Cooking With Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is a soft Japanese-style tofu that is smooth and creamy in texture.

Cooking with silken tofu can be hard to handle if you don't know how. However, with some knowledge and proper handling, you can use it to make many different dishes.

Silken tofu is a versatile ingredient that can be used in sweet and savory dishes such as smoothies, vegan and vegetarian dishes, soups, stews, ice creams, and desserts and as a substitute for eggs in baking.

In this article, we will discuss the different ways of cooking with silken tofu, along with tips to handle and store it properly and share with you some easy and delicious silken tofu recipes.

Does Silken Tofu Need To Be Cooked

No, silken tofu does not need to be cooked and can be eaten without cooking because it is fully cooked when made.

How To Prepare and Drain Silken Tofu

Preparing silken tofu is quick and easy:

1. Open the silken tofu package and drain off the liquid.
2. Flip the package over and onto a plate, then use sharp scissors or a knife to cut nicks into the four corners of the container - this will help the tofu slide out and onto the plate.
3. Allow the tofu to stand for 10 - 15 minutes on the plate to drain, then carefully tip the water from the plate before using the tofu.
4. If you want a drier silken tofu, pat it dry with a clean paper towel or cloth.
5. Once the silken tofu has drained, it can be cut into a size and shape you like.

How To Cut Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is delicate and needs careful handling to stop it from breaking into pieces, especially if you want it to look nice in dishes.

If serving silken tofu as a cold dish with a sauce on top and wanting it to look nice, it would be wise to let it drain and cut it on the serving plate, to avoid excessive handling and breaking.

Otherwise, carefully transfer it to a cutting board and use a thin blade to slice the tofu into your desired shape and size. You don't need a very shape knife to cut it because it is so soft.

If you are making blended things like smoothies, condiments, or dips, you don't need to be careful with it - it can be scooped right out of the pack.

How To Press Silken Tofu?

Silken tofu should never be pressed because it is soft and delicate. If you were to press it, it would break into pieces. 

How To Fry Silken Tofu

Cooking silken tofu in a pan is a quick and easy way to make it. Here is a basic method.

1. Remove the tofu from its package, drain and pat dry.
2. Cut the tofu into pieces and pat dry again if desired.
3. Depending on the recipe, you may or may not need to coat the tofu in cornstarch.
4. Lightly season the tofu with salt.
5. Heat some oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat.
6. Add some oil to the pan and when hot carefully add the tofu into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until lightly brown and heated through. When pan frying silken tofu it will start to stick to the pan, and then slowly release itself as the bottom starts to brown.
7. Remove from the pan and serve with your favorite seasonings or sauce.

We used this cooking method for our sesame ginger tofu made with soft tofu, but this recipe would also be suitable for silken tofu.

How To Steam Silken Tofu

Steam silken tofu is a simple and healthy way to cook it.

1. Remove the tofu from its package, drain and pat dry.
2. Cut the tofu into pieces and pat dry again if desired.
3. Fill a steamer with a few inches of water and bring it to a boil.
4. Place the tofu onto a plate that fits inside the steamer pot, but make sure the plate does not touch the water.
5. Place the plate with the tofu into the steamer and put the lid on, reducing the heat.
6. Steam for about 4- 5 minutes or until the tofu is nice and hot.
7. Carefully remove the plate from the steamer.
8. Serve the cooked silken tofu with your favorite sauce or seasonings.

How To Cook Silken Tofu In Soup

Cooking silken tofu in soup is simple, all you need to do is make the soup, then add drained cut pieces of tofu into the soup towards the end of cooking.

Allow the soup to simmer for about 5 - 10 minutes (or the time stated in the recipe) for the soup to firm up and absorb flavors.

Is Silken Tofu Good For Baking?

Silken tofu is generally not baked as it is but is instead used as an egg or dairy substitute in baked goods.

How To Store Silken Tofu

Silken tofu has a short shelf life and should be stored properly to ensure it stays fresh for as long as possible.

1. Silken tofu should always be kept cooled and stored in the fridge.
2. Keep it in its original container or transferred it to an air-tight container filled with fresh cold water, and change the water every second day.
3. Depending on the brand it will keep for about 3- 7 days when stored properly in the fridge.
4. If you have leftover silken tofu and you will not be using it within a week, it can be frozen for up to three months. However, if you freeze it, the texture of the tofu will change, and it won't be as smooth.

How To Use Silken Tofu In Recipes

Just to show how versatile cooking with silken tofu can be here are a few ways that you can use it:

1. Silken tofu can be used as a dairy-free alternative to make creamy pasta sauces. It can be blended with meat or vegetable stocks or broths, water, or plant milk to create creamy and flavorful sauces that suit your dietary needs.
2. Use it as a base for dips and spreads that are lighter and healthier than heavily oil-based ones. 
3. Use it as a vegan replacement for ricotta cheese by blending it with nutritional yeast and other seasonings. This can be used in lasagnas, pizza, and other savory dishes that call for ricotta.
4. Add it to smoothies to make filling and protein-rich drinks.
5. It can be used to make healthy salad dressings.
6. Use it as an egg replacer in baking. 

Sweet Silken Tofu Recipes

White Chocolate And Raspberry Blondies

This recipe for egg-free white chocolate and raspberry blondies is easy to make. It has decadent chunks of white chocolate and raspberries, and is rich, gooey, and delicious.

White Chocolate Raspberry Blondies