Tofu Press by TofuBud

Published on March 1, 2021
Last modified on June 15, 2023

This Tofu Press by TofuBud post contains affiliate links and we were given a sample.  All opinions are our own.

Written By Alison Chew

 

What is a Tofu Press?

For those of you who eat tofu at home, you know that in order for the tofu to hold its shape, absorb marinades, and crisp up when you cook it that you have to drain the liquid out of it.  If you don’t get the liquid out your tofu will fall apart.

In addition, pressed tofu absorbs flavor better so that when you add it to a sauce it sucks up all of that yumminess and tastes better.  And if you like crispy tofu, draining the liquid out is a must for those crispy edges.

 

tofubud-comparison

 

You also know how hard it can be to drain the liquid from the tofu before marinating, cooking, and eating.  I used to use the manual method of wrapping my tofu in a kitchen towel and then stacking cookbooks or other heavy objects on top to squeeze all of the water out.

It’s not sexy, I have to say and takes an hour or so to really get the liquid out.  That’s if everything piled on top doesn’t fall over in the process 🙂

 

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There has to be a better solution.  And there is, a tofu press!  A tofu press is a kitchen gadget used to squeeze the water out of a block of tofu.  Using a tofu press is a much easier and faster way to drain the liquid from your tofu.

 

TofuBud Tofu Press

This is where the TofuBud tofu press comes in!  The TofuBud tofu press allows you to drain almost all of the moisture out of a block of tofu in around 15-20 min.

tofubud-tofu-press

In addition, the TofuBud is easy to put together, easy to clean in the dishwasher, and made from 100% food-grade, BPA- and BPS-free, recyclable materials.  Shop now >>

 

Tofu Press Pros

  • It works!
  • Easy to use
  • Dishwasher safe

 

Tofu Press Cons

  • When pouring out the liquid, some liquid pours over the sides if you pour too fast
  • Higher price point than some other spring-tofu press machines

Tofu Press by TofuBud Review

For our TofuBud tofu press review, we received 1 TofuBud machine.  Shop now >>

 

tofubud tofu press unboxing video-tofubud review-mealfinds

 

We removed our TofuBud from the box and rinsed all of the parts with water and let them dry.  We then assembled the machine – which is really just putting the spring into the cap.

Once assembled, we were ready to add our tofu and drain.  We used extra firm tofu and pressed the tofu on the second level of tension.  The first level of tension is for silken tofu which is not as firm.  Shop now >>

 

tofubud-tofu-press-reviews

 

After 20 min, we drained the liquid from the tofu and were surprised by the amount of liquid that came out.  I was curious if more liquid could be removed so I let it sit for another 5 min, for a total of 25 min.  This didn’t help drain any more liquid so I removed the tofu and cut it into pieces to place in the teriyaki marinade that I made.

You can see in the picture below the difference between the tofu that was pressed, on the left, and the tofu that was just removed from the package.

The TofuBud really does work!

 

tofubud-tofu-press-reviews-before-after

 

And clean up is just as simple.  Take everything apart, and you can either pop the parts into the dishwasher or you could wash them by hand in warm soapy water.  We opted for a quick rinse with warm soapy water and let everything dry on our drying rack.  Shop now >>

 

How to Press Tofu with the TofuBud

Using the TofuBud couldn’t be any easier and unlike other more manual tofu presses, there is no need to tighten screws every 5 minutes.  Shop now >>

To press tofu with the TofuBud simply:

 

how to use tofubud tofu press-tofubud review-mealfinds

 

  • Place the block of tofu in the tofu maker box.
  • Turn the knob to tighten the spring. Turn till you hear the first click, this is the first level of tension used for soft silken tofu.  Turn until you hear the second click, this is the setting you need to use to get tofu really dry and firm.
  • Let it stand for between 15 and 20 minutes as the pressure drains the liquid.
  • Discard the liquid using the built-in spout.
  • Wash the TofuBud with warm, soapy water or put it in the dishwasher.
  •  Shop now >>

 

How much is TofuBud?

The tofu press by TofuBud is $35.95 with FREE shipping to the US and the UK, free returns, a 1-year warranty, and a money-back guarantee.

We’ve found that discounts are often available on the TofuBud site.  For example, TofuBud is currently running a special offer that gives you 2 tofu presses for $59.90, ($12 savings on 2) which makes this tofu press easily the most cost-effective on the market for the quality.  Shop now >>

What’s Included

  • 1x TofuBud Tofu Press
  • 1x Recipe E-Book
  • 1x Instruction booklet

tofubud-tofu-press-parts

We haven’t used any other tofu presses but did a quick Google search to see what was out there.  Like most kitchen gadgets you can find a wide variety of tofu presses at various price points.  Compared to other tofu presses that use springs, the price of the TofuBud is in line with or slightly higher.

Compared to tofu presses that use screws and are require more manual work to press the tofu, the TofuBud is priced around $10 higher.  Shop now >>

 

Tofu Press by TofuBud: Bottom Line

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The TofuBud tofu press allows you to quickly and easily drain the moisture out of a block of tofu in around 20 min.

I love how easy this tofu press by TofuBud is to assemble and use.  Simply pop the tofu in between the two plastic plates, press the spring down, and turn twice.  Then wait 20 min and your tofu is virtually liquid-free.  I will never go back to stacking books on top of my tofu for hours to get the liquid out!  Plus, you can clean it in the dishwasher.

The only drawback that we see is that the cost of this press is slightly higher than other spring presses on the market, even with the free shipping, but because we haven’t tried them we don’t know what their quality is like.  I am a big believer in “you get what you pay for” and would spend a couple more dollars on a quality kitchen gadget rather than buying a cheap one and having it break.

With that said, at the time of this posting TofuBud was having a great sale with 2 TofuBud tofu presses for $59.90.  This saves you $12, $6 on each tofu press, and is the best price we’ve seen for quality spring-loaded tofu presses.

If you cook tofu at home, the tofu press by TofuBud is a must. It’s easy to use, works great, and is a breeze to clean up.  The TofuBud also makes a great gift!  Shop now >>

Happy Pressing!

Looking for more meal ideas?  Check out our Food and Drink Directory >>

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