In the event you cook dinner tofu usually, a tofu press is a must have gadget. We examined and reviewed one of the best tofu presses that can assist you decide one on your kitchen!
I just lately purchased a brand new tofu press, and I LOVE it. I’d been utilizing my cast-iron skillet as a DIY tofu press for years, however I usually hear from readers about how a lot they love their tofu presses, and I believed it might be enjoyable to attempt one out. I made a decision to experiment with among the greatest tofu presses available on the market to see how I favored them.
…and I’m a tofu press convert! Tofu presses are easy devices that take away the surplus moisture from tofu. They evenly apply stress to the tofu, squeezing out the water that may make it tender or crumbly with out squishing it. After urgent, the tofu has a firmer, chewier texture. It holds its form once you make grilled tofu, and it crisps up completely once you make air fryer tofu or baked tofu. Now that I’ve a tofu press in my kitchen, I’m by no means going again!
You’ll discover my picks for one of the best tofu presses under. In the event you cook dinner tofu usually, I undoubtedly advocate investing in a single. They arrive in a wide range of sizes and kinds, so verify them out to seek out one of the best tofu press for you!
Our Prime Picks:
- What’s in My Kitchen: Tofuture Tofu Press – $25.95 at Amazon
- My Different Favourite: TofuBud Tofu Press – $24.25 at Amazon
- Finest Fundamental Tofu Press: EZ Tofu Press – $21.99 at Amazon
- Finest Bamboo Tofu Press: ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press – $22.49 at Amazon
Critiques of The Finest Tofu Presses
I attempted a number of tofu presses in my seek for one of the best tofu press. The Tofuture Tofu Press was my favourite for a couple of causes. I like that it’s small and compact, with simply 3 items(!), so it’s simple to retailer. It’s additionally actually easy to make use of. It consists of an interior container the place you place the tofu, an outer container that catches the liquid, and a lid that presses down on the tofu block. You safe the lid to the containers with silicone bands, and you may select from three ranges of drive. Every one yields good, evenly pressed tofu each time. This press is my new go-to instrument for urgent tofu!
I additionally like how the surplus water incorporates itself inside the press, so there’s no mess to scrub up afterwards. I simply dump the liquid into the sink!
The Specs:
- Measurement: 6 by 5 by 2.8 inches
- Weight: 0.1 kilogram
- Materials: Plastic
- Dishwasher Protected: Sure
The Execs:
- Simple to make use of
- Constructed-in drainage plate
- Simple to scrub
- Made with BPA-free supplies
The Cons:
- Solely is available in one colour choice
- Bands might pop off
What Others are Saying:
Finest Merchandise discovered the Tofuture Tofu press to be one of the best general, and it was reviewed by The Kitchn and Insider as an awesome decide for tofu presses. It additionally has greater than 10,000 Amazon critiques and a 4.7 ranking.
Purchase the Tofuture Tofu Press:
In second place behind the Tofuture press is the TofuBud Tofu Press. It presses tofu evenly and shortly, and it incorporates the liquid from the tofu–an enormous plus! It options two stress ranges, that are managed by a sturdy spring. Although this press is straightforward to make use of general, I initially had just a little hassle twisting the spring into place, which is why I ranked it under the Tofuture press. All in all, although, it’s nonetheless an awesome decide!
The Specs:
- Measurement: 4.7 by 5.5 by 4.7 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Materials: Plastic
- Dishwasher Protected: Sure
The Execs:
- Presses in as little as 20 minutes
- Simple to scrub
- Constructed-in drainage plate
The Cons:
- Bigger to retailer than Tofuture press
- Spring mechanism may be onerous to twist
What Others are Saying:
Reviewed named it among the best tofu presses, and it has a 4.7-star ranking from greater than 2,500 Amazon critiques.
Purchase the TofuBud Tofu Press:
Most tofu presses are made out of plastic, however this bamboo press is a superb eco-friendly choice. The picket materials additionally makes the ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press just a little extra aesthetically pleasing than plastic presses. It options three predominant items—a high plate, a drainage tray, and a drip tray—that are linked with screw knobs you flip to press the tofu.
Downsides of this press are that it’s a must to modify the knobs on occasion to totally drain the tofu and that the tofu can crack in the event you press it an excessive amount of too shortly. As well as, it leaves some indents on the tofu after urgent. However general, I like that it catches the surplus liquid, and I believe it’s an awesome decide for somebody who desires to keep away from plastic.
The Specs:
- Measurement: 8.6 by 3.9 by 0.5 inches
- Weight: 1.92 kilos
- Materials: Bamboo
- Dishwasher Protected: Sure
The Execs:
- Trouble-free setup and use
- Can be utilized on various sizes of tofu blocks
- Constructed-in drainage plate
The Cons:
- Leaves indents on tofu
- Higher at hand wash it to not injury wooden
- No set stress ranges
What Others are Saying:
Spruce Eats named it one of the best bamboo tofu press and Delish made it the runner-up of their listing of one of the best tofu presses.
Purchase the ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press:
The EZ Tofu Press is a superb fundamental choice. The easy plastic press is supplied with tightening knobs to press tofu blocks simply and effectively. As soon as the tofu is safe within the press, I like to recommend setting it on its facet over a bowl to seize the liquid. You’ll additionally must tighten the knobs each couple of minutes to press out each final drop. (In the event you tighten it an excessive amount of too shortly, the tofu can crack.) Although this press requires a bit extra work, it’s nonetheless efficient!
The Specs:
- Measurement: 9 by 5.25 by 4 inches
- Weight: 1.1 kilos
- Materials: Plastic
- Dishwasher Protected: Sure
The Execs:
- Made within the U.S.
- Fabricated from BPA-free plastic
- Simple to scrub
The Cons:
- Have to proceed to tighten screws whereas it presses
- No set stress ranges
- Requires a separate bowl to seize liquid
What Others are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named the EZ Tofu Press one of the best general tofu press. Moreover, it has greater than 6,000 Amazon critiques and a 4.7-star ranking.
Purchase the EZ Tofu Press:
Different Tofu Presses to Contemplate
The Uncooked Rutes Tofu Press is just a little bit completely different from different tofu presses in that it’s fabricated from chrome steel. That signifies that it’s heavier and costlier than others, which is why it wasn’t considered one of my high picks. However in the event you’re prepared to splurge, this can be an awesome non-plastic selection. You may also use it to make your individual tofu! The Uncooked Rutes Tofu Press is accessible at Amazon for $105.
Wholesome Categorical Additional Agency Tofu Press
Very similar to the EZ Tofu Press, the Wholesome Categorical Additional Agency Tofu Press contains a high and backside plate assisted by spring-clad screws to simply get all that liquid out of your blocks. It has a barely curved design which may press the blocks just a little higher, although you’ll need to position it over a container on its facet for the water to empty out. The Wholesome Categorical Additional Agency Tofu Press is accessible at Amazon for $19.95.
Tofudee Tofu Press With Auto IntelliSpring
This is likely to be the prettiest tofu press on this listing! It is available in lime and grapefruit hues so as to add a pop of colour to your kitchen. Seems apart, I like that this plastic tofu press mechanically drains the liquid right into a separate container. The Tofudee Tofu Press With Auto IntelliSpring is accessible at Amazon for $25.95.
The NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press is fashionable amongst media websites and has been named one of the best general tofu press by Reviewed and Delish. It’s not amongst my favorites as a result of it’s clunkier to retailer, however it may double as a tofu marinating dish, giving it a couple of operate. The NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press is accessible at Amazon for $22.99.
How I Examined The Finest Tofu Presses
I chosen eight tofu presses which have acquired nice critiques on-line and which have been personally really helpful to me. I pressed a number of blocks of tofu with every of my picks. Then, I grilled, baked, and tasted the tofu that had been pressed in every press. I discovered some clear favorites by way of ease of use and texture. My #1 selection, the Tofuture Tofu Press, has turn out to be a game-changer for making vegan and plant-based recipes in my kitchen!
The whole lot to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Tofu Press
What to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for a Tofu Press
Not all tofu presses are created equal! Some have built-in drainage plates and drip trays, whereas others solely encompass two items of plastic held along with screws and bolts. Earlier than choosing one, think about the dimensions of the tofu press–do you have got room to retailer it? You must also think about the fabric (plastic, bamboo, or chrome steel), whether or not or not the press comes with its personal drainage container, and the way simple it’s to clean. With these options in thoughts, you may selected the tofu press that can work greatest for you.
Why Do You Have to Press Tofu?
If you purchase tofu, you’ll discover that it’s normally sitting in a LOT of water. Some recipes solely require you to wipe off this liquid with paper towels, however in the event you’re grilling, or if you wish to make actually crispy tofu within the air fryer or oven, you need to squeeze most of it out. It’d seem to be a tedious further step, however it should give your tofu a way more satisfying texture. Plus, urgent helps tofu take in a marinade for one of the best taste!
How Lengthy Ought to You Press Tofu?
The period of time it’s essential to press tofu will depend on the dimensions of the block. For reference, I normally press a 12- to 14-ounce block for about half-hour. In the event you plan forward, you can even place it in a press and pop it within the fridge in a single day. That approach, you received’t be scrambling to press it proper earlier than you begin cooking.
Can You Press Tofu And not using a Tofu Press?
A tofu press makes urgent tofu tremendous simple and handy, however it’s nonetheless potential to press with out one. To do that, I exploit a forged iron skillet. Pat the tofu dry and wrap it in a kitchen towel. Set it on a chopping board or baking sheet and place a heavy forged iron pan on high. Set it apart for about half-hour, checking midway by and altering the towel if it’s too moist. That’s it! In the event you get pleasure from tofu pressed with a cast-iron skillet, I undoubtedly advocate getting a tofu press. It makes urgent tofu even easier!
The Finest Tofu Recipes
After you have a tofu press, I hope you begin including tofu to your common rotation! Take a look at my information on methods to cook dinner tofu first. Then, attempt considered one of these scrumptious tofu dishes:
Costs had been correct at time of publication. This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks.