How to Freeze Tofu

Difficulty level: Easy

Frozen tofu
Frozen and thawed tofu ^        

Freezing firm or extra-firm tofu gives it a chewy, even meaty consistency and turns it into a marinade-loving sponge. Some people love the texture, some people don’t, so try it once before you load up your freezer with a dozen packages of tofu.

The actual hands-on work is only a few minutes, but you do need to plan at least 36 hours in advance. Here’s how to freeze tofu:

  1. Place the unopened package in the freezer for at least 24 hours (and up to several months).
     
  2. The day before you plan to eat it, remove the package from the freezer, place it in a shallow bowl in the refrigerator, and let it thaw overnight.
     
  3. Open the package and drain, then press the tofu, or if you’re in a rush, squeeze out as much liquid as you can with your hands.
     
  4. Marinate or follow your recipe’s directions.
     

Notes

  • You don’t always have to freeze tofu that you plan to marinate; I find that for many recipes, including baked tofu, pressed tofu absorbs marinade just fine.
     
  • If you have a block of tofu that is nearing its "best before" date but aren’t ready to use it, or there’s a great sale and you find yourself with more tofu than you can eat in a reasonable amount of time, freezing is a great option to save it for later.
     

Recipes with frozen tofu

More tofu recipes

Frozen tofu
Refrigerated tofu      Frozen and thawed tofu