A Question for Tofu Eaters...

[USSRGirl]

I'm seeking urgent help. Does anyone out there eat tofu? If so, how the heck do you preserve the stuff after you open it?

Here's my tragic story: I buy tofu for my sugar glider. I never had any problems just leaving it in the package and storing it in the fridge before, but now for some reason it keeps molding. I've lost three blocks already and I can't afford this horrible tofu plague any longer! I tried putting the cube in a ziplock baggie but it still molded. >.>;; Never seen it do this before... what am I doing wrong?!!! I buy organic/firm or extra firm - does non-organic preserve better? Do you have to store it in a water or something? Am I just cursed by some health guru spirit that's making my tofu decay?

[EricTheFred]

The best thing is to consume it fresh.

Second best is to keep it submerged in salt water. Some commercial brands are actually sold this way. If I have leftover tofu, I mix a couple teaspoons of salt into a cup of water, fit the tofu into a container that it mostly fills (or into a ziplock bag), and take up the rest of the room with saltwater (preferably covering the top.)

I would imagine vinegar water or lemon water would work as well. No matter what, you are going to be flavoring the tofu, so make sure its a flaver you won't mind.

[USSRGirl]

Thing is, I don't eat it, I just use it as pet food and my glider can't finish a whole block. A block takes him about a month to a few weeks at least to eat.

Does regular water work?

[EricTheFred]

I wondered what 'sugar glider' meant.

The tofu goes bad in regular water after a while. ('bad' as in 'smelly'.) Not sure the precise cause, but I don't think I would trust it at that point. I assume it wouldn't mold, though. Mold requires contact with air.

[USSRGirl]

XD It's a this:

They eat tofu for protein.

Hmm... what about freezing it? Seems weird 'cause it's just soybeans in a cube... didn't really know that could mold. o.O Maybe I should try some myself to get rid of the stuff before it rots... what does one do with tofu to make it edible for human consumption?

[EricTheFred]

Depends on the type.

The super-soft stuff kniown as 'Silken Tofu' that most non-Asians are familiar with isn't really good for much more than throwing into salads and soup. Just cut it into cubes and toss it in, no other prep required. For me it's a highly recommended ingredient in miso soup, and nice in tomato soup and bean soup as well.

Regular tofu, depending on firmness, hangs together better, so you can use it for other stuff. If your pet can deal with firm tofu, then you can cut it into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices and fry it (some vegetarians use this as a replacement for eggs at breakfast), grill it, etc. Grilled firm tofu and veggies makes a good sandwich. The softer regular tofu cut into cubes is good in soup and salad, in stir-fry, or as part of a succotash.

Freezing tofu only works if you don't want back what you started with. It's a way to convert softer tofus into hard tofus. It loses a lot of water (how much depends upon initial softness) so what you get when you thaw it out is a chewy substance much different from what you probably think tofu is supposed to be like.

[USSRGirl]

Got it in a baggie with water now. o.O Hope that works.

I may actually try some of your suggestions if I'm feeling adventurous. ^___^ Thanks for the tips!

[Puguni]

You have to replace the water it sits in every so often. I'd would do it twice a week, just to be safe. You can just use regular tap water.

[Doubleshadow]

The tofu I get comes with a liquid already. I make sure not to lose any and the store the whole thing in a plastic baggy to restore the seal.