The beautiful thing about tofu is the variety of ways in which you can eat it. Have it cubed and add it to a vegetable stir fry; put it in the food processor with cacao and other ingredients for a chocolate mousse pie; steam, grill, or fry it and make it into a tofu barbeque sandwich—the sky's the limit.
No matter how you slice it, nothing beats using the best tofu press in your kitchen. It will get the moisture out of your protein-rich block so that it can absorb all the delicious marinades and sauces you put on it. There really is a trick to using this gorgeous ingredient at the heart of Asian cuisine! And the best part? Pressing tofu is incredibly easy.
If you want to reap the benefits of this cancer-preventing, bone-strengthening ingredients, you'll need your trusty tofu press. To make the job of choosing just one easier for you, we've compiled this list with the best gadgets out there. Let's get on with it.
1. EZ Tofu Press
This press is one of the most convenient and affordable gadgets out there. It gets the job done in just fifteen minutes or less—or in as little as five.
This cost-efficient press has a popular plate style design and uses tension for effective water removal, and the hardware includes a large butterfly screw and wing nuts to tighten the system if any of its parts get loose over time. You don't have to be concerned with spring breaks for this one, as there are none. All you have to do is apply pressure for about two minutes until all the water is out.
On the bottom plate of this handy kitchen tool, you'll find markings in the center of it, so you'll know right where to place the tofu. Also, the press is made of durable FDA-approved food-grade plastic, and its bolts, nuts, and other small pieces are made of food-grade stainless steel to allow for smooth pressing.
This U.S.-made versatile press can be used with any size tofu blocks, and can also be used to press sliced pieces of tofu.
Its size isn't able to be minimized for storage, but it's compact overall. Since it uses screws instead of springs, it takes up a tiny bit more space.
It weighs a little over one pound, which is great if you're searching for something light as a feather.
2. Raw Rutes Tofu Press Ninja
This is the sleekest and one of the best tofu presses out there. This gadget is a high-end and heavy-duty choice that's made of 304-grade stainless steel.
This choice features a monster press with a 4.5-pound top weight that you press down after you set the tofu on it- all that's left to do later is to come back and prepare it after the water has all been drained. If you've been wondering how to press tofu fast.. this will be one of your best bets.
This excellent option features BPA-free plastic and comes with a lifetime guarantee.
You can also press any residual moisture you might have from canned vegetables with this best press and also separate any moisture from cheesemaking - if you're venturing down that road.
3. TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press
A great middle-ground as far as price goes for tofu presses, the Gourmet TofuXpress will save your bank account, and it's good enough quality to where you won't be left feeling like you want a refund.
This is a compact size that's able to press one block of tofu at a time. If you want to do bigger chunks, just cut them up beforehand. It's easy to use, overall.
This sensational, gourmet tofu presser consists of two parts - the first part comprising of a handle, a sturdy stainless steel spring, and a presser, with the second part consisting of a box (with a lid underneath) where the tofu will be placed for pressing. The separate doubles as a marinating dish if you like to add in yummy sauces.
This tofu presser model allows for fuss-free draining without needing to have to monitor it if you're short on time and need to do other things in the meantime.
The TofuXpress is made of thermoplastic, so it won't be damaged over the change in temperature which also makes it dishwasher safe.
4. Mangocore Mold Kit and Press
The 3-piece Mangocore Press Mold kit and press serves as both a press and a mold. Moreover, it's probably the most affordable press out there.
This simplistic Mangocore tofu maker comes with a cotton cheesecloth and is 5.5 inches long and 3.5 inches high.
It not only presses and molds tofu, but it can also be used as a steamer for steaming a block of tofu at a time. And that's only a few of the many ways in which you can prepare this versatile menu item.
This amazing tofu press is made of food-grade plastic which ensures there won't be any funky aftertaste. On top of that, you can put this press in the dishwasher and not worry about it getting ruined.
5. Tofu Presser Super Press
Being more of a traditional option, the Super Tofu Press is very easy to use. Despite its simplistic approach, it does a great job at wringing out the water in your tofu block.
You'd be working with two plates that have screw clamps on the sides. It's simply a matter of placing the tofu in the press and bam - you now have pressed tofu.
This lightweight, one point two-pound Tofu Super Press is made of BPA-free HDPE-plastic. It features BPA-free plastic plates and food-grade stainless steel nuts, bolts, and screws - it's so durable that this appliance might very well last you the rest of your life!
The lower plate has been designed with footpads for a steady foundation and they lift the press a tad from a flat surface.
It's even been run through 50,000 dishwasher cycles to prove that it's indestructible to wear and tear.
This one has four spring technology, too, giving the press strong pressure that makes it adaptable with both firm and extra firm tofu. All you have to do is press down for perfect tofu—easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
A 60-day unconditional guarantee is also offered by the manufacturer for the Super Tofu.
6. Bamboo Tofu Press
Designed by a long-term vegetarian, this aesthetically pleasing Bamboo Tofu Press is made from eco-friendly bamboo boards - no plastics in this one.
This curated bamboo is finished with a food-grade safe stain, if you care about decreasing potential chemical contaminants.
This one includes an instructional manual with extra recipes from world-renowned plant-based chefs.
The Bamboo press is suitable for small, standard, and large blocks of tofu. It features thick, dense boards that will withstand the test of time and won't bend with wear and tear.
Most tofu press reviews for this product recommend that you tighten the screws every three minutes or so to adequately squeeze water out of the block of tofu.
This one presses water evenly (for perfect, consistent texture) from tofu anywhere between 5 and 15 minutes, which is ideal if you're looking to prepare dinner in no time. If you want a press that gets out the excess tofu water in a jiff - this might be the one for if you're juiced to add more plant-based protein to your diet.
7. Simple Drip Tofu Press
This Glue Theory Simple Drip Tofu Press 2-spring tofu press is a fantastic choice for a stellar tofu press that's well built and versatile.
The Glue Theory Simple Drip press features a standard top plate for pressing tofu, a bottom plate with drip holes, and a drip tray that can be removed. And, all of these parts are made of FDA-approved food-grade plastic and stainless steel.
The bottom plate has holes for water dripping and faster pressing and comes with a bottom drip tray to catch excess water.
What makes this press unique is its bottom plate and drip tray - where most bottom plates are solid plastic and require you to place the press in a container to hold excess water as it's pressed, this one has a convenient drip tray that's attached to the bottom, which makes for easier cleanup and fewer dishes to clean.
Also, this product is compact and weighs just a little over two pounds.
This entire piece is top-rack dishwasher safe. The only caveat is that the parts of the press aren't detachable for flat storage, but it is relatively small and easy to store.
There is a 100% money-back guarantee on this one, in case you aren't happy with it for any reason.
8. Yarkor Tofu Press
The Yarkor tofu press is a spring-loaded press that extracts the most excess water possible.
The Yarkor tofu press is a food-grade gadget using only the safest chemicals in the manufacturing process. That's why it boasts maximum food safety.
If you'd like to know how to press tofu fast, this time-efficient option features a built-in drainage press with holes on the bottom that allow water to drip into the collecting tray, and there's no need to buy any additional parts. This makes for easy cleanup, which is convenient if you lead a busy life.
This tofu press uses a forceful spring to squeeze out the water, yet it's effortless to maneuver.. so, you don't need to have a lot of muscles to work the magic on this one. Note that this one is designed to be used for one block at a time.
Different Types of Tofu Presses
Before we get into our nifty buying guide, let's look at how many types of tofu presses there are out there.
Plate-Style Tofu Presses
Using plate-style presses, the tofu block is placed between two plastic or metal slabs that work to squeeze the liquid out of the blocks.
This style comes with or without tension springs built into their frames, and the plate style does need more consistent monitoring of the wingnuts - to ensure regular drainage as the blocks lose their water.
This option is simple, easy to clean, doesn't take up much space, and is the most financially feasible option.
Box-Style Tofu Presses
This is the best gadget for anyone who presses a lot of tofu every week. It's also much more affordable and can last you just as long as the plate-style presses.
It can also be easier to use, since you don't need to adjust the upper plate. Just add some weight and pressure on the box and let the gadget do its thing.
How to Find the Best Tofu Press? Buying Guide
Now that we've gone over the most basic and common types of tofu block presses, let's get into what features you should be looking for in your new gadget.
Sturdy Build
You need your press to last a long time, so you should go with one that has a robust built. Opt for stainless steel, wooden, or bamboo presses for best quality. Plastic presses can also work wonders, but look out for the quality of the material.
Ridges
Look for ridges to pool the water that comes out of the tofu when you press it. It will make clean up easier and prevent a mess in your kitchen.
Easy to Use
Choose a gadget that's easy to use and practical. Otherwise, why not just stick with a DIY tofu press?
How we picked the best of the best
When compiling a list, we looked at the material the press was made of, the facility of use, the price, and at what customers had to say.
In the end, we wanted to ensure the products we recommend are of good quality, are easy to use, and are ones that release as many drops of excess water possible from your tofu. We want you to have the best-tasting tofu, and a press will ensure you receive that!
Using a tofu press beats drying your tofu with old school paper towels. And hey - it saves resources!
