How to marinate tofu like a pro | Cauldron (2024)

Press your tofu

First things first – prep your tofu.

You can either use a tofu press to press your Authentic Tofu Block or grab a pack of our Extra Firm Tofu Block that comes ready-pressed!

If you have a regular block of tofu with no tofu press, give this super easy pressing technique a go.

  • Drain the water from your tofu block.

  • Place a cooling rack over a baking tray (to catch the excess water). Pop your tofu block on the cooling rack and place your heaviest chopping board over the tofu.

  • Leave for 20-30 mins to press with no need for paper.

Once your tofu is nicely pressed, simply cut your tofu to your preference. Usually, cubing your tofu is a winner, as it works for almost any dish. However, if you’re planning to grill your tofu, cutting slab-like pieces works well too.

Make your marinade

The next step is to make your marinade. There’s a huge variety of fantastic recipes to infuse tofu with all kinds of phenomenal flavours.

Loads of our tofu recipes include glazes and sauces to soak maximum taste into our tofu. Take a look at our tofu recipes for inspiration.

Let the marination magic happen

In a sealed container, add your tofu and cover in the marinade. You should aim to marinate tofu for at least 2 hours in the fridge. To infuse more flavour, you can leave it to marinade for up to 2 days before cooking up.

Top tip: Don’t ditch the leftover marinade when you come to cook your tofu. Add it to the pan when you’re cooking, or heat it on the side and add it when plating up for an extra saucy serving!

Useful tofu marinade information

Now you’re all set to start experimenting with marinades for maximum tofu flavour, but before you put your new skills to the test, here’s some super handy info.

How long does marinated tofu last and how long can you keep tofu in the fridge?

Once you have marinated your tofu, you can keep it in the fridge for two to three days before cooking. For best results, we recommend marinating your tofu overnight and cooking the next day.

If you have the time, cook your tofu as soon as it’s marinated. This can keep in the fridge for up to five days before adding it to your dish and devouring.

Can you freeze marinated tofu?

In a word – yes! However, freezing will affect the texture of your tofu, making it a little drier and more fibrous.

Once you’ve pressed, cut, and covered your tofu in a marinade, put the sealed container in the freezer. On the day that you want to cook with it, remove the container from the fridge and let it defrost throughout the day before whipping up your tofu dish.

Want to try marinated tofu but are short on time?

If you’re short on time but still want that marinated tofu deliciousness, give our Marinated Tofu Pieces or Hoisin Tofu Pieces a try.

These tofu pieces come pre-marinated and ready to eat – either cook straight from the pack or get stuck right in!

How to marinate tofu like a pro | Cauldron (2024)

FAQs

How long should you marinate tofu for? ›

You should aim to marinate tofu for at least 2 hours in the fridge. To infuse more flavour, you can leave it to marinade for up to 2 days before cooking up. Top tip: Don't ditch the leftover marinade when you come to cook your tofu.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it. Not only does it create a super crispy result, but the seasoning further brings out the flavor of the tofu.

How do you get the best flavor in tofu? ›

Removing water by pressing tofu will allow it to absorb flavor from marinades, sauces, and other flavors you might add. If the water isn't removed, the tofu lacks the ability to soak in flavor, and it will turn out bland and spongey. The exception to this is if you plan to cook tofu in a soup.

How to cook tofu like a pro? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

Do you press tofu after marinating? ›

I recommend always pressing tofu before baking it, especially if you're marinating it first — removing excess liquid will make room for all that flavorful marinade.

Is tofu worth marinating? ›

Considering that we often cut tofu into bite-size pieces with greater surface area (thus creating more points of entry for marinade), marinating can have a profound impact, seasoning the tofu not only at the surface but also deep inside.

Why is tofu not absorbing marinade? ›

Cold, raw tofu rejects marinades because of its high water content and low porosity. It will eventually suck up a marinade, but mostly on the surface, and only after a long, long time (think a couple of days). Par-cooking it speeds up the process by driving out some of that water, leaving more room for seasonings.

Do you coat tofu in flour or cornstarch? ›

Cornstarch: Keeps the moisture inside this tofu and is the key ingredient to making it SUPER crispy!
  1. While I haven't personally tried it, arrowroot powder may work as a substitute.
  2. I do not recommend substituting with all-purpose flour.
Apr 27, 2023

How do you season tofu quickly? ›

Drizzle with olive oil, and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle evenly with cornstarch, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Gently toss until the tofu is evenly coated.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What are the pros and cons of eating tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

Why can't I get my tofu crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

How do you cook tofu like they do in restaurants? ›

You can bake, pan-fry, or deep fry your tofu.

All methods work well, but if you want it truly crispy like the kind you may get at your favorite Asian restaurant, you need to deep fry it or at least use a lot of oil while pan-frying.

How do you get the best tofu texture? ›

Many cooking experts champion a quick soak as a way to give the protein more texture and flavor. “Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

How do you take the bitterness out of tofu? ›

Once the tofu is done pressing, unwrap it from the cheesecloth and transfer it to a bowl of cold water. This will help it to firm up and will also remove any residual bitterness or sourness from the coagulant.

Do I need to soak tofu before cooking? ›

Many cooking experts champion a quick soak as a way to give the protein more texture and flavor. “Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

How long does cooked marinated tofu last in the fridge? ›

Make sure to store the tofu and marinades in clean airtight containers. You can keep the tofu and marinade in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Should I marinate my tofu before air frying? ›

On its own, tofu is bland. Letting it sit in a marinade for as little as 15 minutes makes all the difference in the world. Cornstarch. I tested this air fryer tofu both with and without cornstarch.

How long does it take for tofu to set? ›

Use a skimmer or fine sieve to transfer the curds to your chosen press (see notes for what we use), which we place on a grill over a tray. Then press for a minimum of 15 minutes or longer depending on how firm you like your tofu (we leave ours to press for over an hour so it's extra firm).

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