No More Watery Tofu: 5 of the Best Tofu Presses Reviewed

Best Tofu Presses

Having the best tofu press to squeeze out excess water from your tofu is vital in prepping it for your meals. A misstep in this process can make your tofu fall apart, lose its shape or fail to retain its taste and flavor. Over time, many people have adopted different ways to press their tofu using simple items they already have in their kitchen. However, a tofu press has proven to be the best way to press tofu and is fast becoming popular.

You can enjoy your favorite recipes when you get rid of excess water in your tofu. I personally always look forward to making mapo tofu, and these are the top 3 ways I reheat mapo tofu whenever I make it to be eaten later.

A tofu press is a fail-proof device that would help you save tons of paper towels. Aside from the fact that your tofu will be ready in as little as 15 minutes, it is more efficient, less messy, and simple for anyone to handle. It is a worthy investment for people who eat tofu regularly. This article will ease the processing of getting your tofu prep tool by selecting the five best tofu presses available in the market. Let’s get started!

Top Five Best Tofu Press

This is a carefully curated list of some tofu presses that will serve you well. I have explained the design, performance, unique features, and overall value of these presses so you can make a pick that suits you well.

Product ImageProduct NameFoodLve RatingPros ConsLink
Tofubud Tofu PressTofubud Tofu PressBest Overall– It drains your tofu quickly and efficiently.
– It can be washed in a dishwasher
– It is made from top-quality food-grade materials.
– The translucent drainer makes you monitor when your tofu is perfectly drained
– It presses a whole tofu block better than a half blockCheck Price Here
Tofuture Tofu PressTofuture Tofu PressBest Rated– It is simple to use.
– It is sturdy and durable
– It is dishwasher safe
– It has a 2-year warranty
– It takes more time to drain the tofu fullyCheck Price Here
Ez Tofu PressEZ Tofu PressBest Value– It is dishwasher safe
– It is budget-friendly
– It can accommodate a large tofu block
– It is sturdy, durable, and easy to use
– It does not have a drainage plate
– It has a manual pressure control knob
Check Price Here
Raw Rutes Tofu PressRaw Rutes Tofu PressBest Stainless Steel– It is long-lasting and durable
– It perfectly drains your tofu quickly
– It has a lifetime warranty
– It is easy to clean and dishwasher safe
– It is quite heavy
– It is expensive
Check Price Here
Gourmet Tofu PressGourmet Tofu PressBest Plastic– It has a 1-year warranty
– It is sturdy and durable
– It is easy to clean and assemble
– You can marinate your tofu in it after pressing
– It is quite expensiveCheck Price Here

1. Tofubud Tofu Press (Best Overall)

Best Overall

This press has conveniently earned its position as the overall best tofu press, and it serves to get firm to extra firm tofu results. Its efficiency is superior to other tofu presses as it will drain your tofu to be extra firm within 15 minutes. Depending on the level of firmness you want, you can choose between the two available pressures.

This press is 4.7 x .5 x 4.7 inches in dimension and weighs 1 pound. It consists of 6 parts, including a stainless steel coil and a translucent drainer. A Tofubud review of this press reveals that the stainless steel coil presses your tofu to perfection, while the translucent drainer guarantees no mess is made when pressing the tofu. Also, the tofu press is made of quality food-grade materials that can easily be washed in the dishwasher.

What’s more, you get a recipe book to get you started on preparing your tofu.  Because this press maintains the shape of a tofu block, you can utilize it to press your paneer or cheese.

Pros

  • It drains your tofu quickly and efficiently.
  • It can be washed in a dishwasher
  • It is made from top-quality food-grade materials.
  • The translucent drainer makes you monitor when your tofu is perfectly drained

Cons

  • It presses a whole tofu block better than a half block

Tofubud Tofu Press is suitable for:

This is the best tofu press for people who want to save time while preparing meals. If you want a press that also functions as a paneer press, this is for you.

2. Tofuture Tofu Press (Best Rated)

Best Rated

This unique press is the best-rated tofu press in the market. It presses your tofu to give an even, firm, and crack-free tofu, and it is simple to use. All you need to do is to put the tofu in the press, pull down the bands and push the clip to exert pressure on the tofu. You can now leave it in the fridge to drain.

The Tofuture tofu press weighs only 3.53 ounces and doesn’t occupy much storage space. The durability of this press gives you value for your money. It is compact, sturdy, and made from top-quality food-grade products; as such, it is dishwasher safe. Also, depending on your recipe, you can adjust the setting to press either firm or extra-firm tofu.

Pros

  • It is simple to use.
  • It is sturdy and durable
  • It is dishwasher safe
  • It has a 2-year warranty

Cons

  • It takes more time to drain the tofu fully

Tofuture Tofu Press is suitable for:

You can opt for this press if you prefer tofu press models that do not have a spring. Also, you can go for this product if you are certain you won’t need to beat time in prepping your meal.

3. EZ Tofu Press (Best Value)

Best Value

The EZ tofu press was designed for simplicity, and it is affordable. Its user-friendly design requires little effort to assemble and handle. To use it, simply place your tofu on the center markings of the press and tighten the knobs. You can increase the pressure every three minutes using the manual knobs. When you tighten the knobs efficiently, you can get your tofu ready in 15 minutes

This press is 9 x 5.25 x 4 inches in size, weighs 1.1 pounds, and is made from USDA-approved and BPA-free plastic. The design of this tool makes it super easy to wash. This press has a grommet top plate made of stainless steel that ensures smoother pressing and prevents plastic from getting into the tofu. Any size of tofu can be drained effectively using this presser. Also, it can function as a paneer press.

Pros

  • It is dishwasher safe
  • It is budget-friendly
  • It can accommodate a large tofu block
  • It is sturdy, durable, and easy to use

Cons

  • It does not have a drainage plate
  • It has a manual pressure control knob

EZ Tofu Press is suitable for the following:

This is ideal if you want to press a much larger block of tofu. Aside from the fact that you would have to find a plate to collect the extracted tofu water, it is user-friendly, efficient, and worth the purchase.

4. Raw Rutes Tofu Press (Best Stainless Steel)

Best Stainless Steel

Raw Rutes tofu press is the best tofu press made from stainless steel in the market. That’s right! It has no springs, rubber bands, or cheap plastic parts. It is 4.1 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches in size, weighs 6 pounds, and it effectively carries out heavy-duty tofu pressing. 

This stainless steel tofu press has a weighted top that extracts water from your tofu blocks. The pressing weight is over 5 pounds, so there is enough pressing power to drain all the water from your tofu. It also works well for paneer cheese.

Pros

  • It is long-lasting and durable
  • It perfectly drains your tofu quickly
  • It has a lifetime warranty
  • It is easy to clean and dishwasher safe

Cons

  • It is quite heavy
  • It is expensive

Raw Rutes Tofu Press is suitable for:

This is the best tofu press to get if you do not like presses with screws and springs. It is also a great investment if you do not want plastic. Although it is heavy, it is simple to use, sturdy and would last a lifetime. 

5. Gourmet Tofu Press (Best Plastic)

Best Plastic

The Gourmet tofu press is the best tofu press made of plastic in the market. With this TofuXpress brand device, you can press the moisture out of your tofu and press flavor in without mess. Tofu Xpress reviews show that this tool presses every brand of tofu without crushing it.

This press is 5 x 5 x 5 inches in size and weighs 1.05 pounds. It is a dual-purpose tool because it can serve as a marinating dish after pressing. It is also designed to dry out veggies, salads, and more.

Pros

  • It has a 1-year warranty
  • It is sturdy and durable
  • It is easy to clean and assemble
  • You can marinate your tofu in it after pressing

Cons

  • It is quite expensive

Gourmet Tofu Press is suitable for:

This press is a good option if you prefer plastic tofu presses. It is easy to use, and if you love the added value of being able to prep your tofu in the press, you should go for it.

Some Commonly Asked Questions

Must I Press Every Type of Tofu?

No, you don’t. Many tofu recipes do not require pressing. For example, silken tofu does not require pressing at all. However, if you want your tofu to be crispy and firm, you have to remove the moisture to get that result.

How do you press tofu?

If you’re wondering about the best way to press tofu, here are some steps to follow:

  1. Begin by wrapping the block of tofu in a tea towel to absorb any moisture. This step is essential in preparing tofu for pressing.
  2. Next, place the wrapped tofu block in a press and cover it with another plate or sheet.
  3. Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes, but a little longer is better. For the best results, leave it overnight.
  4. Once the tofu is done pressing, remove it from the press and slice or cube it as needed. You can now marinate it or prepare it for your recipe.
  5. If you want to get even more moisture out of the tofu, you can slice the block in half before pressing. This will allow for more even pressure and a firmer texture.

Conclusion

There are many tofu presses options out there, but I have sorted out those that stand out. However, if I were to recommend one of them as the best tofu press, it would be the Tofubud Tofu Press because it is easy to use. Also, you can get extra firm tofu within 15 minutes with minimal effort.

If you are trying out a tofu recipe for the first time and you don’t know how it tastes. Check out where I explained how tofu tastes, so you know what to expect. But you need to get the best tofu press to get started!

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