it until it's cooled off.
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Squeeze out any remaining moisture, then pat the tofu dry. Once the tofu is absurd, wrap it in a kitchen towel or paper towels and clasp out whatever moisture that'south left within. And so, use the towels to pat the surface of the tofu until it feels dry and spongy.^[6]
- Your tofu will now exist ready to marinate or melt with!
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1
Bring ii cups (470 mL) of salted water to a boil. Place a pot on the stove and measure out 2 cups (470 mL) of water. And so, add together virtually ii tbsp (35 chiliad) of salt to the water. Turn your stove to high rut and bring the h2o to a rapid boil.^[vii]
- It may seem strange to cascade water over something to dry out information technology out. However, the estrus and common salt will cause the tofu to tighten, which volition force out the water that'southward inside.
- Salted water takes longer to boil than fresh water, so if y'all'd prefer, you tin look to add the salt until afterward the h2o boils.
Tip: This technique is faster than pressing or freezing, making it a great option when you want to add together tofu to a weeknight dinner!
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Cut your cake of tofu into squares and place it in a shallow bowl. First, cutting the cake of tofu lengthwise into nearly iii slices. And so, cut each piece into long strips. Finally cut the strips into uniform squares or cubes. Once you've cut the tofu, move it to a shallow container or bowl.^[8]
- Having evenly-cut pieces will ensure they soak and cook evenly. Still, if you lot accept a few irregular pieces, it will be fine.
- If you'd adopt to leave your tofu in planks, that's okay also.^[9]
3
Cascade the water over the tofu. Once your water is at a rolling boil, carefully elevator the pot and acquit it to the bowl of tofu. Tipping the pot away from you lot, pour the water slowly over the tofu. Recall, the steam and the water can both burn down you, so be very careful.^[10]
- It's a good idea to use oven mitts or pot holders when you selection up the pot, every bit the handle could exist hot.
- It's okay if the water doesn't completely embrace the tofu.
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Let the tofu to sit in the h2o for well-nigh 15 minutes. The common salt water will assistance draw the moisture out of your tofu as it soaks. In addition, the tofu volition absorb a trivial of the salt, so it will be more flavorful when y'all cook information technology.^[11]
- Try prepping the residuum of your meal or mixing up a marinade while you're waiting!
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Wrap the tofu in a towel or paper towels and squeeze out any remaining liquid. Subsequently the tofu has soaked, accept it out of the water and place into a clean kitchen towel or a stack paper towels.Gently clasp the tofu to remove whatsoever water that's left, then pat the surface dry.^[12]
- Afterward that, your tofu is gear up to cook!
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1
Place a fifteen oz (428 chiliad) container of tofu in the freezer overnight. After you purchase your tofu, place it directly into the freezer for six-eight hours or overnight. Practice not open the package or cascade off the water, every bit the tofu might go freezer-burned.^[xiii]
- Freezing tofu earlier you press it takes a little advance planning, merely the actual drying procedure is much shorter than using the traditional pressing method. Even so, freezing the tofu will modify its texture, making information technology somewhat more bready than tofu that hasn't been frozen.
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Thaw the tofu in the refrigerator for 5 hours or overnight. Once the tofu has frozen completely solid, remove information technology from the freezer. Identify the container into your refrigerator and let information technology sit there for at least 5 hours or overnight, or until there are no ice crystals remaining on the tofu.^[14]
- You can too place the tofu container under cool running water to help defrost it more quickly.^[fifteen]
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Open the container and drain off whatsoever liquid. Once the tofu seems thawed, open the container and carefully pour off the h2o that's collected in the bottom. If you'd like, you can pierce the tofu with a knife to ensure it'due south thawed all the way through the heart.^[16]
- If the tofu is still frozen, place it in the refrigerator until information technology's completely thawed. If there'southward water ice in the center, the tofu will non dry properly.
four
Press the tofu with your easily to clasp out the water. Take the tofu out of the container and hold it in both of your hands over the sink. Then, squeeze your easily together to strength as much of the liquid out of the tofu equally you can.^[17]
- If yous're having trouble squeezing the tofu in your hands, try placing it between 2 plates first. Press them together as hard every bit you can without groovy the tofu, and then drain off the water.
5
Pat the tofu dry and utilise or refrigerate information technology immediately. Use newspaper towels to pat the surface of the tofu dry out after y'all've pressed it. And so, yous can marinate it and use it in stir-fry, on the grill, bake it, or fry it, depending on your favorite recipe!
- If you're not going to use the tofu right away, put it in an airtight container or a resealable plastic pocketbook and place it in the fridge for two-3 days.
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These techniques will non piece of work for silken tofu.^[xviii]

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Things You'll Demand

15 oz (425 g) bundle of firm tofu (not silken)
Paper towels
2 plates
Approx. 2 lb (0.91 kg) weight (or whatsoever heavy object)

15 oz (425 g) package of firm tofu (not silken)
Knife
Paper towels
two plates (optional)

Microwave-safe container
Knife
Paper towels

Pot
Measuring cup
Salt
Measuring spoon
Pot holders or oven mitts
Shallow bowl
Towels or paper towels

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Article Summary 10

To dry tofu, start by opening the container and draining off any water inside. And so, pat the tofu dry with paper towels, and sandwich it betwixt six layers of paper towels on a plate. Identify another plate on top, so set something heavy on top of that to press the tofu downward, like a cast fe skillet or a few cans of food. Every 30 minutes, drain off whatever water that's been pressed out onto the plate until no more than water comes out, which can take 1-iv hours depending on how firm the tofu is. For a faster pick, place the tofu in a microwave-safe container and microwave it on high for 2 minutes to dry it. To learn how to dry tofu by freezing it overnight, ringlet down!

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