The best way to Freeze Tofu – Connoisseurus Veg
Do you know that freezing tofu provides it an entire new texture and enhances it is capability to soak up taste? It does! Learn via this information to study simply when, why and find out how to freeze tofu.
So, you already love tofu. Or perhaps 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 stage: 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 need to freeze tofu, lead you thru the step-by-step strategy of find out how to freeze tofu, and offer you some tips about find out how to thaw and use your your tofu after freezing it.
Bounce to:
Why You Ought to Freeze Tofu
In fact, releasing 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 may learn all about it on this tofu storage information.
However as well as, freezing tofu really makes it higher, and extra appropriate for sure recipes.
Improved Texture
Tofu has a popularity 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 excellent for replicating components like rooster, 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 attempt with tofu that was frozen. However do not feel restricted! You may completely use it in recipes like this lemon and herb baked tofu, or a tofu stir-fry. It’s going to cook dinner up similar to every other tofu — the feel will simply be extra attention-grabbing!
Enhanced Taste
The easy act of freezing tofu itself would not have an effect on the flavour, but it surely 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 filled 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 mainly 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 need to be troublesome or concerned! You’ve got two choices — a fast and soiled methodology, and a barely extra concerned one.
Methodology 1: Simply Freeze It
Prepared for this — seize a block of tofu. In must be in an hermetic package deal of some type, which might be it is authentic packaging, or a freezer bag or different container of your selecting. Stick it within the freezer and depart it there till it is frozen.
That is it!
This straightforward methodology is useful when you’ve gotten an unopened package deal of tofu that is close to it is expiration date and you’ll want to get within the freezer quick.
Methodology 2: Do Some Prep
You may, if you would like and have the time, do some prep in your tofu first. You may drain and press it to take away extra moisture (learn: find out how to press tofu), which can take away a number of the water. The feel is likely to 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 be certain 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. Should you usually solely put together a half block of tofu at a time, then minimize your block in half and freeze each individually.
Tip: Your tofu might change coloration a bit when frozen, shifting to a yellow hue, as proven within the picture under, or perhaps a barely brown coloration. That is completely regular and nothing to fret about!
The best way to Thaw Tofu
It actually would not matter the way you thaw your tofu — the feel modifications will likely be current it doesn’t matter what. Listed here are some choices:
- Thaw it within the fridge for about 1 day.
- Thaw it on the counter. If this takes greater than two hours, it’s best to transfer it to the fridge.
- Thaw it within the microwave. Place it on a microwave secure dish to catch the water that will likely 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 be certain that the water is tremendous clear in case you take it out.
Utilizing Tofu After Freezing
After freezing and thawing, you should utilize your tofu in virtually any recipe, simply as you’d with tofu that was by no means frozen.
Should 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 best way of issues like browning and marinade absorption!
On the very least you may need to blot it with a kitchen towel or paper towel to do away with the surplus water that is launched throughout thawing.
From there, you may 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!
Steadily Requested Questions
It would not matter! All that is required for the modifications in texture to happen is that it is frozen stable.
Tofu, like just about all the things else, actually lasts indefinitely within the freezer. It will not go dangerous if it is frozen! However after about 3 months the standard will begin to go down. It’s going to begin to style like freezer. You realize 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 might be frozen, together with super-firm, extra-firm, agency and silken. Outcomes will fluctuate relying on what number of tofu you are utilizing. Usually, 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 number of water that may be very evenly distributed, supplying you with very superb crumbles when frozen, as proven under.
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