2009/04/19

How to remove tofu from the box

tofu, beancurd, trick, technique, Food For Tots

From the day I got “promoted” to be the family’s “chief chef” (as mother-in-law was no longer staying with us), I have been calling my mother more often than before to consult her on cooking-related matters. I felt so fortunte that she provided me with a 24/7 phone support service. Thanks a lot, mom!

Nowadays, we love to exchange ideas and tips on how to improve our cooking skills. On one occasion, she asked me what is the best way to remove tofu from the box. And, I happily shared with her a technique which I came to regard as the perfect technique. Subsequently, I was surprised to find out that my technique didn’t actually work for her.

When I was back in Penang for holiday last December, she told me that she had found an even better technique. At first, I was quite skeptical about it. But, after watching her demo and trying it out on my own, I was totally convinced that her method is indeed simple and 100% fail proof. Even my hubby scored 100 marks on his first attempt!

Now, let me share with you my mother’s “5 simple steps to remove the whole tofu perfectly from the box”. Below is the demo done by my hubby. Try it out to see whether it works on you. If you have better tricks, do share with me!

Step 1: Trim off the edges of the box with a pair of scissors. Peel away the plastic paper.



Step 2: Make a small incision at the side between the tofu and the wall of the box. Let slow running water sip into the incision. Repeat this step for each side. With sufficient water, the tofu will float up by itself.



Step 3: Cover the box with a plate, tray or anything with a flat surface.



Step 4: Flip it over.



Step 5: Now you can remove the box easily and get the "perfect-looking" tofu for your cooking!

37 comments:

Dora said...

That's really a hassle free way to do it! ;)

Bits said...

Great tricks! I tried that and it really works! Thanks to your Mum.

Selba said...

This is great! Thanks for sharing the tips :)

CY said...

Ha ha, great tip! I've usually had the odd corner always stuck in the box still, so this is great tips to have! :)

Pearl said...

oh my gosh -t his is such an adorable post!

Piggy said...

I usually invert the box on a plate, and it takes longer to get the tofu out. This is a great tip, I'll try it when I go back to SG. (fyi, there's no tofu in SA, so sad.)

cariso said...

Haha! Simple trick but yet never thought of it before. :)

Pam said...

Looks simple to do...now if I only liked tofu.

Food For Tots said...

Hi Everyone: Tks for your wonderful comments. I am sure my mom will be very happy to see all these +ve feedbacks.

Piggy: Why dun u try to make your own tofu using soya bean milk + egg?

Little Corner of Mine said...

Great tips! :)

ICook4Fun said...

Thanks for the wonderful tips. Usually certain part of the tofu will get stuck to the container.

Anonymous said...

Wah... such a trouble to get a nice looking tofu on the plate. Will give it a try. Thanks for the posting.

K.Y.

Anonymous said...

Hi LK,
U have a great blog. thanks for sharing the trick as b4 reading your blog, I just smashed the tofu and ended up using "beaten" egg to cover it! ;-) ha ha

BT

Diana said...

The edges are so smooth...Before I read the description on Tastespotting I thought it was a bar of white chocolate. :)

Food For Tots said...

LCOM: Tks!!!

ICook4Fun: Tks!!!

KY: There is no difficulty in this technique. Even my hubby, a non-cook, can do it in his 1st attempt.

BT: You are such a creative chef! Hahaha!

Diana: Tks for dropping by. A bar of white chocolate?? Hehehe!

shavedicesundays said...

Food For Tots, I usually just slide a cheap knife into the plastic cover and cut around it with the knife, invert and then cut up the tofu with the same knife. Of course if you're planning on plating the tofu, your technique is more careful.

Dipped said...

Why???

My Asian Kitchen said...

this kind of plastic box is more easy to remove than the paper box one,right? btw,beautiful pix:P

tigerfish said...

I will try this trick the next time and see if it works. Thx!

Food For Tots said...

shavedicesundays: Tks for sharing your technique. Will give it a try one day.

angie: This technique is useful if you need to steam a nice-looking tofu and pour some pre-cooked sauce on top of it. Have I answered your question?

My Asian Kitchen: Never see a tofu in paper box before. Tks for your compliment.

Tigerfish: Pls let me know the "verdict". Tks.

worldwindows said...

I slide a sharp blade carefully through the plastic cover as close to the wall of the box as possible, making sure no liquid splatter out. Continue cutting around the box till done.

lisaiscooking said...

That's a great tip for tightly packed tofu! The tofu I buy is packed in water and sits loosely in a tray or plastic bag.

syrie said...

Excellent tips. What a lovely mother and daughter!

Marc @ NoRecipes said...

Nice tip. Silken tofu can be such a pain to get out I often just end up cutting it up in the box to get it out.

mycookinghut said...

LK, great tip!!

Food For Tots said...

worldwindows: I did try your method before but it can't work for my mom. ;)

lisaiscooking: The tofu packed in water is only available in the wet market. Tks.

syrie: Tks.

Mac @ no recipes: Tks. Another plus point for this tip is that we can recycle the box.

mycookinghut: Tks.

Big Boys Oven said...

fantastic, i must try as I alway breaks them

Kana said...

I break mine everytime!!!

Food For Tots said...

BBO: Tks! Looking forward to hear your success story!

Maya: Hope it will help you to get the perfect-looking tofu.

Christelle said...

What a brilliant tip, I destroyed one a few days before you posted this, lol!

Little Inbox said...

Thanks for sharing. Everytime I just can't get a complete tofu from the box, haha...

Food For Tots said...

Christelle: Tks! Hope this tip will be handful in your next tofu dish.

Little Inbox: Dun worry! I am sure if you use this tip, you can pass with flying colours like my hubby!

Noob Cook said...

great tips and step by step guide! :) For some reason I notice that the japanese tofu is really easy to get out compared to our local ones.

marie said...

actually no need to make incisions at the side of the tofu box. just run some tap water over the tofu then overturn it on ur palm. v gently squeeze the broader side of the box and it will pop out.

Food For Tots said...

noobcook: Tks. You mean the Jpn tofu in tube form as I haven't one sold in a box?

marie: Tks for sharing your wonderful tips. I will try it out. Btw tks for visiting my blog.

Tastes of Home said...

perfect! thanks for the tips :)

Food For Tots said...

Taste of Home: Tks! You are welcome!