Tofu is the perfect vehicle for countless plant-based meals. Too often, though, it comes out bland and soggy when cooked at home, a far cry from the flavorful and even crispy tofu you find in restaurants. If you’ve ever been disappointed by your tofu efforts at home, chances are you didn’t press your tofu before cooking it. While it’s possible to press tofu between two paper towel-lined plates, there’s an easier and more effective way to do it. The best tofu presses gently and thoroughly extract excess water from store-bought tofu, getting it ready for any number of preparations.
So what should you look for in a tofu press? Think about the pressing mechanism, and what feels most comfortable for you. Pressing can happen via a weight or an upper plate that is tightened with screws or a twisting function — both of which force excess water from the tofu.
Plastic presses are easy to care for and clean, just be sure to pick a durable model that can hold up to repeated use. (I've got you covered there.) If you’re a life-long tofu eater (and have no plans to stop), you may want to consider a model made from stainless steel. They can be considerably more expensive, but will last for years of frequent use.
The best tofu presses prepare packaged tofu so it can absorb flavorful marinades and sauces or be dry enough to pan fry. No matter if you’re baking, grilling, or stir-frying it, the tofu presses below will seriously upgrade your tofu cooking at home.
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