How Do You Dry Tofu For Cooking?

If you’re trying to dry out tofu there are a few different ways you can do it…

• Take the tofu out of the package and pat it down with a clean dish rag or paper towels.This could take a while because you need to be applying constant pressure to get the water out from the outside.
• Use atofu pressto get all of the water out and then do a final pat with paper towel or a clean cloth. For a more flavor-dense tofu, press it for a few hours to remove excess moisture before marinating or seasoning. Read our top five picks for best tofu press so you can decide which one to buy.
• Make your own pressing device at home by using two plates to make a “tofu sandwich”.Then, place a heavy object on top of the top plate to apply pressure to the tofu. 

Related Article: Does Tofu Need to be Refrigerated?

How Long Does it Take to Dry Out Tofu?

Depending on which of the above methods you pick, it could take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. 

A good way to speed it up is to get aggressive with how much weight you’re applying to the tofu.

Recommended Article: How Do You Press Tofu Without a Press?

If you want to speed it up, then apply as much weight as you can without breaking the block.The key to do this correctly is to apply even pressure and make sure to not do it all in one place.

This applies whether you’re using a press or doing it manually with heavy objects.

Read Also: How Do You Keep Tofu From Falling Apart? (Use These 5 Easy Tips)

Do You Need to Dry Tofu?

Depending on your cooking method, you don’t need to necessarily dry it.For example, if you’re going to be placing your tofu into the oven, the dry heat from the oven will dry it out enough.

However, if you’re going to be cooking it on the stove, drying it can greatly speed up the cooking process and even enhance the texture.

Further Reading: How Do You Quickly Drain Tofu?

The best way to cook tofu without drying it is the following…

• Slice your tofu up into thin slices and place it on some parchment paper or a non-stick surface.
• Sprinkle with your favorite seasonings and place it into the oven at 350F for around 30-45 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crispy.
• The thinner you slice it, the faster it will cook so keep an eye on it.

So there you have it, enjoy your tofu!

Related Article: How is Stinky Tofu Made? 

Joey Bruno

Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!