Tofu is a fantastic meat alternative that vegetarians and vegans everywhere have learned to cook with. If you use a lot of it, then what is the best way to buy it in bulk and store it?
Can You Freeze Tofu?
Yes, you can freeze tofu for up to 3 months. You can freeze it in the packet it came in, or you can slice it up and freeze it in thick freezer bags.
Does Tofu Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Tofu? No
How to Freeze Tofu
There are very few steps involved with freezing tofu and very little preparation work to undertake.
- Cut Up: Cut up the tofu into chunks or pieces of the size you will want when you use the tofu in a recipe.
- Flash Freeze: Pop the chopped-up tofu chunks onto a baking sheet to freeze. Place it in the freezer, trying to keep it as flat as possible.
- Bag Up: Once the tofu has frozen, you can transfer them from the baking sheet into a freezer bag or airtight container suitable for freezing.
- Final Freeze: Name and date the freezer bag or container and then put it into the freeze – It’s that simple!
If you don’t want to unwrap and chop up your tofu before freezing, then you don’t need to. You can pop the unopened package right in the freezer as it is.
3 Tips for Freezing Tofu
Now you know how to freeze tofu, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing them to have the best results:
Flash Freeze It
If you’re going to freeze tofu cut in cubes or sliced, then you’ll need to flash-freeze it. This will ensure each piece freezes individually, and they don’t freeze into one large clump.
Marinate Beforehand
Marinades are absorbed amazingly by tofu, especially tofu that is frozen. Mix soy, chilli, garlic and ginger and soak your tofu for an hour before freezing. It’ll be delicious.
Freeze Full Packets
If you know, you’ll eat a whole packet of tofu then freeze it in the original packaging. It’s likely to be very airtight, making it the perfect vessel for freezing tofu.
How Long Can You Freeze Tofu?
You can keep your tofu in the freezer for up to 3 months, and you can freeze all types of tofu in the same way.
They make such a handy addition to a meal that if you always have a bag in your freezer, you are never far away from a quick and tasty meal.
When kept submerged and in an airtight container, tofu will last for 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
How Do You Defrost Tofu?
There are a few methods you can use when it comes time to defrost your tofu. You can go with the slow approach of putting it into the fridge and allowing it to thaw out slowly. Once it has thawed, you can cook it any way you choose.
If you want a faster method of thawing out your tofu, then remove it from the packaging and pop it into the microwave on defrost mode for 60 seconds or until it has defrosted.
You can even cook the tofu from frozen if you wish. Pop your chunks into boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes or until it has cooked through.
Can You Refreeze Tofu?
Refreezing tofu is not something we would recommend. Refreezing it can completely break down and ruin the texture of your tofu. Refreezing can draw moisture out, leaving you with crumbly, dry and textureless tofu.
Does Tofu Freeze Well?
Yes! Tofu absolutely freezes well.
Not only does it freeze well for up to three months but it is actually better frozen than it would have been fresh!
The process of freezing tofu changes the structure and texture of the tofu, so it ends up a little sturdier and chewier.
This allows you to marinade it more successfully because tofu that has been frozen absorbs marinades even better ending up in a much tastier dish.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing tofu or tofu in general, then these may help:
You can freeze firm tofu, extra firm tofu and silken tofu. Freeze cubes on a baking sheet, then, when solid, tip them into a freezer bag.
Yes, tofu marinated in a range of herbs and spices can all be frozen. It should be portioned out into freezer bags, sealed and then popped into the freezer.
Yes! If you have an unopened carton or packet of tofu then you can pop these directly into the freezer.
