Cooking Tofu
A Quick Guide to Cooking Tofu
Ever health conscious, most people are continually seeking ways to eat healthier; cooking tofu and including it in everyday recipes may be the very answer for them.
Tofu is, quite simply, bean curd; a cheese like product made from soya milk. Left on its own, it is rather unremarkable in flavor; actually quite bland in taste. However, it has a chameleon type ability to take on the flavor of other ingredients with which it is combined; cooking tofu with ingredients you love best will give you the healthy benefits you seek without even knowing you are eating tofu.
Three different types of the curd offer a culinary choice to those cooking tofu. Firm tofu is just that; firm to the touch and dense. Firm tofu is usually cut into cubes, which can be stir-fried, added to soups, stews or sauces, barbequed, even pickled. This type has more protein, fat and calcium than the other types has. When cooking tofu as a meat dish, it is helpful to freeze the block of tofu, thaw it when ready to use and crumble it into bits before adding it to the dish.
When a recipe calls for a blended consistency, cooking tofu which is soft is recommended. Soft tofu is also rich in protein and calcium, but a little lower in fat content. Silken tofu is just a smoother blend of soft tofu; each carrying higher water content than firm tofu. Mainly used in desserts, such as cakes, pies, mousse and pudding, both soft and silken tofu are used when combining all ingredients into a smooth texture.
Properly storing the tofu will ensure that it retains its freshness and consistency until such time as you are ready for cooking tofu in your recipes. Like any dairy product, tofu requires refrigeration. Packages of tofu may be available in vacuum sealed packages or in containers with water. Usually the vacuum packed varieties seem to last longer once the package has been opened. Regardless, an open package of tofu should be used be used up within a few days. If you will not be cooking tofu within that time, the tofu should be drained well and frozen in a freezer safe container until such time as it is needed.
Cooking tofu is just like cooking any type of food, and has the added benefit of being an extremely healthy food choice. High in protein, calcium and magnesium, tofu can help to fight against such ailments as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and heart disease when combined with a balance of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
The health benefits along with the fact it is easy to prepare, makes cooking tofu a popular choice among not only vegans but anyone who is health conscious. Making it a part of a regular diet can be the start of a healthier you.