How To Thaw Tofu Quickly

by Penny Alba

Introduction

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something youre trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

How long does tofu take to defrost?

Thaw Frozen Tofu In The Refrigerator

Chuck your frozen tofu into the refrigerator to thaw overnight or during the day. This defrosting method will take about 8 hours or so.

Can I defrost tofu in water?

If you need to quickly thaw frozen tofu, submerge it in hot water or defrost it in the microwave (as long as the package is microwave safe). Once the tofu is thawed, drain and press out the extra moisture before cooking in your favorite tofu dishes.

Can you cook tofu straight from frozen?

Once youve frozen the tofu and youre ready to cook it, simply remove it from the packaging. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, gently slip in the tofu to the pot and boil (reduce the heat to a simmer) for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Do you need to defrost frozen tofu?

Once frozen, thaw the tofu in the refrigerator. (If you froze a whole block and are anxious to use it, you can do as this Serious Eats recipe recommends, and simmer the frozen block in water for 15 minutes before cubing.

Can you boil tofu to defrost?

If youre in a rush to defrost tofu, you can run warm tap water over the container to defrost it faster. Once you can remove the tofu from the container, you can microwave or boil the tofu to speed up the defrosting.

Is it safe to eat frozen tofu?

While some foods dont change much with a stint in the freezer, there are some that dont fare so well. But tofu is the exception. Not only is it totally okay to freeze tofu, but theres one big benefit you get from doing it.

What is the fastest way to remove water from tofu?

If youre draining fresh (not thawed) tofu, wrap the tofu in a dish towel. Then place a heavy object on top, such as a sheet pan, cast-iron skillet, heavy frying pan, or a combination of those to weigh down the tofu and press out the excess water.

How long should I squeeze the water out of tofu?

Wrap the block of tofu in a clean tea towel then put it on a large plate with a lip. Put something heavy such as a frying pan on top, weight it down further with cans and jars, and leave for 30 mins. The tofu will be about two-thirds its original thickness, and up to 100ml water will have been removed.

Should I press water out of tofu before freezing?

The first step is to drain the tofu (also called pressing tofu). Removing water from the tofu before freezing helps prevent ice from forming both on the outside of the tofu and inside.

Conclusion

While tofu comes in a variety of textures ” silken, firm, and extra firm ” technically any of them can be eaten raw. Before enjoying raw tofu, drain off any excess liquid from the packaging. Its also important to store tofu properly to prevent germs from growing on any unused portions.

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