The Japan Tofu Association is Japan's representative body of all domestic tofu producers.
Japan Tofu Association Tofu Nutrition Facts Recipes Health Benefits
Tofu
About Tofu
Production Technique
History of Tofu
How to make Tofu
Tofu Q&A
Message

How to make Tofu

Storing tofu and keeping the flavor

The best ‘Time to Eat’

Tofu is an extremely delicate food. People who are used to eating tofu actually may not notice, but the flavor of tofu is gradually lost over time.

Once the tofu is made, it is chilled for one hour and then left to settle for a further three. In truth, the best time to eat tofu is when its flavor is at its tastiest four hours after being made. The fresh flavor is maintained for the next four hours but after the eighth hour the fragrance begins to fade. This means that the best time to enjoy tofu at its best is the afternoon on the day it was made. Unfortunately, this is incompatible with modern lifestyles. This being the case, the least that can be done is to learn how to keep the flavor when storing tofu.

How to keep the flavor when storing tofu

If you are going to eat the tofu you have bought on the same day or the following morning, transfer the tofu into fresh clean water and store in a vegetable drawer or lower section of the refrigerator. If tofu freezes it will begin to appear cracked and holed, so areas that get too cold should be avoided. Covering with a plastic wrap to prevent transfer of other food smells goes without saying. Scum can accumulate at the base of packaged products so it is better to take the tofu out of the package before storing.

If you are going to be storing the tofu for about two days, blanch the tofu once in boiling water and then chill. The best way to blanch tofu is to first wrap it in a cotton cloth. Place the tofu wrapped in cloth into the boiling water, bring the water to the boil again and then take out the tofu still wrapped in the cloth and chill in water. This will prevent the tofu from falling apart. Place packaged tofu in boiling water (still wrapped in the package) for 1-2 minutes or heat in a microwave oven for one minute. After heating, allow the tofu to cool for ten minutes before placing in a refrigerator. Change the water everyday and make sure to keep the tofu clean. Once tofu has been heated in this way, it will keep for about three days in winter, but be sure to eat the tofu by the recommended use-by date.

Back to top