How To Freeze Tofu After Cooking It

Other than keeping tofu in the fridge you may ask yourself, can I freeze tofu after cooking it? 

Tofu can be frozen after cooking it. Spread cooked tofu on a baking sheet and ensure each piece is not touching each other. Place it in the freezer until the tofu is completely frozen. Once it’s frozen, place the tofu into plastic freezer bags and store them in the freezer up to five months.

During my health coaching sessions many people ask about freezing food like tofu. Let us have a look at the best way to freeze tofu after cooking it.

How To Freeze Tofu After Cooking It

Disclaimer: Some of links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To freeze your tofu after it has been cooked follow these steps:

• Place the tofu cubes or slices on a baking sheet. Make sure they are well spread out to avoid the blocks freezing together.
• Next, place the baking sheet on a flat surface in the freezer. Leave it overnight or until the tofu is completely frozen.
• Once the tofu is frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place them in a plastic freezer bag. Store the freezer bag of tofu in the freezer until you are ready to use it again.
• Frozen tofu can last up to five months in the freezer.

Date the freezer bag and don’t forget to remove it from the freezer by five months¹.

Make sure the plastic bag is a freezer bag. They’re more sturdy and have a better clasp. They also have an area to write the date you freeze it. 

They may be a little more money but it’s well worth it. I frequently purchase mine on Amazon which you can check by clicking here, freezer bags.

Why Do Some People First Freeze Cooked Tofu Before Using It?

When tofu is cooked and then put in the freezer, the texture of the tofu changes. If you enjoy a silky or smooth tofu², then this technique probably is not for you. However, if you enjoy a nice firm and chewy tofu, you’re going to like this method of cooking tofu!

When cooked tofu is frozen, the texture completely changes. Many people have described the texture of the tofu as being more “meaty” after it has come out of the freezer and been used.

Having a meaty texture, tofu could be a great asset in many dishes, as opposed to a soft and spongy texture. For example, when making skewers or kababs for a barbeque, it’s better to have a firm and meaty texture. It will hold up far better on the grill than a softer tofu would.

Are There Any Other Benefits To Freezing Cooked Tofu?

Another known benefit of freezing cooked tofu is when you take it out to use it, it is far more absorbent³. After it has been frozen, it soaks up sauces and marinades far better than it did before being frozen. This makes it great for dishes that need lots of sauce or need the tofu to be marinated.

Making a tofu stir fry? The pre-cooked and pre-frozen tofu will be perfect for that. It will be able to soak up lots of soy sauce, sweet and sour sauce or whichever sauce you would like to use. In addition, it will have a more chicken-like texture being slightly firmer and nice and chewy.

Can I Reheat My Cooked Frozen Tofu?

You can reheat cooked frozen tofu once you have taken it out of the freezer. When you heat up tofu for the second time, you can consider it a new dish. Since the texture has changed, it’s now better suited for a whole new meal type.

However, since the tofu is technically already cooked, you’re not cooking it for very long the second time around. It’s more like heating it up. You’re only cooking it until it has warmed up all the way through to the center of the tofu. You can then stop heating it and enjoy it in your meal.

Can You Freeze Uncooked Tofu?

Uncooked tofu can be frozen by using the following steps:

• Remove the tofu from the packaging and discard the water.
• Drain the tofu of its water by placing it on paper towels. Place paper towels on top and gently press down on the tofu to drain it. Don’t press too hard so the tofu won’t break.
• Discard the paper towels and place the block of tofu into a plastic freezer bag.
• Place the tofu in the freezer for up to five months.

Always check the expiration date on the package prior to freezing⁴. Instead of using paper towels, you can use a tofu press. Check out the different styles of tofu presses on Amazon right here, tofu presses.

Tofu Keto Diet Tip: Tofu a great choice for a low-carb diet. It contains less carbs than protein and healthy fat. One of the biggest reasons for failing a Keto diet is not having a plan. Simply follow this plan for only 28 days, The 28-Day Keto Challenge and you can Succeed!

If you have any questions to ask me about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.

Read Next – More Food Storage

Can Bananas And Apples Be Stored Together?

3 Steps To Preserving Kiwi Fruit

How To Keep Garlic Powder From Getting Hard

1. The University of Georgia: Food Storage for Safety and Quality [↩]
2. Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center Of Excellence: Tofu [↩]
3. Wikipedia: Tofu [↩]
4. Oregon State University: Should we eat expired tofu? [↩]