How To Cook Tofu In A Pan – Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu Published May 14, 2020 · Updated March 28, 2022 · 7 Comments 5.4K Shares Pin Share Tweet This post may contain affiliate links that will not change your price but will share some commission. See my disclosure policy.
Skip to content This delicious, well-made tofu is made using a simple baking method. Only 6 ingredients are needed! Jump to: Crispy Tofu Ingredients How to Make Crispy Tofu Basic Tips for Storing and Reheating Miscellaneous Meal Ideas Using Crispy Tofu Video Recipe Ideas Like most people, I’ve been in awe of tofu for a long time. It has a reputation for being bland and tasteless. The truth? It can be those things – like most foods… no spices! But knowing how to make crispy and delicious tofu changed my world. Even a picky eater loved it. We make this tofu (or baked tofu) at least twice a week with rice and vegetables or potatoes! Tofu is a great meat substitute for many proteins. We added many of our favorite dishes including chicken fried rice and vegan fajitas. Are those stories about tofu and soy dangerous and messing with human hormones? A complete myth spread by the livestock industry. Always do your own research (this article is a great start!) Well, are you ready to learn how to make crispy tofu? Let’s go! First of all we have to prepare it. Tofu Guide: How To Press Tofu In this tutorial you will learn 2 simple methods. How to Press Tofu Pressing tofu has two main purposes: improving texture and adding flavor. This is a really important step for crispy tofu! Tofu is packed in water and therefore has a lot of moisture. Removing the water allows the tofu to hold its shape and have more texture and pliability. It also helps to hollow out the tofu! (Too much water = soggy, right?) And since we’re removing a lot of water…there’s more flavor to transfer to the tofu! This recipe calls for soy sauce to add flavor. You can also marinate the tofu after pressing to add more flavor. For crispy tofu though, I don’t recommend marinating because we remove as much moisture as possible to get to those edges. The best tofu to use to achieve crispy tofu whether firm or hard! Soft or silken tofu just becomes mushy when pressed. There are two main ways to press tofu: Store bought tofu press A DIY tofu press I used a makeshift tofu press… no shame! But it doesn’t always get results, and it can’t even be a lot of water. Store bought tofu machine I bought this tofu press and I love it. Place a bar of cling film/extra tofu in the press, and turn the knobs to increase the speed (just not too much or the tofu will break). Now, put the machine on its side so that the water can drain freely. Be sure to put it on some kind of surface to catch the water. After 15 minutes, hold a few ropes, and switch the machine to the other side. DIY Tofu Press Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Place a cutting board or plate that is strong enough to support the weight of the tofu. Next, let’s add weight! I use a cast iron pan, then put another cast iron pan in the oven after 15 minutes. You can also use a stack of books or heavy goods like cardboard. Ingredients A mixture of flour and corn is my favorite way to make tofu “bread” (I use this term lightly because it’s not a heavy bread – just enough on the side!) You can add more spices depending on the dish you’re creating! Sometimes I like to use paprika or cayenne pepper to add a little spice. 1 block extra-hard tofu, press as described above 1 tablespoon soup 1 tablespoon flour 1 tablespoon corn 1 tablespoon garlic powder 3-4 tablespoons oil for frying Salt, optional How to make crispy tofu (please see the recipe card at the end of the text) to write more posts with prepared cubes!) tofu on Sunday (or whenever you are ready) and store in a container in the refrigerator to make lunch or dinner. Cut the pressed tofu into ½ or 1 cm. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. A professional cast iron pan or a good non-stick pan is fine to use. Toss the tofu with the soy sauce, then stir in the flour, corn and garlic powder until smooth. Add the tofu to the hot pan in one layer (the tofu should be soft when you add it!) You may need to do this in two batches if your pan isn’t big enough. Cook until golden brown (3-5 minutes) then uncover and cook again until the sides are browned (another 3-5 minutes.) Season with salt if needed or desired, and enjoy! I love crispy tofu as is, but it’s also delicious with teriyaki sauce or barbecue sauce! Top Tips Be sure to use FIRM or EXTRA FIRM tofu. Pressing the soft tofu will result in mush. While I usually press the tofu in 30 minutes, you can press the tofu days in advance (just make sure to refrigerate!) Freezing the tofu really changes it, in a good way! The result is solid (the tofu shown in the picture is packed with tofu – you can see that the color is also yellow.) After coating, press as usual. Storage and reheating This tofu is really good right out of the pan, but you can absolutely store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days! However, the remaining tofu loses its crispness, so I recommend reheating it in a pan, similar to how it was made before. You may not need to fry in oil again if you have a good non-stick pan. Cook on each side until done! Gluten-free Variation: You can make this recipe gluten-free by using 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and removing the flour. Oil-free: I don’t want to make fried tofu without oil. Try cooking tofu instead! Flavor: As mentioned above, feel free to adjust the spices for different tastes! Add your favorite sauce (like teriyaki) before serving. Meal Ideas with Crispy Tofu Crispy tofu is the star of any meal, and it’s also a great addition to many classic dishes. Add fried rice or brown rice and vegetables. Use as a pizza topping or salad topping! Served with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts. Make tofu wraps (use tofu instead of chicken!) Add to pasta. like this amazing vegan alfredo! Try this tofu parmesan using a similar recipe. Did you enjoy this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below! Video Response Crispy Tofu Karissa Besaw’s delicious deep-fried crispy tofu. 5 out of 7 Votes Pin Print Tool Prep Time 10 min Cooking Time 10 min Tofu Press Time 30 min Total Time 50 min Dinner Course, Lunch, Salad Top Kitchen Vegetarian Portions 4 Calories 167 kcal Ingredients 1x2x3x1 block pressed tofu 1 tablespoon soy sauce flour 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil optional salt Instructions Cut the tofu into ½ or 1 cube. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Toss the tofu with the soy sauce, then the flour, corn and garlic powder until smooth. Add the tofu to the hot pan in one layer (the tofu should sit when you add it!) Cook until browned (3-5 minutes) then flip and cook again until the other side is browned (another 3-5 minutes). and salt if needed or desired, then enjoy! Video Note Use a good non-stick pan or a good quality cast iron pan for this recipe. Firm tofu can be used for a short period of time if you can’t find anything else solid. Do not use regular or silk. Calories: 167 kcal Carbohydrates: 6 g Protein: 8 g Fat: 12 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Sodium: 314 mg Potassium: 171 mg Fiber: 1 g Sugar: 1 g Calcium: 31 mg Iron: 1 mg Tried this recipe ? Let us know how it was! Vegetarian Vegan Becher PizzaVegan Rice Rice Instant Rice Rice Beans 5.4K shares Share Tweet about Karissa Hey! I’m glad you’re here! My name is Karissa and I’ve been cooking vegan since I started eating vegan in 2016. Not vegan and want to eat more plants? We don’t judge – everyone is welcome in our kitchen. Read More… Nav Social menuFacebookInstagramPinterestYouTube Reader Interaction Comments Leave a comment Leave a Reply Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are complete *Review results for review comments *Name *Email * Cori Wheaton says February 15, 2022 at 10:11 am