Many people believe that marinating tofu is a great way to infuse it with flavor. But does it really work?
The answer is that marinating tofu will slightly improve its texture and add flavor, but you can’t expect a large improvement. Also, there are many things you need to consider to successfully do it.
Marinating tofu is a little bit different from marinating meat. It is because the tofu can turn into something undesirable if the marinating process is not done properly.
How does it work?
When the protein in the tofu marinates, it soaks up some of the liquid and forms a slight bond with whatever else is being added to it. This makes the tofu firmer and slightly more flavorful and absorbent.
The degree of success, however, is highly dependent on the recipe and the way it’s marinated. Even if you try to marinate your tofu in some tasty broth, some varieties will work better than others.
It also depends on how long you marinade it for. The longer you marinate it, the more absorbed and bonded with the tofu the flavor and texture will be.
If you marinate it overnight, for example, there is a significant difference in taste and texture compared to marinating it for an hour.
However, most varieties of tofu will only retain about 20% of the flavor from any marinating process you put it through.
How long to marinate tofu?
When you marinate tofu, the longer you leave it in there, the more flavor and texture improvement there will be.
However, even if you only marinade for an hour or two, there should still be some improvement compared to not marinating at all.
You really should take it out of the marinade once it’s reached the flavor intensity you want.
Leaving it in there for longer than intended can actually have a negative effect, but it really depends on just how strong of flavors you’re using in the marinade.
Also, if you’re putting it in a dish immediately after removing it from the marinade, you’ll probably want to reduce the amount of liquid that goes into your dish or cook off some of it first.
This will prevent the tofu to be drenched in its own juices which can make it very soggy.
What is the best way to marinate tofu?
You can use a variety of liquids when marinating your tofu. You can add whatever flavors you want, but sometimes the best tasting recipes are the simplest ones.
Salt and soy sauce is a good example. It’s not too strong in flavor so it works really well with almost any dish or marinating ingredients.
Sugar helps to add some sweetness to your marinade, but not everyone uses it. You can use fruit juices if you want to add some fruity flavors.
If you marinate your tofu in a tasty broth or sauce, you’ll get the best improvement of flavor and texture.
Other info about marinating tofu
When marinating tofu, make sure that you are using the firm or extra-firm varieties of tofu because it’s the only kind that can hold up well during the marinating process.
Silken, soft, and medium tofu are too delicate and even firm will have a tendency to fall apart. It really depends on what you’re putting it in.
If you want to try marinating your tofu but don’t know-how, you can basically just put the tofu in a dish with whatever liquid you will be using and fold it into the tofu.
Letting it set for at least an hour or two helps too. You can also mix up spices or other flavorings into the liquid.
Another thing is that if your marinade includes oil, you’ll want to let the tofu stand in it for a while so it soaks up as much of it as possible. This will improve the texture and flavor of the tofu.
Also, if you’re mixing spices or other flavorings into your liquid, consider using less than you think you need. As the tofu soaks them up, it will become stronger in flavor and spiciness.
You don’t want an extremely hot or spicy dish unless that’s what you’re going for.
How to marinate tofu for stir fry?
When you marinate tofu for stir fry, the main point is just to add flavor and texture.
You don’t need a bland stir fry, but if your marinade doesn’t have enough of a flavor intensity to suit your tastes, it’s going to be a pretty boring dish.
You should use something with a fairly strong flavor. If you’re using tamari or soy sauce as the marinade, adding sugar and other spices is always a good idea.
Just try to get something with a lot of flavors so your tofu can soak it up and really improve the dish.
You want to make sure that once your stir fry is done cooking and has reached the taste intensity you want; you take the tofu out of the marinade.
If your stir fry is done cooking and you leave the tofu in the liquid, it will continue to soak up flavor until it’s either all gone or all soaked up.
If you’re using a sauce as part of your marination process, make sure to cook off some of the excess liquid. If you don’t, your tofu will be drenched in its own juices which can make things pretty soggy.
A lot of people like to use cornstarch or arrowroot powder as a way to help thicken the marinade.
For example, if you’re using soy sauce as the marinade, you can mix in a little bit of cornstarch to help it thicken and form a kind of sauce or gravy.
One more thing you might consider is using something like a colander to drain off some of the excess marinade after it’s done soaking into the tofu.
If you don’t do this, your tofu will be drenched in its own juices and can turn soggy and gross.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can marinate tofu. However, you can’t really tell how well the tofu will soak up and retain flavor and texture.
If you’re going to do it, I recommend that if possible, you use soy sauce or tamari as the liquid.
You can also add sugar and other spices to improve the flavor. Don’t be afraid to try things out to achieve your desired results.
I hope this helps. Thank you for stopping by.