Straight to the Level
Our favourite tofu press was the Tofudee Tofu Press, which featured a spring-driven platform that may very well be screwed down tighter to place further stress on a tofu brick. We additionally favored the NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press that had the same design, and the Yarkor Tofu Press for a extra compact mannequin.
Should you’ve received a agency or further agency block of tofu and also you need it to get crispy, you should take away as a lot water as attainable. And whereas there are a number of choices (like utilizing two sheet pans and a forged iron skillet) for eradicating extra water, one of many best (and simplest) methods is to make use of a devoted tofu press.
There are a number of types of presses accessible—twin platforms with screws, spring-driven block-shaped presses with draining platforms, and weighted presses—so we put 10 fashionable tofu presses to the take a look at to search out out which drained probably the most water, have been the simplest to function, and cleaned up and not using a fuss.
The Winners, at a Look
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The Tofudee tofu press was the simplest at eradicating water whereas guaranteeing the tofu didn’t collapse. Its strainer tray was well-elevated above the underside of the bin, permitting the tofu to remain dry whereas draining, and the spring-driven press additionally had a built-in screw so as to add further stress when wanted.
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With a spring-driven/screw-down press, the NOYA tofu press was additionally efficient at draining tofu bricks with out squishing them. We additionally favored how the strainer platform had handles that folded out to make eradicating the tofu simple.
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Barely smaller than our different high picks and that includes a flat lid, the Yarkor mannequin was simply as efficient at urgent tofu as different high picks. And because it’s extra compact, it was simpler to stack to avoid wasting house within the fridge.
The Assessments
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
- Fast Press Take a look at: We loaded every tofu press with its max capability (a 1-pound brick of agency tofu for many), set it to extract probably the most liquid we may, and let it drain for quarter-hour. We weighed the tofu earlier than urgent and afterward to see how a lot water was eliminated.
- Lengthy Press Take a look at: We positioned every tofu brick again into the press after fast urgent and adjusted the setting to see how rather more water every press may extract after two hours. After weighing every brick, we in contrast the load to the load after the 15-minute press and the beginning weight.
- Usability and Cleanup Assessments: We checked how simple every tofu press was to load a brick of tofu, how easy it was to set the stress to the very best setting, and the way simple it was to scrub afterward.
What We Realized
Twin Screws Have been Onerous to Stability Evenly
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Just a few of the presses we examined, just like the EZ Tofu Press and the Grow Your Pantry Tofu Press, consisted of two platforms that utilized stress to the tofu bricks by adjusting the screws that held them collectively. Whereas it was an efficient method to drain water from the tofu, it was arduous to heart the tofu and match the stress on each screws. The outcome was inconsistently drained tofu bricks that misplaced their form, leaving them poorly prepped for cooking.
Spring-Based mostly Presses Have been Simpler to Load
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
The entire spring-based fashions we examined have been simple to load and set. Screw-based platforms took too lengthy to even out the stress, and the one elastic band-based press we tried from Tofuture stored snapping again at our fingers, making it troublesome to regulate to greater stress settings.
Multi-Stage Presses Preserved the Tofu’s Form the Finest
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Whereas spring-based presses have been efficient at expelling extra water, it was the multi-stage presses from Tofudee and NOYA, which featured added screw mechanisms, that basically stood out. By including a screw to softly enhance the stress, you may regulate these fashions in line with the resistance from the tofu. This helped the bricks preserve their form for neat slicing.
Although the spring-based Yarkor Tofu Press and the TofuXpress Tofu Press have been the simplest at water elimination, in addition they put a number of fast stress on the tofu. The Yarkor mannequin prompted some delicate splitting, however the TofuXpress actually decimated the block, inflicting it to crumble in elements.
Tofu Presses That Got here With Trays Have been Tremendous Helpful
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
4 of the presses we examined didn’t include a tray, that means you needed to set them on a sheet pan or in a dish to gather the water. Tofu presses that got here with a tray have been an awesome house saver, as they may very well be positioned wherever on the counter (and even within the fridge) whereas draining, and pouring off extra water was a lot simpler, too.
Elevated Drainage Platforms Have been A Plus
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
An elevated drainage platform helped preserve tofu dry throughout urgent, and the Tofudee had the tallest platform we examined with a full inch of clearance from the underside of the tray. The NOYA and Yarkor fashions additionally had elevated platforms that produced drier tofu blocks after urgent.
As a result of the tofu sat on the backside of the TofuXpress press, all the surplus water was compelled upwards, resting on high of the tofu brick till it was poured off. Although this press eliminated probably the most water, the brick was nonetheless pretty damp on the surface edges and wanted to be completely patted dry.
Most Presses Benefitted from a Longer Press Time
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Whereas the Yarkor press extracted 19% of the tofu’s beginning weight in quarter-hour, it was capable of press out an additional 7% over the subsequent 75 minutes. With multi-stage presses, the distinction was much more drastic. Each the Tofudee and NOYA practically doubled their extraction on the finish of an extended press in comparison with the 15-minute take a look at. Should you’re in a rush to get dinner began, most fashions will do okay, but it surely’s higher to plan forward if attainable.
| Tofu Water Loss | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tofu Press | Beginning Tofu Block Weight | Weight After 2 Hours | P.c Distinction at 2 Hours From Beginning |
| EZ Tofu Press | 463g | 389g | 16% |
| Yarkor Tofu Press | 448g | 328g | 27% |
| Develop Your Pantry Tofu Press | 331g | 287g | 13% |
| TofuXpress Tofu Press | 466g | 319g | 32% |
| Tofuture Tofu Press | 489g | 406g | 17% |
| NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press | 441g | 337g | 24% |
| TofuBud Tofu Press | 439g | 358g | 17% |
| Tofudee Tofu Press | 449g | 337g | 25% |
| Uncooked Rutes Stainless Tofu Press | 475g | 395g | 17% |
| Bamboo Tofu Press | 468g | 362g | 23% |
The Standards: What to Search for in a Tofu Press
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
The most effective tofu presses have been spring-based and had an elevated drainage platform, in addition to a tray to gather extra water. The best fashions additionally had a screw-based mechanism to compact the tofu even additional, serving to the bricks maintain their form whereas draining.
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What we favored: The Tofudee press was the simplest at eradicating extra water whereas nonetheless retaining the unique form of the tofu. It had the very best elevated platform out of any of the fashions we examined, which stored draining bricks dry and allowed the water to gather within the backside tray for simple cleanup. Its multi-stage press was key to its success: the preliminary spring-driven stress helped take away extra water, and the additional screw-down lid helped put an additional squeeze on the tofu with out inflicting splitting.
What we didn’t like: Whereas efficient, the most important disadvantage of this press is the screw-down deal with on the lid. As a result of it sticks up, you possibly can’t stack something on high of it, which suggests it takes up higher shelf/cupboard space.
Worth at time of publish: $26.
Key Specs
- Supplies: Plastic, chrome steel
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 6 x 6 inches
- Capability: 1 pound
- Type of press: Spring-based with extra screwtop for added stress
- Settings: 1, with steady adjustment
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe
- Added options: Draining platform, catch tub
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Amazon
What we favored: That includes a multi-stage press similar to the Tofudee, this mannequin from NOYA was additionally efficient at eradicating water whereas retaining the tofu form. We notably favored how the drainage tray had handles that fold out into wings when pulled upwards, making it simple to extract the drained tofu.
What we didn’t like: The drainage platform may very well be a little taller to assist preserve the tofu separated from the extracted water beneath, although we didn’t discover this to be too large of a difficulty throughout our assessments.
Worth at time of publish: $23.
Key Specs
- Supplies: Plastic, chrome steel
- Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 8 inches
- Capability: 1 pound
- Type of press: Spring-based with extra screwtop for added stress
- Settings: 1, with continous adjustment
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe
- Added options: Detachable draining platform
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Courtesy of Amazon
What we favored: The Yarkor press extracted probably the most water in quarter-hour by far, and we actually favored its easy, spring-driven design. As a result of the spring does all of the work, it’s the best-performing set-it-and-forget-it mannequin we examined. We additionally appreciated how flat the lid was; we may simply stack stuff on high of it within the fridge.
What we didn’t like: Since you possibly can’t fine-tune the stress, the press did trigger some deformation and delicate splitting of the tofu block, however that may very well be seemingly fastened through the use of smaller bricks of tofu.
Worth at time of publish: $18.
Key Specs
- Supplies: Plastic, chrome steel
- Product dimensions: 5.5 x 4.5 x 4 inches
- Capability: 1 pound
- Type of press: Spring-based with strainer basket
- Settings: 1
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe
- Added options: Draining platform, catch bin
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
The Competitors
- EZ Tofu Press: Twin adjustment knobs meant the stress plates have been arduous to heart with equal power, inflicting the tofu to turn into lopsided. It additionally didn’t include a drainage tray.
- Grow Your Pantry Tofu Press: This press had a really restricted peak vary and couldn’t match the total 1-pound tofu brick. It additionally was the toughest to scrub.
- TofuXpress Tofu Press: The plate didn’t present even stress, inflicting the tofu to turn into lopsided, and because it didn’t have a drainage platform, the tofu sat beneath the expressed water.
- Tofuture Tofu Press: The elastic bands on this mannequin have been arduous to stretch, making it troublesome to achieve the very best stress setting.
- TofuBud Tofu Press: This press additionally produced a lopsided tofu brick, and the lid was arduous to slip onto the tray.
- Raw Rutes Stainless Tofu Press: Extraordinarily heavy, this press relied on weight to expel extra water. It ranked among the many lowest-performing fashions and was actually cumbersome to maneuver.
- Bamboo Tofu Press: The problems with this mannequin have been much like the opposite fashions with twin screws: they have been troublesome to regulate evenly, and the press lacked a drainage tray.
FAQs
What’s a tofu press good for?
Tofu presses are designed to take away extra water from agency tofu that’s used for grilling, searing, or frying. By urgent out further liquid, the tofu has a extra strong texture that’s much less susceptible to sticking and is simpler to brown.
Is it value getting a tofu press?
There are a few options for draining tofu to be able to sear or fry it properly, however a tofu press is a comparatively cheap, efficient, and hands-off method to drain water from tofu. Should you’re somebody who cooks with tofu loads, it may very well be an awesome timesaver.
What occurs once you press tofu for too lengthy?
Some tofu presses may injury the form of the tofu if left in a press for too lengthy, however the tofu itself will nonetheless be high-quality for cooking. In case your aim is to slice your tofu into neat rectangles for searing, baking, or grilling, it’s greatest to make use of a tofu press with an adjustable stress plate, like two of our high picks.
Do you refrigerate tofu whereas urgent?
Should you plan to cook dinner your tofu immediately, you possibly can depart your tofu press out on the counter to finish its draining course of. Should you’re seeking to get a head begin on tomorrow’s cooking, nonetheless, it’s best to depart the press within the fridge. Tofu might be stored within the fridge for as much as 5 days after the package deal has been opened, however we suggest cooking it as quickly as attainable.
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