Defrosted Tofu

by Penny Alba

Introduction

Don’t dry the tofu – the seasoning will stick much better if your tofu is a little moist on the surface. Don’t press it: squeezing the tofu makes it hard, rubbery and jerky. We don’t want that. Instead, we want fried tofu that’s soft, almost silky on the inside and crispy on the outside.

How to use frozen tofu?

Since frozen tofu comes already cut into chunks, you can toss the cubes or planks directly into anything you’re cooking or if you don’t want excess moisture (say you plan to fry, brown or Grill). , or just beware of diluting a broth), you can thaw them before use.

How to cook frozen tofu?

Once you’ve frozen the tofu and are ready to cook it, simply remove it from the packaging. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, gently slide the tofu back into the pan and boil (reduce heat to simmer) for 14 minutes, turning halfway through cooking.

Is frozen tofu still good?

Tofu will last 4-6 months in the freezer. Any more than that and it will probably still be safe to eat, but the taste and texture will probably have deteriorated.

What is the purpose of freezing and thawing tofu?

Tofu is approximately 86% water; as it freezes, the ice crystals expand, separating the protein network. Once thawed, the water drains away, leaving the tofu with a very absorbent, fluffy consistency. We experimented with freezing tofu in the test kitchen and were very happy with the results.

Can I fry frozen tofu?

An extremely versatile protein, frozen tofu can be braised, fried, sautéed or put into a soup.

Should tofu be defrosted?

You can freeze the whole block, but thawing will take longer. Once frozen, thaw the tofu in the refrigerator. (If you’ve frozen an entire block and feel like using it, you can follow the recommendations in this Serious Eats recipe and simmer the frozen block in water for 15 minutes before cutting it.

Can I use frozen tofu in a soup?

How to use frozen tofu. You can braise frozen tofu like in our Braised Wheat Gluten (红烧烤麸), but people use it more often in soups and hot dishes. Just be careful, as frozen tofu can absorb a lot of hot liquid!

How to defrost tofu as quickly as possible?

If you need to thaw your frozen tofu as soon as possible, you can remove it from the microwave. This method will take about 8-12 minutes. Check it to see if it has fully thawed in the middle.

Why does tofu turn yellow when frozen?

The water still present in the tofu expands as it freezes, creating holes. And frozen tofu takes on that deep yellowish-brown color. When you’re ready to cook it, thaw it first.

Conclusion

If you need to thaw your frozen tofu as soon as possible, you can remove it from the microwave. This method will take about

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