Tofu Bacon Recipe (Baked or Fried) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

It sticks, and the crispy bits end up sticking to the pan, which is a tofu tragedy. Plus, it requires more oil, and you don't need to use a lot of oil to get crispy tofu. When you bake your tofu, you give it time to develop crispy edges and warm, pillowy insides. It's simply the best.

Stir-frying is Zhu's go-to method for cooking tofu—it's efficient, delicious, and versatile. "I make a lot of tofu and broccoli, General Tso's tofu, and Kung Pao tofu. Pan-fried tofu gets a nice crisp texture outside, but stays soft inside," she says. Gently press the tofu, marinate, and coat in cornstarch (see above).

Tofu! Familiar to some and bizarre to many. It can be baked, fried, sautéed, marinated, scrambled – in short: it can really do it all. And newsflash: you don't need to be vegetarian to partake!

The short answer is yes. It may strike some as counterintuitive, but bacon and tofu is a great combination that's popular in many Asian dishes. A shorter answer would be: fry the tofu in bacon grease or with ground pork instead.

First off, you may have not baked your tofu at a high enough temperature. High heat is important for getting your tofu to turn out nice and crispy. Aside from that, I think it's important to coat the tofu in something to help it crisp up.

Why won't my tofu get crisp? This could likely be a result of not drying out the tofu enough to drain out the extra moisture. It's also possible that your oven temperature is not hot enough. Make sure it's preheated and heat the pan in the oven for extra crispness.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

Pan-frying is the easiest, least fussy way to cook up a batch of ultra-crispy cubes of tofu. After pressing and draining as much liquid from the block as possible, cut the tofu into cubes, sticks, or wedges, then toss it with cornstarch until all the pieces are well-coated.

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories, up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Heat a large oven-safe metal or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the oil and the seasoned tofu. Sauté for 5 minutes, shaking/flipping occasionally to cook on all sides, until tofu has a slight crust on each side and has begun to brown.

Overcooked tofu is rubbery and dry (not great). In my experience, newbies to eating tofu prefer a firmer tofu texture (well done) at first. To achieve that, cook the tofu for a few extra minutes or cut it into smaller tofu cubes which creates a firmer, meaty texture.

They tend to be high in sodium, but are generally healthier than animal-derived meat when eaten in moderation, as part of a balanced diet. In other words, don't base all of your meals around vegan bacon, but do enjoy it on a breakfast sandwich.

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

First I either use a non-stick or cast iron pan, I don't overcrowd the surface, I drain my tofu REALLY well, use only extra firm Chinese style and MOST important of all, I leave it undisturbed while cooking and this allows the golden crust we all love on pan-fried tofu to develop!

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

There are a few tricks to perfect tofu. First, tossing cubed tofu with cornstarch will help you get a crispier exterior when baking or stir-frying. Pressing the block of tofu to eliminate excess moisture also helps. And you'll want to make sure you're using high enough heat.

"For a really crispy texture, it's best to use starch instead of wheat flour," says Norton. Wheat flour is too heavy and turns soggy when used in tofu recipes. Corn starch, potato starch, and tapioca starch, on the other hand, work perfectly with fried tofu!

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.