How to Freeze Tofu

Once you discover the chewier, meatier texture you get when you use thawed frozen tofu, you may never want to use fresh tofu again.

Tofu is a bit like a sponge – it soaks up whatever flavors you put with it, as it has no particular taste of its own. Freezing tofu removes a lot of the excess water content, so your tofu can soak up sauces or marinades more efficiently. And you’ll taste the difference in your recipes!

Here’s what you need to know to freeze tofu.

Slice it first

For best results, slice your tofu before freezing it, rather than freezing the whole block. Your tofu is easier to cut before freezing it, and if you slice it first, you can thaw small portions rather than the entire block.

Note: Frozen tofu changes its color – it turns into an amber color (the color of soybeans). The color change doesn’t mean your tofu has spoiled or has freezer burn. It will turn a light tan color when you defrost it, looking more like the original creamy white fresh tofu.

Drain and freeze

Drain the excess water from your tofu and then slice it. Put the slices on a baking sheet so that they aren’t touching each other.

Now put the baking sheet in the freezer, leaving the tofu to freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight. Once the tofu has frozen solid, you can put the slices into a freezer bag to use as needed.

Alternatively, if you want to freeze the entire block in one go, simply pop the container as it is into the freezer. The package won’t explode, though your tofu will expand.

How to thaw your tofu

There are three ways to thaw your tofu.

• Using a microwave. Put the slices on top of a paper towel that covers a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 6-8 minutes, then press the tofu with your finger to see if it’s fully thawed. If it needs a bit more time in the microwave, microwave it for another 30 seconds. Generally speaking, you’ll need to microwave your tofu for about one minute per slice of tofu.
• Using your countertop. Leave your frozen tofu on your countertop at room temperature. It will defrost in about 6 hours.
• Using the fridge. Put your frozen tofu in the fridge and let it thaw overnight or all day long. This method takes about 8 hours.

Once your tofu has thawed, you’ll want to press out the excess water. You can do this in minutes with a Tofubud tofu press, or wrap your tofu in a clean towel and put it in a colander with a weight on top.

Using your frozen tofu

You can now use your tofu in many different ways. You can fry it in a bit of oil, and it will be nice and crispy. You can marinate it first and then fry it or bake it, and it will be full of flavor.

You can add the fried tofu to stir-fries or other dishes.

Advantages of freezing tofu

There are many advantages to taking the time to freeze your tofu.

• Your tofu will absorb more flavors. Freezing tofu makes it more porous. This is because the water inside the tofu becomes like ice and creates pockets that make the tofu like a sponge.
• Your tofu will be easier to press. Previously frozen tofu is much easier to press than fresh tofu, so you can remove excess water in minutes, whether you have a tofu press or not.
• Your tofu will be firmer and meatier in texture. If you are tired of mushy protein substitutes like beans, your tofu will be a welcome change. You’ll be able to make cubes of it for BBQ skewers, or fried tofu steaks, or many other dishes that require your tofu to retain a firm shape. If you want to make ‘tofu nuggets’ or ‘tofu fish sticks,’ frozen tofu is perfect for this.
• Your tofu will absorb marinades better. The porous texture of frozen tofu means that your marinade can find its way into those pockets of air inside the tofu. Your tofu will be richer in flavor.

Note: The only times where freezing tofu before you use it might make it more challenging to use is if you want to crumble it for a tofu scramble. Fresh crumbled tofu gives an ‘eggy’ texture, whereas frozen tofu will provide you a more ‘meaty’ texture, like that of ground beef. So it depends on which texture you prefer. Apart from that, everything tastes better with frozen tofu!