You’ve probably heard of silken or soft tofu (or maybe you have seen it in the grocery store). It can be overwhelming when there are so many different types of tofu to choose from! What is silken tofu? Does it taste good? How do I prepare it? All your questions answered here!
What is Silken Tofu?
The big question! What the heck is silken tofu?
Silken tofu is a very soft tofu found at most grocery stores. It is made by coagulating soy milk without pressing, resulting in a custard-like texture.
It has higher moisture content compared to other types of tofu.
What is the difference between Silken Tofu and Regular Tofu?
The main difference between silken tofu and regular tofu lies in their texture and production method.
- Silken tofu has a softer and smoother texture compared to regular tofu, which tends to be firmer and more solid.
- As said above, silken tofu is made by coagulating soy milk directly in its container without pressing, resulting in a custard-like consistency, while regular tofu is pressed to remove excess liquid, giving it a denser texture.
- Silken tofu is often used in creamy dishes, desserts, and sauces, while regular tofu is more commonly used in stir-fries, grilling, and baking due to its firmer texture.
Where can I buy Silken Tofu?
Silken tofu can typically be found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores, often near other tofu products or in the produce section. It’s commonly available in supermarkets, health food stores, Asian grocery stores, and specialty food stores. The most common brands I see in the USA are Nasoya and Simple Truth Organics.
You can also buy silken tofu off the shelf, non–refrigerated. This tofu was heat treated and packaged in a sterile, air-tight container to make it shelf-stable. The most common brand I see in the US is Mori-Nu.
Common FAQs:
Do I need to press silken or soft tofu?
No, do not press silken or soft tofu. If you press this type of tofu it will crush it. Simply pat it dry with a paper towel or dishcloth.
Is silken tofu healthy?
Silken tofu is a good source of vitamins and Omega 3 and 6. It is less dense compared to firm tofu, therefore is a lower overall in macronutrients such as protein. Most firm tofus have twice the amount of protein has a silken tofu. I love to combine silken tofu with other fruits in a silken tofu smoothie for a nutrient-dense and delicious breakfast.
Can you freeze silken tofu?
Yes, you can freeze silken tofu, but it will undergo a texture change. Silken tofu has a very delicate texture, and freezing can make it even softer and somewhat crumbly. If you plan to use it in dishes where texture isn’t critical (like smoothies or sauce), freezing might be okay. But if you want your silken tofu to have better texture (like for a main dish or soup) freezing isn’t a good idea.
How do you store silken tofu?
Most silken tofu should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness (except if its an unopened shelf-stable silken tofu). Once opened, store the leftover tofu in an airtight container filled with water. If possible, change the water daily to keep the tofu fresh. This helps prevent the tofu from drying out and developing weird flavor.
FYI – once you open a package of tofu and add seasoning or sauce to it, it is best consumed that day for the best flavor.
Is soft tofu the same as silken?
Soft tofu and silken tofu are very similar but not exactly the same. Both types of tofu are made from soy milk, but they have a slightly different texture.
Silken tofu has a smooth, custard–like texture. It’s very delicate and tends to fall apart easily, making it ideal for blending into smoothies, soups, sauces, and desserts.
Soft tofu, on the other hand, has a slightly firmer texture compared to silken tofu. It holds its shape better and is often used in stir-fries, soups, stews, and salads. Soft tofu is available in various levels of firmness, ranging from very soft (similar to silken tofu) to medium and firm.
How to Prepare Silken Tofu
Silken tofu can be eaten in many different ways – from main dishes, soups, smoothies, desserts, and more.
Silken tofu has high moisture content and a custard-like texture so it can provide a creamy consistency to a lot of dishes.
When you are preparing silken tofu:
- Remove it from its container gently by pulling off the top label or seal and flipping it over onto a plate. I love the technique used in this video on how to remove tofu from the container by cutting small little holes on the back to release the seal.
- Pat the tofu dry with a paper towel or a dish cloth. DO NOT PRESS.
- Silken tofu is very soft, so it’s often not cut into cubes like firmer tofu. Instead, you can gently scoop it out with a spoon or cut it into large pieces if necessary. I also like to slice it into thinner strips.
- If you are using it for smoothies or dessert, you may not need to cut the tofu at all. It is often added to a blender with many other ingredients.
How to Cook Silken Tofu
Silken tofu can be enjoyed chilled, room temperature, or warmed. Here are multiple ways to cook silken tofu.
Steaming: Place the tofu in a heatproof dish and steam it for a few minutes until warmed through.
Boiling: You can gently simmer silken tofu in a flavorful broth or soup until heated through. This is common for a traditional miso soup.
Stir-frying: You can add silken tofu cubes to stir fry, but they are at risk of breaking apart. If you do this method, consider cutting into very small cubes and be very gentle when stir-frying.
What to Make With Silken Tofu
Main Dishes
There are lots of main dishes that use silken or soft tofu like mapo tofu (a Sichuan tofu dish simmered in a spicy sauce), tofu scramble for breakfast, a creamy tofu pasta sauce, miso soup, and many more.
In a lot of cuisines, silken tofu is simply placed on a plate and topped with a flavorful chili oil sauce and eaten with a spoon.
Smoothies
Silken tofu adds a creamy texture and a protein boost to smoothies. It doesn’t alter the flavor significantly because it has a fairly neutral taste. It’s really easy to blend with other ingredients like frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, and more.
Try out this dreamy silken tofu smoothie with blueberries and peanut butter.
Desserts
Similar to smoothies, silken tofu is great in desserts because of its smooth and creamy texture! It can mimic a lot of dairy products (like cream and custard). It has a neutral flavor so it will allow other dessert flavors like chocolate or fruity flavors to shine through.
You can use silken tofu for many desserts like puddings, cheesecakes, and mousses and more. Check out this mouthwatering tofu chocolate mousse made from silken tofu!
Salad Dressings
Silken tofu works well in salad dressings because of its creamy texture, which helps create a smooth consistency without the need for dairy products! It doesn’t have much flavor so other flavors (like herbs, spice, citrus, etc) can really shine. It also adds a little protein to the dressing – which is a plus!
You can simply blend a salad dressing in a small blender with silken tofu and its ready in minutes!
Try out this vegan ranch dressing with silken tofu!
Dips & Spreads
Silken tofu is amazing in dips or spreads! It makes it super creamy and adds a little protein. It’s super easy to add some silken tofu to a dip to add more volume and creaminess.
This herbed tofu dip looks absolutely heavenly and pairs well with some pita bread or crackers!
