Freezing and defrosting tofu
Tofu can be a versatile addition to your diet. But even with such a delicious food, there can be some leftovers from time to time. Here we show you the best way to freeze and defrost tofu – and how this can make it even tastier. We will discuss the differences between freezing and defrosting natural tofu and processed tofu.
The key points
- If you freeze tofu, you can store it for up to six months longer.
- By freezing and defrosting tofu, the marinade or sauce is better absorbedinto the tofu.
- It is best to freeze tofu in airtight packaging.
- You can freeze the tofu in one piece or cut it into smaller slices or cubes.
- Defrostmarinated or fried tofu and dishes containing tofu gently in the fridge.
- You can defrost unprocessed tofu in the fridge, at room temperature, in a water bath or in the microwave.
Freezing and defrosting tofu – list of contents
Freezing natural tofu
If you have bought too much tofu or cannot use it up quickly enough, you can freeze tofu in the freezerto extend its shelf life. If you store tofu correctly, it will stay fresh. This makes it easier to freeze and defrost your tofu.
If you freeze tofu, you can store it for up to six months longer.
In addition to shelf life, freezing can also have a positive effect on the flavour and consistency of your tofu. When tofu is frozen, ice crystals form inside. When the tofu defrosts, small holes appear – the tofu is more porous and has finer pores. If you then prepare the tofu with a marinade or sauce, it is better absorbed into the tofu, which intensifies the flavour.
It is important to freeze tofu in airtight packaging. If it is still in its fully sealed vacuum packaging, you can simply freeze your tofu in the packaging. If you have already opened the tofu, it is best to wrap it airtight again before freezing.
You can freeze your tofu in one piece or cut it into smaller slices or cubes. This means you can defrost only as much tofu as you need.
Freezing processed tofu
The same applies to smoked tofu as to natural tofu. You can easily freeze and defrost smoked tofu.
It is always better to freeze tofu before cooking with it. This is because the flavour and consistency of fried and marinated tofu can change when it is frozen and the tofu is no longer edible. This depends on the sauces and spices used.
If you only realise that you have leftover tofu after preparing it, you can still try freezing it. After defrosting, however, you should do a check to be on the safe side. If the tofu tastes or smells funny or unpleasant, you should dispose of it.
For dishes containing tofu, whether you can freeze them also depends on the other ingredients. The consistency of the tofu itself changes depending on the dish and may become somewhat coarser and more porous as described above. The same applies here: Visually inspect – smell – taste. If the tofu has changed in appearance, odour or taste, you should no longer eat it.
Defrosting tofu
Marinated or fried tofu and dishes containing tofu should be defrosted gently in the fridge. This is the best way to maintain the consistency.
With unprocessed tofu, you have several options for defrosting it – depending on how much time you have. It is best to plan in advance when you want to use the tofu:
- You can defrost your tofu gently by putting it in the fridge the evening before. Tofu defrosts somewhat faster at room temperature.
- You can quickly defrost packed, frozen tofu in a lukewarm water bath.
- The quickest way to defrost tofu is in the microwave.
However, note the following: The faster the tofu is defrosted, the more the consistency changes. It can become crumbly and fall apart during cooking.
You can also influence the defrosting time by freezing the tofu in smaller portions. The smaller the pieces, the quicker they defrost.
Remember: once defrosted, tofu cannot be refrozen. Consume it within the next two days.
If you have defrosted natural tofu, you will already notice the change in consistency. The looser texture and coarser pores allow the tofu to absorb marinades and sauces better. To further enhance this effect, you can squeeze the tofu before processing. To do this, wrap it in a tea towel or kitchen roll. Then place it on a plate and weigh it down with pots, plates or books – anything heavy works. This squeezes the water out of the tofu and provides even more room for the delicious flavour of the marinade.
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