Can You Freeze Tofu? Here's How to Do This Right

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Whenever you go grocery shopping you go overboard with one thing or another. Or, perhaps, you buy just what you need, but you end up figuring out that you got too much as the recipe requires way less. Well, if that’s the case with your latest tofu acquisition, can you freeze the extra tofu?

We’re trying to cut down on our food waste, so making sure that we can freeze extra ingredients is key to that. Let’s see whether tofu is something we can freeze.

Can You Freeze Tofu?

One of our readers sent us a message about some leftover tofu they had. Here’s what they had to say:

I bought a block of tofu for a recipe, but I have some left over. I don’t want to throw it out. Can you freeze tofu?

Tofu is a simple food to freeze, and can be frozen in large blocks or in ready-to-cook cubes. Freezing tofu gives it a slightly different color and a chewier texture, but should not affect the flavor if precautions are taken to avoid freezer burn.

Freezing removes the excess water, allowing the tofu to better soak up sauces and marinades, which can result in a more flavourful meal.

Tofu that has been frozen may also become crumbly and more difficult to slice. It’s also best to avoid freezing tofu that will be used for smooth recipes like sauces or dips, as the drier texture may no longer work as well.

How to Freeze Tofu?

Let’s see what you’re going to have to do to freeze your tofu:

The simplest way to freeze tofu is simply to drain a package of tofu and quickly pat it dry.
Place the block of tofu in a freezer bag and suction out the excess air before sealing and freezing.
Label the bag with the date frozen.
For added protection against freezer burn, wrap tofu in plastic wrap first before placing it in a freezer bag.

To avoid having ice form on firm or extra firm tofu due to excess water when freezing, tofu can be drained and pressed first:

Remove tofu from package and pour out excess water.
Lay tofu on a few layers of paper towels, and then cover the top with more.
Press down on the tofu to expel the extra liquid, replacing the paper towels as needed.
Place tofu in a freezer bag.
Seal the bag, leaving a small opening.
Place a straw in the opening, and suction out the excess air before sealing the bag completely.
Label with the title and date using a permanent marker.

For the most convenience, cut tofu into cubes:

Lay cubes on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer.
Once cubes are firm to the touch, they can be placed in freezer bags and frozen, and they won’t clump together.
When thawed, cubes are ready to be added to recipes with no further preparation required except to squeeze out any excess water if necessary.

How Long Can You Freeze Tofu?

When properly frozen, tofu can keep in the freezer for up to six months.

Once thawed, keep refrigerated and use within a few days.

How to Keep Tofu Longer?

If you want to make sure that your tofu remains in good shape, you may want to use a vacuum sealer. These appliances take out all the air in the bag or container and create a perfect seal so no air gets in to affect the contents.

We have a great list of vacuum sealers you should look into, but we also have a favorite – the one that actually tops the list -, namely the FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine. The FoodSaver works with freezer bags and containers of different sizes so you can enjoy multiple types of meals.

How to Thaw Tofu?

When it’s time to thaw your tofu, it all depends on how you froze it.

If you froze your tofu in a big batch, defrost tofu in the refrigerator for several hours and squeeze out excess water before using.
If you froze tofu cut down in cubes, you can just throw them in the dish you’re cooking, and they’ll dethaw on the stove.

Tofu Recipes

Cooking with tofu shouldn’t really be a problem, and you can use it to replace meat in numerous recipes. Even so, we have a bunch of delicious tofu recipes you should definitely try:

Can You Freeze Tofu? Here’s How to Do This Right