Do you know that freezing tofu offers it an entire new texture and enhances it is capability to soak up taste? It does! Learn by way of this information to be taught simply when, why and easy methods to freeze tofu.
So, you already love tofu. Or possibly you are engaged on that. Perhaps you are a tofu beginner and simply studying (during which case, learn my information to tofu). In any occasion, I’ve received an excellent straightforward kitchen hack to take your tofu to the following degree: freeze it!
Freezing tofu is a game-changer. It alters tofu’s texture and permits it to soak up flavors extra successfully. On this complete information I will discuss why you would possibly wish to freeze tofu, lead you thru the step-by-step means of easy methods to freeze tofu, and provide you with some recommendations on easy methods to thaw and use your your tofu after freezing it.
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Why You Ought to Freeze Tofu
In fact, liberating tofu has one very apparent profit: it prolongs shelf-life. Tofu is perishable, and as such will solely final so lengthy within the fridge. How lengthy? It relies upon, however you possibly can learn all about it in this tofu storage information.
However as well as, freezing tofu truly makes it higher, and extra appropriate for sure recipes.
Improved Texture
Tofu has a fame for having a considerably boring, homogenous texture. Freezing it’s the resolution to these points.
As soon as frozen, tofu takes on a chewier, extra crumbly texture. Tofu that is been frozen and thawed is a superb meat substitute. It is good for replicating substances like hen, and works nice in recipes the place it will get crumbled up and utilized in methods one would possibly usually use floor meat.
Tofu tacos and tofu chili are a few nice dishes to strive with tofu that was frozen. However do not feel restricted! You possibly can completely use it in recipes like this lemon and herb baked tofu, or a tofu stir-fry. It will prepare dinner up similar to another tofu — the feel will simply be extra attention-grabbing!
Enhanced Taste
The easy act of freezing tofu itself does not have an effect on the flavour, however it does make it a lot simpler so that you can add taste to your tofu.
This relates again to that texture factor we simply talked about. This is the factor: tofu is stuffed with water. That is fairly apparent, because it’s bought packed in water. Once you freeze that water it expands and creates ice crystals. These crystals create pockets throughout the tofu. When you thaw it out, all that ice melts and drains away, making little areas, turning your tofu into principally a sponge for absorbing marinades and sauces. (And these pockets are additionally what give it that crumbly texture we simply talked about!).
How To Freeze Tofu
This does not must be tough or concerned! You’ve gotten two choices — a fast and soiled methodology, and a barely extra concerned one.
Technique 1: Simply Freeze It
Prepared for this — seize a block of tofu. In must be in an hermetic bundle of some kind, which will be it is unique packaging, or a freezer bag or different container of your selecting. Stick it within the freezer and go away it there till it is frozen.
That is it!
This straightforward methodology turns out to be useful when you might have an unopened bundle of tofu that is close to it is expiration date and you might want to get within the freezer quick.
Technique 2: Do Some Prep
You possibly can, if you would like and have the time, do some prep in your tofu first. You possibly can drain and press it to take away extra moisture (learn: easy methods to press tofu), which is able to take away among the water. The feel could be a tad much less crumbly since there’s much less water in there to create these little pockets.
No matter prep you do, it would be best to make sure that your tofu is in an hermetic container earlier than popping it within the freezer.
One factor I love to do is portion my tofu earlier than freezing. When you typically solely put together a half block of tofu at a time, then minimize your block in half and freeze each individually.
Tip: Your tofu could change coloration a bit when frozen, shifting to a yellow hue, as proven within the picture beneath, or perhaps a barely brown coloration. That is completely regular and nothing to fret about!
Easy methods to Thaw Tofu
It actually does not matter the way you thaw your tofu — the feel adjustments can be current it doesn’t matter what. Listed below are some choices:
- Thaw it within the fridge for about 1 day.
- Thaw it on the counter. If this takes greater than two hours, you need to transfer it to the fridge.
- Thaw it within the microwave. Place it on a microwave protected dish to catch the water that can be launched.
- Thaw it in a sizzling water bathtub. Stick the entire block in a container of sizzling water. Go away it within the packaging or take it out. Simply make sure that the water is tremendous clear if you happen to take it out.
Utilizing Tofu After Freezing
After freezing and thawing, you should utilize your tofu in nearly any recipe, simply as you’d with tofu that was by no means frozen.
When you press your tofu after freezing, be ready for extra water than regular to be launched. This can be a good factor, as water can stand in the way in which of issues like browning and marinade absorption!
On the very least you may wish to blot it with a kitchen towel or paper towel to eliminate the surplus water that is launched throughout thawing.
From there, you possibly can slice, cube or crumble it, then marinade, bake, fry, and/or pan-fry it. It really works in soups, stir-fries, scrambles, sandwiches…you identify it!
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
It does not matter! All that is required for the adjustments in texture to happen is that it is frozen strong.
Tofu, like just about the whole lot else, actually lasts indefinitely within the freezer. It will not go unhealthy if it is frozen! However after about 3 months the standard will begin to go down. It will begin to style like freezer. You understand what I imply. It is all the time a good suggestion to label and date your tofu earlier than sticking it within the freezer.
Any number of tofu will be frozen, together with super-firm, extra-firm, agency and silken. Outcomes will differ relying on what number of tofu you are utilizing. Typically, the upper the water content material (i.e. the softer the tofu), the extra texture you may get from freezing. The exception is silken tofu, which comprises a variety of water that could be very evenly distributed, providing you with very effective crumbles when frozen, as proven beneath.
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