Where Can I Buy a Tofu Press?
Posted by Kbone on Jun 20, 2007 · Member since Jun 2007 · 374 posts
I'm looking for a tofu press and can't seem to find much of anything on the Internet. I've been pressing tofu by putting it on a plate, placing a plastic cutting board on top of it and then piling heavy things on top of the cutting board. It's a rather cumbersome method.
Can anyone direct me to a place that sells presses? I'm not even sure if there are different kinds available or if they are all the same. Looking for whatever advice and guidance I can find on this.
Thanks!
I have a press and I never ever use it. I use the plate method. I found them useless because every tofu maker makes their blocks different sizes and shapes and a press won't cover them all.
In MY opinion...you are far better off wrapping the tofu in a clean flour sack stype towel and doing it up like a gift wrap, placing a plate and a couple of canned food items on top of that.
I don't need MORE things in my kitchen than I already have. What I do is cut the block in half, wrap those side by side in a tea towel, then place that on a sheet pan. I then put another sheet pan on top, then use a cast iron dutch oven (because that thing is HEAVY) to weigh it all down.
I use two plates & put my 10 pound dumbbell on top.
I have a press and I never ever use it. I use the plate method. I found them useless because every tofu maker makes their blocks different sizes and shapes and a press won't cover them all.
In MY opinion...you are far better off wrapping the tofu in a clean flour sack stype towel and doing it up like a gift wrap, placing a plate and a couple of canned food items on top of that.
I didn't even know that any commercial tofu presses existed. My DH wants to invent one. I'll have to tell him about the tofu coming in different shapes and sizes.
Do you want a press to MAKE tofu or to just SQUEEZE the liquid out of tofu? If you want to make it, it looks like there are kits available for that, too.
http://www.soymilkquick.com/makingtofu.html
http://www.soymilkmaker.com/order.html
http://www.primalmommy.com/tofupage.html <-pretty, sortof
I've never made tofu from scratch, but it looks like you can make (and press already-made) tofu using some cheese cloth, a strainer/collinder and some weight (cans, pots, etc.), so unless you just want to be fancy, don't waste your money.
I just think the method of wrapping tofu in paper towels, putting it on a plate and putting my heavy cast iron pot and two-five pound weights on top of it is wasteful and cumbersome. I had the weight shift and the whole thing fall to the floor once too. I'd like something that has a basin for the water to drain into and a part that presses on the tofu with sufficient weight to do the job. Sometimes I need to use that pot to cook other things while the tofu is draining. Lack of patience, too, I guess. I also just like gadgets that really work. There's also the issue of all my towels being made of terry cloth which I just don't like the idea of using for that purpose. I'm not really sure why, maybe it has to do with the nappiness of the terry cloth.
I never have done any of these things...I just drain off the excess water adn get cooking...should I do this tofu pressing biusness?
I never have done any of these things...I just drain off the excess water adn get cooking...should I do this tofu pressing biusness?
Pressing the tofu gives a different texture (usually firmer because all of the excess water is drained out and all you're left with is the tofu). You just do it with firm or extra firm (things that you would want firmer pieces in, like stir fry and such). I don't usually do it as long as it says (usually an hour) because I'm impatient, but I think pressing it for about 30min is well worth it.
Tofu is a lot like a sponge in that if you press out the water, there's room for it to absorb the liquid that it's being cooked in or sauce that's poured over it. If you don't press out the water, the tofu can't absorb the flavors and won't get as yummy.
I never have done any of these things...I just drain off the excess water adn get cooking...should I do this tofu pressing biusness?
Depends on your recipe.
Previously frozen tofu usually needs a good pressing (but that is also tofu which you are trying to give a meaty texture to)
I just think the method of wrapping tofu in paper towels, putting it on a plate and putting my heavy cast iron pot and two-five pound weights on top of it is wasteful and cumbersome. I had the weight shift and the whole thing fall to the floor once too. I'd like something that has a basin for the water to drain into and a part that presses on the tofu with sufficient weight to do the job. Sometimes I need to use that pot to cook other things while the tofu is draining. Lack of patience, too, I guess. I also just like gadgets that really work. There's also the issue of all my towels being made of terry cloth which I just don't like the idea of using for that purpose. I'm not really sure why, maybe it has to do with the nappiness of the terry cloth.
I think a good design would look something like a little wine press. The base would be flat with some sort of drain holes or slots to allow the pressed water to move away from the block of tofu. Another flat surface would be used to press down on the block from above. Rather than a weight to force out the liquid I was thinking a turn screw to keep pressure on the plate.
The method I've been using invloves placing the tofu on a plate with a plastic cutting board on top. We usually keep a few 5 liter boxes of cheap wine around so I lay a couple of them flat on top of the cutting board. It takes up more counter space than I care to spare.
If you just want to press tofu bought in a plastic water-pack container -- take an empty tofu container and put it on top of the drained tofu in the container it came in.
A 28 ounce can fits well, sideways, into the top tofu container. You can also make (two) holes in the corners of the bottom container for the water to drain, but it's not needed if you don't mind picking up the container and pouring the water out.
Inexpensive, quick and easy tofu press.