This tutorial will show you how to press tofu to maximize flavor and texture. There is no need to purchase any fancy equipment. A thick bath towel, some large coffee table books, and one hour is all you need for perfectly pressed tofu!
Although I’ve already done a post on how to press tofu, I decided to do another one, but with a different angle. In this post, I wanted to compare towel-pressing tofu against the conventional way of pressing tofu, which typically involves wrapping the entire block in some paper towels and adding weight or using a tofu press.
Towel-pressed tofu uses equipment you already have at home, eliminating the need to buy a fancy tofu press.
Do You Have To Press Tofu Before Cooking It?
If you just want to remove some of the water from the tofu for something like a scramble or fried tofu, this method is perfectly fine. But if you want to marinate it in something, getting out all of the moisture from the tofu is key.
The problem with a tofu press or pressing with paper towels is that it doesn’t do well at all with pulling moisture from the center. The problem with this is:
- the tofu doesn’t soak up marinade well because it’s still wet, and
- it waters down whatever marinade you are placing it in.
The result? Tofu that is a lot less flavorful than it could be!
How To Press Tofu: The Best Method
To avoid these two things, I use this tofu-pressing method.
Cut The Tofu Into Four Or Eight Slabs
Cutting tofu into slabs allows for every inch of the tofu to be pressed, drawing out as much moisture as possible.
Use A Highly Absorbent Bath Towel
Using a thick bath towel is key for absorbing moisture from the tofu. Once it’s properly pressed, you’ll be surprised at how wet the towel is. Compare that to using a few paper towels, and it’s no contest.
This turns the tofu into virtual soy sponges that will greedily soak up marinades and maximize its flavor!
Use Large Coffee Table Books (About 10 Pounds)
Using large coffee table books is perfect for this method. Add them one at a time to avoid smashing. I’ve found that adding 10 pounds of books provides the right amount of pressure. Letting the tofu press for about an hour is the perfect amount of time to draw all of the moisture out.
What Is The Best Way To Press Tofu?
I’ve pressed to tofu this way for over a decade and found it’s the best way for tofu recipes that use a marinade. For any other tofu recipe, a little squeeze or using paper towels is fine for drawing out a little excess moisture.
How To Press Tofu Without A Tofu Press
To illustrate the difference with this method, I created two tofu guinea pigs, which I’ve called “Tofu A” and “Tofu B”. I pressed Tofu A using the paper towel method, and Tofu B using my towel-pressed method. Then I marinated them in a beet-colored marinade to show how much more moisture the towel-pressed method pulls out of the tofu.
Pressing Tofu Using Paper Towels
Tofu A: Place some weight over a block of tofu wrapped in paper towels.
Pressing Tofu Using Towels
Tofu B: Slice the tofu into 8 slabs and place onto a thick bath towel.
Fold the towel over the top of the tofu, ensuring that the top and bottom are covered evenly.
Add about 10 pounds of large coffee table books over the top for about an hour.
For Tofu A and Tofu B: Wait about 1 hour for the tofu to press.
Tofu A and Tofu B: A side-by-side comparison. Notice how more compact towel-pressed Tofu B (back) is than paper towel-pressed Tofu A (front)!
Check out the texture of Tofu B compared to Tofu A.
How Do I Press Tofu Correctly?
From the experiment above, you’ll see that towel-pressed tofu results in a much more compact and drier tofu than tofu pressed in paper towels. But how does it hold up when marinating? Let’s place them both into the same exact marinade (I used beet juice here just to illustrate the difference clearly) and see what happens!
Marinate The Pressed Tofu For An Hour
I placed Tofu A and Tofu B into the same marinade for about an hour, the same amount you would typically marinate tofu at the bare minimum.
The Result
See for yourself! Since Tofu B has all of the moisture pulled out, it was able to soak up the beet juice much more efficiently than Tofu A, the paper towel-pressed tofu.
Do You Need To Press Tofu?
Not all tofu needs to be pressed. A good rule of thumb is that if a recipe calls for marinating, then it should be pressed. Try this method the next time you are prepping tofu for a marinade and see for yourself how much of a difference this method makes!
Great Tofu Recipes That Use This Method
I love marinated tofu recipes because the possibilities for marinades are endless. Here are some of my favorite tofu recipes that use this towel-pressing method:
- This Sambal Tofu is a perfect weeknight dinner, and hits the spot if you love heat!
- I love making this Vegan Palak Paneer. The tofu cubes are so delicious and taste just like the paneer cubes I used to remember eat before I quit dairy.
- This Za’atar Tofu recipe is so flavorful and great paired with grains and a tahini sauce.
- Tofu Tikka Masala is such a flavorful dish, and so fun to make.
- This Black Pepper and Thyme Crusted Tofu is so good. It’s sweet, salty, and acidic. Perfect nestled up to a side of grains and vegetables.
- Sriracha and peanut butter come together to create this Sriracha and Peanut Butter Tofu recipe. It’s rich and spicy … my favorite combo!
FAQs
Pressing tofu removes excess water, resulting in a firmer texture that holds up better during cooking. This process enhances flavor absorption from marinades and prevents the tofu from becoming too soggy when stir-frying or grilling. While not necessary for all recipes, pressing tofu is a common step to improve its overall texture and taste.
Pressing tofu can take up to one hour. The longer it’s pressed, the more moisture will be drawn out, making it a better consistency for recipes that call for marinades.
The best way to press tofu is using the towel-pressed method, as it uses equipment you already have in your home and draws out moisture the best. Other options include pressing with paper towels or using a tofu press.
Not necessarily. It’s a gadget that some find useful, but all that is really needed is a thick bath towel and some large coffee table books. The absorption and weight combo creates the perfect consistency for tossing into marinades. Not all tofu recipes require pressing tofu, so check the instructions first.
You can press tofu in advance—just be sure to refrigerate it afterward. Keep in mind that pressed tofu can be stored in marinade overnight as well.
Get This Recipe In Your Inbox
Share your email, and we’ll deliver it straight to your inbox.
Plus, enjoy new content every week as a bonus!
How to Press Tofu
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 2 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Learn how to press tofu without a press. In this method, we’ll be using a thick bath towel and about 10 pounds of heavy books to draw all of the moisture out of the tofu. This allows the tofu to best soak up marinades and sauces without watering them down!
Ingredients
- 14 oz. block of firm or super firm tofu
- large bath towel
- 10 pounds of large, coffee table books
Instructions
- Cut the tofu into 4 to 8 slabs.
- Fold a large, thick bath towel in half. Place the slabs evenly onto it, then fold the towel over the top.
- Place about 10 pounds of coffee table books over the top.
- Allow to press for one hour.
- Transfer to any tofu marinade of your choice, allowing to marinate at a minimum of one hour, or up to overnight.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Pressed
- Cuisine: American
Mark says
I agree with the comment about TofuXpress. No paper towel waste, no extra towel washing, and the container is perfect for marinating.
Anonymous says
Just wanted to stop by and say that I've been using this method at home and am making the best baked tofu ever! Thank you so much!! it really makes an incredible night-and-day difference with texture and flavor. I used to pay $$ for store-bought baked tofu because I was never happy with the baked tofu I produced at home, this has seriously saved me so much money. Love your blog!!
erinwyso says
Thanks for your comment, so happy you like!
Tamara says
I find that when I press it becomes very crumbly. Any ideas why?
erinwyso says
Tamara, How are you pressing it? What kind of tofu are you using? Firm? Extra Firm? Does it crumble when you pick it up?
If you try this method with firm tofu, you will get dense almost rubbery tofu that's perfect for marinades that sautees and browns beautifully in the pan. It should not be crumbly at all.
vegan.in.brighton says
This post is SO awesome!! I always to with method A but I'm totally converting to method B as soon as I get home and get my hands on some tofu! I already love it the first way so I'm super excited to take my tofu love to the next level!
erinwyso says
I hope you enjoy, Jojo!
Richa says
that owl.. <3 i need that one right now:)
brilliant idea to press the tofu! now to find the kitchen towels that don't have my pom's hair on them:)
Helyn says
How cool is THAT? Thanks for the tip. Love the little owl timer 🙂
Ian says
I bought a few of these. The only thing I use them for is pressing tofu.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10100909/
Abby Bean says
Why not the Tofu Xpress? It's the BEST and works in a very short time.
Michelle Thiele says
Like a few other commenters, I never press my tofu! My husband and I just don't have the time to press it, but this was very convincing. You really got me with your scientific approach; I'm going to have to try it!
LittleMonsterx14 says
i love the comparisons!
Mary G says
But WHERE do you get the amazingly adorable owl timer?!?!?!?!?!?!
Gina says
Fascinating experiment–thanks! The evidence for the enhanced marinade absorption has convinced me to use this pressing technique from now on. Can't wait to try it. On the cat hair/towel fluff issue: I have 2 cats and their hair is not on my clean towels, usually (unless they jump into the clean clothes pile, which sometimes happens). But you could just line the towel with clean cheesecloth or other thin cotton material so the tofu doesn't directly touch the towel fluff, etc. You would still get the towel moisture absorption.
Magic and Mayhem says
I always press my tofu with paper towels. The towel technique sounds good on paper and it always struck me as much better for the environment but I have no idea how people can use towels in the kitchen because of the lint factor! We have 2 cats and a collie. Even fresh from the dryer, our towels and clothes are always covered in pet hair. There is no way I could use any of our towels anywhere near our food. Even if we didn't, towels shed lint. How does this not get on your food? I'm perplexed. 🙂
erinwyso says
hmmmm … we have a cat that sheds like crazy, but I've never had a problem with lint/cat hair sticking to our clean towels or the tofu that's been pressed with it, so I'm not sure what to tell you!
Mary G says
Sounds like you need to clean out the dryer vent! You might check inside the body of your dryer as well.
I bought a used dryer at a thrift shop and cleaned out enough compacted lint to FILL a large trash bag. I'm sure the people discarded their dryer because they thought it didn't work very well anymore. 😉 It works GREAT, now that it's cleaned out. LOL
Glo says
I have to agree I never press my tofu. I usually buy an extra-firm that is very dry. But the next time I make a dish where the marinade is important I'm giving this a try! Thanks for the demo and awesome pics!
TheVegAdventurers says
Shamefully, we don't press our tofu often (…or ever). But, this will definitely inspire us to try it a little bit more often. This definitely shows how much can be infused into the tofu.
Amey says
wow!!!!!!! I NEVER press my tofu, because I am lazy and quick in the kitchen. But geeez, that picture with the difference in how much the marinade is absorbed is VERY COMPELLING. Hm. Now you've got me thinking.
littleveganbear says
I use the towel method too, unless I'm pressed (ha ha) for time, in which case I give it a quick smooshing between paper towels. I love the beetroot comparative photos though – they really illustrate the difference between these methods – the colour/marinade Tofu B has picked up is quite amazing!