Introduction
Tofu has grown in popularity as more and more people try vegetarian or vegan diets, or even just to become a little more health conscious. If you want to get that delicious tofu flavor, you’ll need a tofu press! To help you decide which one to buy, we’ve picked out the 9 best tofu presses!
Pressing your tofu is essential if you want a delicious dish! Tofu naturally has a lot of moisture, so a tofu press lets you squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This improves the texture and lets you marinade the tofu and fill it with whatever flavors you want.
There are many different kinds of tofu presses, so we’ve created a guide to help! We’ve outlined key features of each one, so you can decide which kind of tofu press works the best for you!
Top 9 Best Tofu Presses Reviewed:
1. Tofu Press 2-Spring Model
This is a great plate press with a twist! The plates on this tofu press are curved to start out with, so that when pressure is applied, they flatten out. This makes it easier for beginners to apply even pressure to your tofu. This makes this press a little easier to use if you have trouble providing even pressure to your tofu when you press it. It also has a centering mark, making this press great to use for beginners. This tofu press does not have a drain plate, so it must be used with a plate or bowl. The screws also have to be tightened every few minutes, so it is not the most convenient to use when you don’t have a lot of time. However, it comes fully assembled and is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean!
Pros
- Easy to apply even pressure
- Drains quickly in an hour
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Works only for firm and extra firm tofu
- Screws need to be continuously tightened
- Does not have a drain plate
2. ToFuture Tofu Press
This tofu press is a classic box style press. You can leave it overnight and not have to worry about it until you’re ready to cook! It also has a draining tray, so water is collected in the bottom container. This box press has a compact size, making it easy to fit in your fridge. It can also be used as a tofu mold which is great if you like to make your own tofu! However, since it’s compact, you may have trouble fitting larger tofu blocks in this press. It is a box style press, which means it also takes a longer time to drain the tofu. However, it is super easy to clean with a dishwasher and BPA-free!
Pros
- Has a draining container
- Dishwasher safe
- Doubles as a tofu mold
Cons
- Slow to drain and must be left overnight
- Doesn’t work with larger tofu blocks
3. EZ Tofu Press
This tofu press is a classic plate press. It can drain a tofu block in as little as 15 minutes! This plate press also has a centering mark which makes it more user friendly for beginners. It also fits almost any size of tofu block, so if you make your own tofu, this is a great press to use. It drains quickly but this means it is a little more time intensive. This press requires you to turn the screws every 2 minutes. This may be pretty inconvenient, especially if you don’t like turning screws. Like other plate presses, it can also be hard to make sure you’re applying pressure evenly. However, this press is BPA-free and dishwasher safe! If you prefer to press your tofu really quickly, this is a great press to use!
Pros
- Has a centering mark
- Very quick! Water is drained within 15 minutes
- Fits multiple sizes of tofu blocks
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Turning screws every 2 minutes
- Hard to apply even pressure
4. TofuXpress
This is a great box press to use if you enjoy eating tofu very often. This press is good for standard tofu sized blocks. It comes with a draining tray, so there’s no need for an additional bowl. However, it doesn’t work well with larger blocks, making it inconvenient if you make your own tofu or prefer larger blocks. It is also a little more on the expensive side. The trade-off for price is that it’s very durable and can last years even with daily use. It does come with a marinating dish and is extremely easy to use and clean. Since it is very durable and can last you years, if you plan to eat tofu very often this would be a great choice!
Pros
- Good size to fit in fridge
- Has a draining tray and marinating dish
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Higher price tag
- Doesn’t work well with larger tofu blocks
5. Kimono Kitchen Bamboo Tofu Press
This tofu press is great if you’re looking for something more environmentally friendly. It has two bamboo plates and stainless-steel screws which makes it very durable. These screws can withstand many uses. This press also presses tofu quite quickly. Since this press if made with bamboo and not with plastic, it’s completely non-toxic. Like other plate press, it does require turning the screws constantly, so it’s a little more intensive to use. However, it presses very quickly in 15 minutes. It isn’t dishwasher safe like most other presses, but it is still very easy to clean.
Pros
- Eco-friendly bamboo material
- Drains within 15 minutes
- Comes with a draining tray
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Requires turning the screws often
6. Tofu Tamer Premium Tofu Press
This is the only plate press on this list that has 4 posts. This is designed to distribute force evenly across the tofu. If you’ve had difficulty applying even pressure to tofu before, this is a great press to use. It’s also presses quickly, with dense tofu in only 15 minutes. However, having to focus on turning four screws is not very convenient, which might make it difficult to use. Unfortunately, this press doesn’t have a centering mark meaning it may be hard to place the tofu in a good place to apply pressure. This makes this press good to use if you make tofu often, but not very friendly for beginners. However, it easy to clean and dishwasher safe. This is also the best plate press for evenly pressed tofu.
Pros
- Quickly pressed tofu in 15 minutes
- Dishwasher safe
- Even pressure applied
Cons
- Turning 4 screws is inconvenient
- No centering mark
- No draining tray
7. YARKOR Tofu Press
If you want your tofu to drain quickly but don’t enjoy the thought of turning that many screws, this is a great compromise! This is a great box style press that can drain tofu more quickly than other box style presses. It has constant pressure applying to the tofu, which means it can drain in about 30 minutes. This box press has a drainage tray which makes it very convenient to use. However, this press is not very large so it won’t work well for larger tofu bricks or homemade tofu. Even so, this press is dishwasher safe and user friendly, making it a great choice!
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with draining tray
- Drains within 30 minutes
Cons
- Too small for larger bricks
8. Glue Theory Simple Drip Tofu Press
This tofu press has two BPA-free plates and stainless-steel screws. This means this press is a very durable tofu press that can last a long time. It has a draining tray to easily collect water when draining tofu. The drainage holes are also very small, so there’s no need to worry about them leaving a mark on the tofu block as you press it. This press is also flexible in the size of tofu block. This makes this plate press a great choice if you like larger tofu blocks or make your own tofu. There isn’t a centering mark, making it a little harder to use for beginners. However, it is extremely easy to apply pressure with this press and it is dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Comes with draining tray
- Presses tofu quickly
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes in a bamboo version
Cons
- Turning the screws is time intensive
- May be hard to use for beginners
9. Tofu Ninja Press
This is the most expensive tofu press on the list, but for good reason. This tofu press is made entirely out of stainless steel, making it the most durable tofu press out there. If you’ve tried plastic tofu press and have had difficulty with them breaking too soon, you will like this press! It has an extremely simple design that lets you press tofu and forget about it while keeping the tofu’s shape.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Very long lasting
- Retains the shape of the tofu well
Cons
- Expensive
- Difficult to control pressure at times
- No drainage tray
Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Tofu Press
When looking for a tofu press, you should definitely look for presses that are durable! An easy way to tell is to look for stainless steel hardware. Stainless steel hardware lasts a long time and is dishwasher safe, making it very convenient in a tofu press, especially if you use them often! A tofu press that is easy to clean is also a big plus, so look for ones that are dishwasher safe. If you prefer to avoid the mess that comes from drainage, look for presses that include a drainage tray.
After that, there are two major types of tofu press. There are plate tofu presses and box tofu presses. Both are great to use! Your cooking style will probably determine which type of tofu press you prefer.
Plate Press
Plate presses are simple and don’t take up much room. They consist of two plates, very often plastic or bamboo, and you squeeze a tofu block between them using screws in the plates. The screws are often made of stainless steel, making this kind of press very durable. You can often use a plate tofu press with any size of tofu. This makes them really convenient to use, especially if you like making your own tofu. These tofu presses also tend to be on the cheaper side as well! However, they are a little more intensive because you have to keep turning the screws in order to put pressure on the tofu. There’s a learning curve to this, so they may also be hard to use at first. Some have features that make this easier to use, but it may still be difficult at first. However, if you want a quick press, a plate press is the way to go!
Box Press
Box style tofu presses are pretty much what the name implies. They have a box shape that you put the tofu into. Then these box presses have a heavy plate inside which presses down on the tofu over time, meaning there are no screws for you to constantly turn. Instead all the pressure comes from this plate. This means you can leave them overnight! This makes the box tofu presses really easy to use. However, most only take a standard sized block so they’re less flexible than a plate press. They may be harder to use with homemade tofu or larger tofu blocks. But since you don’t need to add pressure, if you want to press the tofu and forget about it, a box tofu press is what you’re looking for!
FAQs
What is a tofu press and why do I need one?
A tofu press is a tool used to put pressure on a tofu block and remove the water. Most tofu comes with a lot of moisture in the block. This is actually a good thing! It makes tofu very versatile, as you can marinate tofu and add flavor to tofu really easy. To use tofu to its fullest potential, you have to drain the water first. This is where a tofu press comes in! The tofu press will improve the texture of the tofu and make it work much better for cooking!
What kinds of tofu presses are there?
There are generally two types of tofu presses you can buy. One type is a box press. These are great if you want to leave your tofu overnight and forget about it or leave it in the fridge while you go to work. The other style is a plate press. These work much better if you want to drain your tofu quickly and start cooking your dish right away. Which type is better will depend on your style, which is why we created this helpful guide!
I don’t have time to press tofu, what should I do?
If you don’t have time to turn the screws in a plate press, you might like a box tofu press. This style of press is convenient because you can leave it alone and it does the pressing for you! You can leave your tofu in a box press overnight or while you’re at work. You can leave the tofu there until you’re ready to cook!
I don’t have time to leave tofu overnight, what do I do?
You should look into a plate press! If you’re the type to decide what you want for dinner a couple of hours before you make it, a plate press might work better for you than a box press. Plate presses are a little more interactive than box presses because you have to turn the screws, but they also work a lot faster because of it! A plate press can press a tofu block within 15 minutes!
Can I use a tofu press with homemade tofu?
If you make your own tofu, you can still use a tofu press! Look for a tofu press that is flexible in size. These are often plate presses, which can be more flexible in the size of tofu block they can be used with. However, don’t count box presses out! Some box presses can double as a tofu mold as well.
What do I do with the tofu after it’s pressed?
The great thing about tofu is that it’s so versatile! If you want a lot of flavor you can marinate it for a few hours or overnight. Or you can always sprinkle on some cornstarch and fry up the tofu. The possibilities are endless, making tofu a great choice for any dish!
Our Pick
Tofu presses are a great tool to have. If you eat tofu often, I highly recommend buying one, as it can make cooking tofu much easier.
We recommend the Tofu Press 2 spring model. We enjoy quickly draining tofu rather than leaving it overnight. The curved plates are great because they it much easier to apply even pressure to the tofu! Plus, you get two free tea towels with this press.
If you prefer to let a pressure plate do all the work, don’t let us stop you! There are some great box style presses on this list that would be a great fit for you.
No matter what style you prefer, there’s a tofu press on this list for you!
See Also: The 10 Best Cookie Press for Making Cheese Straws
