Where To Buy Cheap Tofu

Depending on the options available online or at your local supermarket, you may find plain tofu, flavored tofu, and several different varieties of softness (discussed below) designed to be used for different dishes.

where to buy cheap tofu

Some packaged tofu is processed at high temperatures and has an expiration date about two months after packaging. But whenever possible, I like to follow the Asian practice of buying freshly-made tofu and eating it the same day.

Many recipes call for pressing some of the liquid out of the tofu prior to cooking. To accomplish this, put the tofu between two dinner plates and place a medium-sized book on top for a few minutes. If you cook with tofu daily you may wish to invest in a tofu press.

As with Mexican food, tofu also lends itself perfectly to American soul food, and Caribbean island meals. Vegan cookbooks devoted to these cuisines invariably feature tofu in a wide assortment of dishes.

When opened, tofu must be rinsed, covered with water and kept in a refrigerated container. The water should be changed often to keep the it fresh. It can also be cut into desired sizes before freezing.

The cheapest place to get your tofu is at an Asian supermarket. We were not able to collect costs from every single supermarket, but most stores are in a similar range to that which is included below.

Whether you are interested in eating tofu for health reasons, as a way to eat less meat or to appreciate it as a standalone ingredient instead of a meat-replacement, this guide can help you learn how to purchase the best quality, most sustainable tofu, the best ways to store it, and how to cook the many different types of tofu.

Tofu is made using a process very similar to cheese making: ground soybeans are cooked in water, then strained to create soymilk. That liquid is combined with a coagulant (an acid or salt), which separates the soy milk into curds. The curds are pressed to create tofu. The type of coagulant used and the length of time the curds are pressed determines the type or texture of tofu that results, although there is no standard, so the firmness can vary between brands.

Plain (or block) tofu: Snowy white or off-white, plain tofu is usually cut into large blocks and stored or packaged in water. Plain tofu is usually fairly firm in texture and can be used in a number of different ways, from stir-frying to soups to noodle dishes. You can often find plain tofu labeled by how firm it is (medium, firm, extra firm, etc.).

Silken tofu: Silken tofu is made using a thicker soymilk than block tofu and rather than being pressed, it is left to coagulate and thicken into a soft, silky, scoop-able tofu. It can be used to make smoothies, sauces, and salad dressings, and is often used as an egg replacement in vegan baking.

That being said, when frying tofu it is a good idea to push out some of the water if using firm or extra-firm tofu. While you can press it (and there are plenty of guides on how to do that online), Ngyuyen instead suggests pouring boiling salted water over tofu (put it in a strainer first), causing the tofu to squeeze out moisture and seasoning it at the same time. Blot to dry before using it.

While medium-firm tofu is rougher than soft, it still has a decent amount of moisture and will break up during vigorous cooking. This texture is great for baking, braising and boiling. Here are a few great medium tofu recipes:

Firm and extra-firm tofu are most commonly used in Western recipes, as the mostly solid texture is easy to cut, easy to fry, easy to grill and easy to eat. While this is the most versatile of the types of tofu, firm tofu also can take on a slightly rubbery texture during cooking, which might lead to some of the generalized disdain for the foodstuff. Make sure not to overcook it to avoid this from happening.

For the most hassle-free tofu making, we recommend the Yarkor Tofu Press, thanks to its simple functionality, affordability, compact size, and drainage feature. We also love the dual functionality of the TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press, which removes moisture and marinates tofu all in the same compartment.

While the 20-ounce blocks of firm tofu in the familiar green boxes remain the most popular item, soft tofu is a mainstay as are other soy products: deep-fried tofu, aburage, okara (the part left back after tofu is made) and even soy milk.

Tofu includes several varieties and all of them have various applications. To bring in a boost of protein to your smoothies, throw in a few chunks of silken tofu. Then, there is super-firm tofu that can be cut into nuggets.

Preparation1. Mix all the ingredients for the tofu marinade. Cut tofu into small chunks and put it in the marinade. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Put tofu onto a paper-lined baking tray and let it bake for about 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, flip the tofu and brush with more marinade.

Tofu cat litter is the most used cat litter after bentonite cat litter. Tofu cat litter is favored by consumers because of its dust-free safety, zero dust and the requirement of reaching the edible level. This should be the standard of tofu cat litter. However, due to the lack of relevant industry standards, the threshold of entry is low, many businesses have set foot in the field of tofu cat litter, resulting in the uneven quality of products and price chaos. But is cheap tofu cat litter really good?

Second, exaggerated publicity, due to the low cost and low quality of raw materials, resulting in the use of products in the process of dust, not easy to clump and other tofu cat litter quality is different.

The main ingredient of a normal bean curd cat sand should be pea or soybean dregs, mixed with corn starch or other plant starch, and mixed with food-grade guar gum and spices. The base cost should be $670-820 per ton. That translates to nearly 400 bales/about 2.5 kilograms of tofu litter. If the cost price is USD 550 /ton, it should be USD 1.7 /bag. With the production cost, labor cost, warehousing and logistics expenses, the cost price is far above USD 1.7 /bag. Then, why can the price of some so-called tofu cat litter be as low as USD 0.93 /bag?

Totaling $2.49 for one 16oz package, this brand has 14g of protein in each 3oz serving. If you ask me, this is your best option. Although it is the most expensive of our four, its high protein content (nearly double the others) makes it more filling. Thus, less consumption implies infrequent spending, lowering long-term costs. As for taste, this has a standard, smooth and spongy tofu taste.

This product is priced at $1.79 per 14oz package and tastes the most flavorful out of the four. With 8g of protein, this tofu is less filling though presents a cheaper alternative compared to its higher protein alternative. This lower protein content product is best suited for those who attain protein from chickpeas, nuts, or protein shakes, and prefer more flavor with a firmer consistency.

Our bulk extra firm tofu is incredibly versatile, making it easy for chefs to add plant-based entrees to restaurant menus. Baked, grilled, fried, or fresh out of the package, it can add vegan protein and flavor to any dish. If you need the highest-quality plant protein to serve your clientele, SoyBoy wholesale distribution makes it easy. To find out more about adding our organic tofu, tempeh, veggie bacon, vegan hot dogs, or tofu ravioli to your menu, visit our Foodservice page.

Becca Miller (she/her) has been working in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen since 2018, where she researches and writes about tasty recipes, food trends and top cooking tools. She graduated from NYU with a liberal arts degree focusing on creative writing. She makes killer scrambled eggs, enjoys a glass of un-oaked chardonnay and takes pride in her love of reality television.

Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

When buying tofu in stores there is a variety of texture choice you can choose from. These include silken, soft, firm, and extra firm- sometimes even with a few in between. You can also buy flavoured and smoked version, depending on your tastes.

The next three varieties are all a form of pressed tofu. The difference between them is how much they have been pressed and the amount of water that has been pressed out of them. Once again, just like with my homemade paneer recipe, the way you press your curds will massively impact the final texture of the product.

Regular/ Firm tofu has been pressed for longer, holds its shape better but is still soft enough to be used for dishes such as scrambled tofu. I lump the two types together because I find that, especially when buying store-bought, the texture can vary a lot from brand to brand as to how well it holds its shape.

My personal favourite method is to chop the tofu into cubes, marinate it in my sauce of choice and then lightly fry till crispy. I usually then add these to pasta dishes, stir-fries, fried rice and more. 041b061a72