From tofu stir-fry to tofu chocolate pudding, the recipe ideations for tofu are countless. Tofu as a plant-based option is more than just a white block of soy but a base ingredient for delicious plant-forward meals that will keep you coming back for more.

For this month’s blog post, we are breaking tofu down into the various types of tofu that Superior Natural offers along with the best (and delicious) ways to cook and enjoy tofu. To begin, let’s start with the different types of tofu. With so many different styles of tofu, it can be a little confusing but with a little help, you will be a tofu pro in no time!

Water-Packed Tofu

Water-packed tofu is a style of tofu that is packed in water. The water in the tray helps to keep the tofu fresh until ready to use. Before preparing the tofu, simply drain the water from the package and begin with the preparation.

Superior Natural offers various firmness levels of water-packed tofu which include Extra Firm, Firm, Medium Firm, Soft and Silken. When it comes to firmness levels of tofu, the more water that is pressed out of the tofu, the firmer the tofu will be.

Extra Firm Tofu: A very firm style of tofu that has had the most water pressed out.
Firm Tofu: A firm style of tofu that is one step down from extra firm tofu.
Medium Firm Tofu: A style of tofu that is in between firm and soft. It is slightly firm but provides a softer texture.
Soft Tofu: A style of tofu that is softer than the first three styles and provides a creamy texture.
Silken Tofu: A style of tofu that is the softest of all varieties and contains the most water content.

Specialty Tofu

Superior Natural’s collection of specialty tofu has been formulated and passed down from four generations of family traditions. These Asian classics are the perfect addition to a variety of delicious dishes.

The variety of specialty tofu includes Tofu Puffs, Fried Tofu, Pressed Tofu, Savory Pressed Tofu and Stew Style Fried Tofu.

Tofu Puffs: These light and soft puffs are soy curds that have been fried in oil until they’re puffy and golden! Crispy on the outside and hollow on the inside, Tofu Puffs are perfect for dipping into your favorite sauce and enjoying in hot pot!
Fried Tofu: Firm on the inside and crisp on the outside, Fried Tofu is a great option for soaking up flavors from your favorite sauce.
Pressed Tofu: An extremely dense style of tofu that offers a chewy, meat-like texture. Pressed tofu is great for making fried ‘tofu nuggets.’
Savoury Pressed Tofu: Marinated and cooked in soy sauce and a special blend of spices, Savoury Pressed Tofu can be cubed and added to a stir-fry.
Stew Style Fried Tofu: Slightly denser than Fried Tofu, Stew Style Fried Tofu is firm on the inside and crispy on the outside. Great for hot pot, soup and stir-fry!

Organic Tofu

In addition to the wide variety of tofu options from Superior Natural, we also offer a full Organic line of water-packed and pressed tofu. Made with high-quality, non-GMO organic soybeans, our organic line is very versatile and can be utilized in any type of dish!

Our organic line includes Extra Firm Tofu, Pressed Tofu, Firm Tofu, Medium Firm Tofu and Silken Tofu.

Best Ways to Prepare Each Style of Tofu

For varieties of tofu that are firm in texture like Pressed, Extra Firm and Firm, recipes that require baking, frying and sautéing are best for a firm style of tofu.

For example, if a recipe requires the tofu to be baked or fried, using Pressed or Extra Firm Tofu will work the best with the recipe. As firmer tofu varieties have the least amount of water content, the tofu will become chewy and crispy when baked or fried. For a stir-fry, firm tofu can be drained and slightly pressed to release additional moisture before sautéing in your favorite sauce. For a dish that requires the tofu to be ‘crumbled,’ like tacos or lasagna, we recommend using a medium firm as it offers a softer texture that is easy to crumble.

For softer varieties of tofu like Soft and Silken; smoothies, desserts, soups and sauces are usually made with Soft or Silken Tofu. For smoothies or shakes, silken tofu can be added to increase protein and will add a smooth texture to the drink. Soft and Silken tofu can also be added to soups and sauces as a thickener. For a sweet treat, you may think that tofu doesn’t belong in desserts but there are various dairy-free desserts that use tofu as a base like puddings and cookie recipes.

For Superior Natural’s specialty line of tofu, the Soy Puffs can be a delicious accompaniment to hot pot or your favorite soup. The Fried Tofu and Savoury Pressed Tofu is already very flavorful and can be enjoyed in stir-fry paired with a savory sauce.

Whether you choose to bake, fry or blend tofu, Superior Natural has you covered with an extensive line of tofu options for any recipe.

Learn more about Superior Natural’s products here.

How Many Different Types of Tofu Products are There?