Tofu is a very common and famous dish which has water as main content so before cooking, you need to dry it.
Once you dry tofu, it absorbs more flavor and this can be done by many methods like pressing, soaking, freezing, and microwaving. Out of these all, using the microwave to dry tofu is easiest and convenient.
Below is the method to dry tofu in the microwave:
Use a Microwave-safe Container
Put tofu in the microwavable container and it is preferred to take a container with a rim as tofu will release water which may spill in the microwave if you use a flat container. Do not cover the tofu with anything.
Microwave it for 2 minutes
Adjust the setting of the microwave so that power is set at high. Now, turn on the microwave on this setting for 2 minutes.
While tofu is being dried in the microwave, try not to open the appliance as it will interfere with the uniform heating of tofu from the middle.
Allow the Tofu to Cool Down
Once the tofu is completely dried in the microwave, carefully remove the container from the microwave as it may be very hot.
Also, the liquid in the container will be very hot, you should not touch it until it is cooled. Now, allow the tofu to sit for 5 minutes.
Pat Dry the Tofu
When the tofu becomes cool, use a kitchen towel or paper towel and wrap the tofu in it. Squeeze a little so that any moisture left can be taken out. Pat the surface of tofu with the towel until it is spongy and dry.
Tofu dried with this method is ready to be cooked or marinated for delicious recipes.
Since tofu is a protein-rich dish, it is used in several dishes. It can either be steamed, scrambled, grilled, or baked. It has the capability of adapting to any texture and can take any flavor, spice, or sauce. Also, in sauteed and stir-fried dishes, it acts as a vegetarian alternative.
This protein can be found in most grocery stores and is available in many forms and textures like soft, firm, medium, precooked, and silken.
Talking about its health benefits, tofu is rich in many nutrients like protein, calcium, vitamins, and iron. Apart from these, it has low fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol.
Can you reheat tofu in the microwave?
Yes, you can reheat tofu in the microwave. Often, you have leftover tofu or scrambled tofu which you want to use later.
There are many ways to reheat tofu and one of these is by using the microwave.
To reheat tofu in the microwave, follow the steps mentioned below:
- Put tofu in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle a little water on it.
- Use plastic wrap to cover the bowl loosely so that steam can escape.
- Microwave it at an interval of 30 seconds at low power until tofu gets fully reheated. Check in between to prevent overheating of tofu.
- Once done, allow the tofu to rest for 1 minute before using.
While reheating tofu in the microwave, it gets overcooked easily. Therefore, it is essential to keep a regular check in between.
When tofu is reheated in the microwave, it does not become crispy rather it becomes chewy. This change in texture may be enjoyed by some of us.
How long to microwave tofu?
You have to microwave tofu for approximately 2 minutes if you want to dry it only.
The steps to be followed while using the microwave to dry tofu are mentioned above. In case there is a need to cook tofu in the microwave along with spices and sauces, it will take around 2-7 minutes depending on the amount of tofu and the spices added.
However, if you want to make scrambled tofu in the microwave, you need to microwave at high for 1-3 minutes. In this tofu is added with some vegetables like spinach, mushrooms and peppers along with nutritional yeast. Also, spices are added to give it a flavor.
How to microwave tofu scramble?
Microwaved tofu scramble is an amazing dish that requires no preparation time at all. It takes 1-3 minutes in total and tofu being one of the most important ingredients of this dish, makes it even more delicious.
To microwave tofu scramble, you will need-
Ingredients
- Tofu
- Garlic clove
- Chopped assorted vegetables
- Olive oil
- Water
- Seasonings
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Pinch of turmeric
- Microwave-safe bowl
Method
- Take a microwaveable bowl and add assorted chopped vegetables with olive oil and water.
- Microwave for 1-3 minutes on high until the vegetables are slightly soft.
- Add garlic and microwave for another 1 minute.
- Add tofu to it after crumbling. Microwave for 1 minute.
- To this, add turmeric, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and seasonings. Stir it well and serve.
Scrambled tofu is ready.
How to get water out of tofu?
To get water out of tofu means to dry it. This can be done in the microwave as explained above. Apart from this method, we can use other methods as well to get water out of tofu-like pressing, freezing, and soaking.
Let us discuss each one of these.
Pressing
In this method, first, take a pack of tofu, open it, and drain the water out of it. Now, use a paper towel to pat dry the surface. Do not squeeze or press at this point.
Place tofu on a plate with 3-4 layers of paper towel and cover it again with 3-4 paper towels more. Press tofu and water released will be absorbed by these paper towels.
To dry it more, place another plate on the top of tofu covered with paper towels and put something heavy on it like cans of food or a cast-iron skillet. Tilt the plate over the sink to drain water that is collected on the bottom plate.
In case the paper towels are soaked completely and you need to press more, change the towels.
Freezing
As soon as you buy a new pack of tofu, place it in the freezer overnight or for 6-8 hours. Now it needs to be defrosted for which place the container of tofu in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours.
Once done, open the pack and drain off the water that has been collected. Also, squeeze tofu with your hands to dry it more. Pat dry the tofu and use it in various dishes as per your requirement.
Soaking in saltwater
Boil 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of salt. Cut tofu into square pieces and put them in a shallow container and pour boiling salt water on them.
Leave tofu in the water for 15 minutes. This will help to release water from tofu. Now, take the tofu out of the water and put on a clean kitchen towel.
Squeeze it to remove any remaining water in it. Pat dry the pieces and use them as required.
Conclusion
The main ingredient of tofu is condensed soy milk which is highly nutritious and acts as a coagulating agent. Once formed, tofu is pressed into solid blocks but contains lots of water.
Before using it in the dish, you have to dry it and this can be conveniently done in a microwave. For this, you just need to keep tofu in the microwave for 2 minutes which will release water from it.
This is an easy method that helps to dry tofu in just a few minutes. So, your tofu is ready for a delicious dinner.