Do you cook tofu often? Then you’ll need a tofu press! This handy tool helps drain excess water from the tofu easily and in a short time. It is convenient and saves me a lot of time in the kitchen! Check out my favorite picks for tofu presses that will suit your needs.
Tofu is a ubiquitous ingredient in Japanese cooking and is one of my favorite ingredients to experiment with! While it’s generally easy to prepare at home, the most time-consuming part of cooking with tofu is draining excess liquid from the block. The tool that helps me tremendously when preparing tofu is a tofu press!
The benefits of using a tofu press? It drains tofu quickly and easily, saving time and streamlining my cooking process. Importantly, it doesn’t take up much storage space.
I’ve tested a few tofu presses and found one I personally love. Today I’ll be sharing some of the most popular models, ranking them based on my personal experiences and reviews from shoppers and trusted food publications across the web. I hope this list helps you find a tofu press that meets your needs!
My Top Picks
- What’s in My Kitchen: Tofuture Tofu Press – $21.99 at Amazon
- Best Bamboo: ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press – $23.98 at Amazon
- Best Simple: EZ Tofu Press – $21.99 at Amazon
- Best Budget: Yarkor Tofu Press – $17.98 at Amazon
- Best Adjustable: NOYA Adjustable Vegan Tofu Presser – $21.99 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Tofu Presses
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Tofuture Tofu Press
I’ve had this tofu press from Tofuture in my kitchen for several months now, and I’ve gotten quite a bit of use out of it. It has changed the way I cook with tofu because it presses it out quicker and creates a better texture for recipes like Ganmodoki (Japanese Fried Tofu Patties). Most importantly, it’s easy to use. I just place the tofu into the press, pull down the silicone bands over one of the three clips on each end, and it drains immediately.
It drains tofu far quicker than the old-fashioned way (using heavy objects and a lot of paper towels), and it removes around half a cup of water from my tofu block in just 30 minutes. If I want to completely drain my tofu, I can put it in my fridge for several hours or overnight! Just empty it occasionally so the drained liquid doesn’t touch your dry tofu. Cleaning it is also easy; although there are multiple parts, they are all dishwasher safe, making my life easy. It’s also small enough to store in a cabinet, and I think it’s a worthy investment if you plan on cooking with tofu a lot.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 6″ L x 5″ W x 2.8″ H
- Material: BPA-free plastic
- Capacity: 8- to12-ounce blocks of tofu
- Drain time: 30 minutes
The Pros:
- Drains tofu quickly
- Easy to clean and store
- Adjustable pressure levels
- Separate container for liquid
- 2-year warranty
The Cons:
- Silicone bands can be tight
What Others are Saying:
This tofu press has more than 11,700 reviews and a 4.7-star rating on Amazon.
Buy the Tofuture Tofu Press:
2. Best Bamboo: ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press
If you’re trying to reduce plastic use, this bamboo press from ToPress may be just what you need. It has a simple design, consisting of just a bamboo drip tray, a slotted bamboo board, a solid bamboo top board, two stainless steel screws with wingnuts, and a piece of cheesecloth. To use it, place the block of tofu between the two bamboo boards and tighten the wingnuts, gradually adjusting pressure until your desired level of tofu firmness is achieved based on thickness. You’ll have to adjust it while pressing, but this gradual application means you should have firm and dry tofu in as little as 10 to 20 minutes.
The built-in drip plate is a major plus, as you won’t need a separate bowl to catch the liquid. It’s not dishwasher safe, but it’s easy to clean, and its small size makes it easy to store. My only concern is that the bamboo material might break and leak over time. Thankfully, there is a 2-year warranty if it does break within that time frame!
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.6” L x 3.9” W x 0.5” H
- Material: Bamboo and stainless steel
- Capacity: 8- to 16-ounce block of tofu
- Drain time: 10 to 20 minutes
The Pros:
- Eco-friendly material
- Drains tofu very quickly
- Customized pressure
- Large tofu capacity
- Easy to store
- Cheesecloth can be used to press yogurt or cheese
The Cons:
- Not the most durable
- Requires manual adjustment
What Others are Saying:
The ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press has 1,600 reviewers on Amazon and a 4.3-star rating. It was named the best bamboo tofu press by The Food Network as their favorite bamboo tofu press.
Buy the ToPress Bamboo Tofu Press:
3. Best Simple: EZ Tofu Press
Most tofu presses are relatively easy to use, but the EZ tofu press might be the simplest. Just place your block between the two press plates and tighten the knobs, and you’ll see liquid being squeezed out of the tofu. For a better press, I would tighten the press every two to three minutes until enough water is removed from your tofu. Best of all, the whole process can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. It’s top-rack dishwasher-safe and compact when disassembled, making cleaning and storage a breeze.
But because there is no container to catch the liquid, you must drain it over a bowl or sink.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 9” L x 5.25” W x 4” H
- Material: Plastic and stainless steel
- Capacity: 16-ounce blocks
- Drain time: 15 minutes
The Pros:
- Simple to use
- Presses tofu very quickly
- Can adjust the pressure yourself
- Durable
The Cons:
- Need to adjust throughout
- No container to catch the liquid
What Others are Saying:
The EZ Tofu Press has a 4.7-star rating from more than 6,000 reviews on Amazon. It was also named the best overall by The Spruce Eats.
Buy the EZ Tofu Press:
4. Best Budget: Yarkor Tofu Press
If you feel your home cooking could benefit from a tofu press but don’t want to spend too much on one, this tofu press from Yarkor is a great option. It’s quite similar to the ToFuture model I use in my kitchen, with top and bottom plastic containers that press the tofu and a base container that collects the excess liquid. However, instead of applying pressure with silicone bands, this model uses a metal spring that’s adjusted by hard plastic clamps and doesn’t have adjustable pressure settings. However, some reviewers found this press more difficult to clamp closed.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 7.09” L x 5.12” W x 3.94” H
- Material: BPA-free plastic and metal
- Capacity: 8- to 12-ounce tofu block
- Drain time: 15 to 20 minutes
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Simple to assemble and operate
- Comes with cheesecloth
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- 2-year replacement guarantee
The Cons:
- Can be difficult to clamp
- Best for smaller blocks
What Others Are Saying:
This tofu press has more than 2,300 Amazon reviews and a 4.5-star rating. It’s also named the top budget tofu press by The Spruce Eats.
Buy the Yarkor Tofu Press:
5. Best Adjustable: NOYA Adjustable Vegan Tofu Presser
This tofu press from NOYA packs in a remarkable number of features. It applies pressure to the tofu using a stainless steel spring adjusted using the dial on its top. The press’s built-in collection compartment also has centimeter and inch markings, so you know exactly how much liquid has been removed from the tofu. With a pour spout at the top, you can quickly expel the water without opening anything.
The tofu is held on a removable plate, which can be pulled out to double as a cutting board for the pressed tofu, and the container can double as a place to marinate the tofu.
The Specs:
- Dimensions: 7.48″ L x 5.11″ W x 6.49″ H
- Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
- Capacity: 6-ounce block
- Drain Time: 15 to 30 minutes
The Pros:
- Extracts water from tofu quickly and effectively
- Allows very granular control
- Includes built-in water collection container
- Handles to lift out tofu
- Doubles as a container for marinating tofu
- Dishwasher-safe
The Cons:
- A lot of parts
- Doesn’t come with money back or replacement guarantee
What Others are Saying:
The NOYA Adjustable Vegan Tofu Presser has more than 5,900 and a 4.6-star rating on Amazon. Both Reviewed and Food Network named it the best overall tofu press.
Buy the NOYA Adjustable Vegan Tofu Presse:
Other Tofu Presses to Consider
Grow Your Pantry Bamboo Tofu Press with Drip Tray
This bamboo tofu press features two wood blocks with perforated holes and a drainage container. However, it’s slightly more expensive than my top bamboo pick and has fewer reviews. It also includes a set of small springs that might be more difficult to clean. The Grow Your Pantry Bamboo Tofu Press with Drip Tray is available at Amazon for $25.99.
TofuBud Tofu Press
This tofu press looks similar to some of my top picks, with a spring-operated knob that pushes the tofu at the bottom to squeeze out the liquid. It does allow you to control the pressure and the water drains out to a separate container. Serious Eats also found that it pressed tofu blocks unevenly, leaving them lopsided, so I would go with some of the other options above. The TofuBud Tofu Press is available on Amazon for $26.95.
Raw Rutes Ninja Tofu Press
This stainless steel tofu press from Raw Rutes has some things going for it. It’s stylish, and the material is especially durable. It’s over $100, but it can be used to make your tofu if you’re interested. But for the average tofu press user that feature isn’t needed. The Raw Rutes Ninja Tofu Press is available on Amazon for $105.
Healthy Express Extra Firm Tofu Press
This model from Healthy Express has two plastic blocks and works by twisting the two spring-controlled knobs. But because the plastic is curved that might lead to misshapen tofu blocks. Additionally, it has extra springs that might make it more challenging to clean. The Healthy Express Extra Firm Tofu Press is available at Amazon for $19.95.
Why You Can Trust Me
I’ve eaten and prepared tofu for as long as I can recall. One of the most time consuming aspects of cooking with tofu is draining excess water from the block before you cook with it. I’ve used the Tofuture Tofu Press for months and love it—it makes my day-to-day tofu prep routine much easier!
Using my experience with this tofu press as a baseline, I’ve researched other models on the market, taking into account their specifications and reviews from regular home cooks and established food publications. This list is the culmination of my careful consideration of these factors, and I hope it will help you choose a tofu press that meets your needs!
Everything to Know Before Buying a Tofu Press
What to Consider Before Buying a Tofu Press
Before shopping for a tofu press, there are a few key factors to consider:
Capacity: First, think about how much tofu you typically cook. If you cook large amounts, such as more than 12 ounces, you’ll need a larger press that can simultaneously handle one or more 16-ounce blocks.
Material: The most options available on the market are plastic or wood. While plastic is more durable, bamboo options are a more sustainable option that might not last you as long.
Storage: If your space is limited, you’ll want to pay attention to the presses’ dimensions and whether they can be easily disassembled for storage.
Container: Some presses with built-in containers to collect water extracted from the tofu, and others do not. While a built-in water container generally makes the press a bit bulkier, this makes up for it with added convenience.
How Do You Press Tofu Without a Press?
It’s entirely possible to press tofu without a tofu press. I’ve done this hundreds of times myself. To begin, I wrap the tofu with a paper towel and place it on a tray or flat dish. Then, I place another tray or plate on top of the wrapped tofu and put a heavy item, such as a marble mortar, a pot, a mason jar with water, or even canned food. However, these options can be somewhat wobbly and are liable to fall or create lopsided tofu.
Using my tofu press is safer, more efficient, and presses evenly—I can even store it in the fridge as it presses!
How Long Should You Press Tofu?
How long you press tofu depends on how you plan to use the tofu and how effective your tofu press is. Generally, the drier you want your tofu, the longer you must press it. If you plan on frying your tofu, extra water can prevent a crispy crust from forming, so you’ll want to remove as much water from the tofu as possible.
Some of the tofu presses on this list are extremely efficient and will be done in about 30 minutes or less. To ensure a good press, I recommend pressing it for at least an hour before cooking.
Do You Need to Press Tofu?
While tofu is perfectly fine, you should press your tofu before cooking to improve the taste and mouthfeel of the finished dish. Undrained tofu can add unwanted extra liquid to a dish and can be very soft, sometimes crumbling apart during the cooking process or leading to excess water when cooking it. I like to press my tofu every time I cook with it!
How Do You Use a Tofu Press?
The specifics of how a tofu press is used vary from model to model. Some use springs to apply pressure, while others use silicone bands or screws. However, the general concept is the same: you exert pressure on a block of tofu to drain water out. Leave your block anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes; you should be ready.
The Best Tofu Recipes
👉🏼 From the savory teriyaki tofu to the boldly flavored mapo tofu, here are my best tofu recipes you’ll enjoy to its full potential.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
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