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How to Make Tofu
at home

Making tofu at home in your own kitchen is really quite easy, once you get a few of the steps down pat.  I am providing this picture guide to help SHOW you as well as tell you how to make tofu.

Block of Home Made Tofu

Over the past 6 years since I posted this webpage, I have heard from a lot of readers who have written me with very kind notes regarding this section.  I have also gotten quite a few emails with specific questions on this process.   By helping readers work through some of those questions, I have been able to better refine my written directions to make some portions more clear.

I'm always happy to answer any questions you may have.  Please don't hesitate to email me!

Directions for making
HOME MADE
Tofu

© Brenda Wiley 2011
No reproduction without permission.

 

 

Supplies needed:

  • Big pot (6 quarts or larger) with a heavy bottom for heating the milk
  • Cheesecloth
  • Sieve
  • Tofu pressing box (optional)
  • Earth First Innovations Tofu Press

    • This just makes the tofu come out in the shape of a rectangle
    • I have recently found a GREAT tofu press from Earth First Innovations.

    • Alternatively, you may press right in the sieve -- directions for that are below.

Also ... see this very informative page for making your own tofu press!!

  • Coagulant
  • Soymilk making machine (optional)
    • You can make tofu either with or without a soymilk maker
    • The machine just makes the first step of making the soymilk
      somewhat easier and definitely less messy.
    • See Bryanna Clark Grogan's page for how to make soymilk
      without a soymilk maker

Soy Milk Maker

A word about coagulants

I use Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) as my coagulant, since it is readily available and cheap. You can also purchase nigari (magnesium chloride) or gypsum (calcium sulfate), both of which are sold specifically for making tofu.

The advantage of gypsum is that it makes your tofu a great source of calcium. Sources for these products are Gem Cultures, SoyaJoy’s site, and Soyquick.

For first time tofu-makers, I’d recommend starting with Epsom salts … they are cheap, so if you end up not wanting to ever make tofu again, you won’t be out much more than a dollar or so.

Even more important, the magnesium based coagulants are easier to use … the separation into curds and whey happens more quickly, and more definitively than with a calcium based coagulant.

 

First step:  Make the Soy Milk

I like a very firm, dry tofu (like extra-firm tofu), so I use 4 1/2 quarts of soymilk per batch of tofu.  This is 3 batches of soymilk from a soymilk maker.

If you prefer a softer, less firm tofu, you could use about 3 quarts of soymilk, or 2 batches from a soymilk machine.

Either way, you'll get approximately 1 to 1 1/4 pounds of tofu.  The softer version will have more moisture than the firmer type.

As each batch of soymilk gets made,
pour it into large, heavy bottomed pot.

Do not flavor the soymilk. 

If you are using a soymilk maker that traps most of the okara (soybean solids left over after making soymilk) in a stainless steel mesh basket, there is no need to filter the milk.

If you are using a blender to make the milk, you WILL need to filter out the okara solids.

Soymilk in Pot
Checking the Temp

Once I have all 3 batches of milk from the soymilk maker in the pot, I heat the milk to 180°F.  The temperature does not have to be exact ... it should not be any LOWER, but a little higher would be OK.  Do NOT let the milk boil.

If you are using a soymilk making machine, you’ll find the milk comes out of the machine right around 180°, so it's a fairly short period of time needed to reheat it.

You do have to stir almost constantly during this time to prevent scorching on the bottom.

While the milk is heating, prepare the coagulant.  Dissolve the coagulant in BOILING WATER, and stir till dissolved.  For this amount of milk, I use one half to one tablespoon of Epsom salts, dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water.

Start with the lower amount ... you can always add more if needed.   Different batches of soymilk need differing amounts.   You want the LOWEST amount that will curdle ALL of the milk (too much will make the tofu bitter).   

Once the milk is at 180° or higher, I add the coagulant.  The coagulant/liquid should still be very hot when you pour it into the hot milk .... you do not want to lower the temperature of the milk. 

Epsom Salt
Drizzle Dissolved Coagulant over the top of the soymilk

Start by drizzling HALF of your dissolved coagulant into the milk.  (So, this means a total of one quarter tablespoon total of epsom salts if you started with the lower amount of one half Tbsp. dissolved in 1/2 cup boiling water)

 

I drizzle this over the top of the heated soymilk and give it one GENTLE stir.  The emphasis here is on GENTLE STIR and ONE stir.  Too much agitation (as in vigorous stirring) will prevent coagulation from occurring.

Up until now, the burner has been on, keeping a constant (low) level of heat to the milk.  AFTER adding the coagulant, I then turn the burner off, but leave the pot on the burner.  I have an electric stove, so this continues to keep a low source of heat to the pot.

For a gas stove, I’d recommend moving the pot to a warming plate or something similar, or keeping the flame at the very lowest setting possible.

I let the milk/coagulant mixture sit on the stove for 10 minutes or so and then give the pot another gentle stir (one GENTLE stir!) and within 30 seconds or so, what had been a homogenous, white opaque mixture, has now separated into soft white curds, and clear amber whey.
Separating into Curds and Whey
If, after 10 minutes or so, you see that curds have formed, but the liquid still is milky white (instead of clear amber), that means you need to add a little more of the remaining coagulant.  Making sure it is still very hot, and drizzle over the top, give it another GENTLE stir, and within another couple minutes, the liquid should change to a clear amber.

 

NOTE:

The pictures below show a very easy way to ease 6 quarts of curds and whey into a small press made for one pound of tofu. I am now using the Tofu Press by Earth First Innovations, and its opening is more than large enough to just pour the curds and whey directly into the muslin lined box (one of the things I LOVE about this product!!) If you have a press of similar size, you will not need to utilize the sieve .. you can just line your press with the muslin, and pour the curds/whey in directly.

However, if your pressing box is small, as my old one shown in these pictures is, this trick with the sieve REALLY makes the job of moving all those curds and when into the little box a WHOLE lot easier.

Once the soymilk separates into curds and whey, I pour it into my press. (If you are not using a tofu box, see here)

After umpteen tofu making sessions, spending most of my time trying to spoon 6 quarts of curds and whey into this teeny, tiny tofu box, I finally found a solution...

The Start

Place the tofu box (empty) at the bottom of your kitchen sink.  (I give the sink a good scrub first!)

On top of the box, place the sieve.

In the sieve, place your cheesecloth, dampened with water.  Drape it so it loosely covers the sides and bottom of the sieve.
Next

Using a large ladle or cup, transfer all the curds and whey into the cheesecloth lined sieve.  (I use a stainless steel 2-cup measure.)

The whey will drain through the cheesecloth and sieve down the drain, and the curds will remain in the cheesecloth.

Curds of tofu in sieve

 

All the curds are now in the sieve.
All fit in Sieve

Pick up the corners of the cheesecloth and transfer the curds in the cheesecloth to the pressing box, gently pushing in on the sides as needed to let the whole thing slip down into the box.

Work quickly … you want all the heat that is in this mixture retained.

Slide into the Box

If you are NOT using a tofu pressing box, just leave the curds in the sieve, and proceed as below.  The only difference is that the pressing will occur in the sieve itself, rather than the box. 

Once all the whey has drained through, twist the cheesecloth to squeeze out what's still in the curds ... quite a bit more will come out this way.

Twist and wring out by hand

Once you've squeezed out most of the whey, fold up the cheesecloth, envelope-style over, over the top of the curds.

Folded up cheesecloth encasing the curds

Place a plate that is smaller than the diameter of the sieve on top of the cheesecloth encased tofu,

Place plate on top of folded up and encased tofu curds

and place your weight on top of the plate.

Weight on top of Plate to press tofu

The plate should be wide enough to distribute the weight evenly over the curds, but not so wide as to touch any part of the sieve, either at the outset, or as the plate “sinks” as it presses the curds into a smaller volume.

**************************************************************

If using a tofu box, bring the cheesecloth that is hanging down the outside of the box up and over the top of the exposed curds, and wrap them up envelope style, so all the curds are covered with cheesecloth.

With either the box pressing method, or pressing in the sieve, press with 20 pounds of weight for 45 minutes.  This makes for a VERY firm, dry curd.  If you want softer, moister tofu, try using 5 pounds for about 15 minutes or so.

Weights
Here is my set up for pressing ... weights from my hubby's free weights on top of a can of tomatoes.

 

Once the pressing is complete, the curds will reduce in volume by about one half.

The bottom picture shows what tofu pressed in a sieve instead of a box comes out like.

All Done
Seive shaped Tofu

Once the tofu has cooled, place it in a container, cover it with fresh, cold water, and cover the container.

Refrigerate and change the water every day.

It will keep about a week.

Other notes

I'd suggest always using organic soybeans since soybeans are one of the heaviest sprayed commercial crops. Buying organic also assures you that the soybeans are not GMO ... genetically modified.

The amount of soybeans needed for each batch of soymilk (in the soymilk maker) is 100 grams. They include a plastic measure which in volume is a little more than 1/2 cup.

Soak the soybeans in water for at least 6 hours before making the milk.

Remember that a BIG time saver for cleaning up afterwards is the dishwasher. Just about everything used to make tofu can go into the dishwasher.  This makes short work of cleaning up the sticky, gooey, soymilk film that is on everything that the soymilk touched!!

Even the soymilk maker … I put everything into the dishwasher except the motorized head part.  This includes the stainless steel pitcher, as well as the stainless filter.

Since I make tofu regularly (2-3 times/week), I invested in 2 machines, plus an additional stainless steel filter basket.  

Doing this REALLY speeds up the slowest part of tofu making ... getting the 4-5 quarts of milk that you need).

I get the two soymilk machines working for my first two batches of milk.

When they are done, I pour them into the 6 quart pot, clean the heating element/head of the one of the machines, and get a 3rd batch started.

Here's where the 3rd set of the stainless steel filter basket comes into play ... I have to clean only one of the two pitchers, but not one of the filters which takes a lot longer.

The soybeans are already in the clean, third filter basket all ready to go.

 

A word about cheesecloth

Make sure you use a very finely woven cheesecloth.  Baker’s Catalog (King Arthur Flour) sells a very finely woven type of cheesecloth, which is what is needed for tofu making.
Cheesecloth

Compare the cheesecloth weave above to this next picture, which is much more typical of "grocery store" cheesecloth.  This type of cheesecloth would not hold the curds at all.

cc
Recipe Link Recipe Link
 

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