Freezing tofu cheese: is it possible and how to do it correctly?
At its core, tofu is not a milk cheese, but a product made from soybeans. It has a mild taste, which allows it to be widely used in cooking, including traditional Asian cuisine.
Not fatty and low in calories, this cheese is included in sauces, appetizers, desserts, meat and vegetable dishes. I will tell you in the article whether it is possible to freeze tofu cheese.
Content
Should I store it in the freezer?
Tofu is made from soy milk by curdling it when heated, and then pressing it. When finished, it has a fairly dense consistency. A block of such cheese can be freely cut.
A distinctive feature of the product is its ability to well absorb the aromas of other components of dishes, including marinades, sauces and various seasonings. This versatility opens up great possibilities in using cheese.
Its texture can be pressed or loose. Its hard and soft varieties are used in cooking.
But in a desperate situation, the possibility of long-term storage at low temperatures can be a good solution. Tofu is a low-fat protein plant product that is easily digested by the body.
How does freezing affect quality?
Exposure to low temperatures is stressful for the product. Even freezing carried out according to all the rules affects its characteristics.
When frozen, tofu turns yellow. This is a normal reaction to contact with low temperatures. After thawing, the color changes to a lighter shade.
In this case, the texture becomes porous. The beneficial properties of the cheese are preserved even after defrosting, which makes freezing quite possible.
The changed texture can even be a plus, if you need tofu add softness. This could be, for example, when preparing stewed vegetables with cheese. It is recommended to use fresh tofu to make sauces.
How to freeze?
When planning to prepare tofu for future use, it is important to ensure the proper quality of the product. It must be fresh and not expired.
There are several ways to freeze soy cheese: in its original packaging and without it.. In retail chains, tofu can be found in its original packaging, which contains liquid.
If you put the product in the freezer in this form, then after defrosting the surface of the cheese will be covered in cracks due to the large amount of water. There is also a possibility that if the temperature drops sharply, the original packaging may burst due to ice formation.
The procedure should be as follows:
- Open the package.
- Drain the liquid.
- Squeeze out the cheese. To do this, place the piece on a dish and press down on top with a cutting board.
- After excess moisture has been released, the cheese must be placed in the prepared packaging.The drained pieces can be placed in a ziplock bag or in freezer-safe food containers.
- Place the preparations in the freezer.
If there is a lot of tofu, it is better to immediately divide it into separate portions and freeze it in small pieces. It is advisable to choose the serving size that is needed for one preparation. This will prevent you from defrosting more cheese than necessary.
You can also cut fresh tofu into cubes in advance if you plan to fry it later. Later, when defrosting, the cheese, which is already sliced, will thaw faster and be ready for use.
If there are several portions of blanks, each should be placed in a separate individual container. To avoid confusion and forget how long tofu has been frozen, it is recommended to use date tags.
The packaging must be chosen in such a way that, after placing the cheese, there is as little free space as possible left in it. This will limit contact with air and slow down oxidation processes. The better the moisture is removed, the less damage the cheese will suffer from freezing.
Storage duration
Tofu can stay in the freezer for no more than 6 months.
Nutritionists recommend using cheese as quickly as possible so that the product does not lie in storage for months, and finds its use within 90 days.
Once the cheese has been thawed, it is important to use it immediately, since it can no longer be stored for a long time and cannot be re-frozen.
Use after defrosting
For foods that are sensitive to temperature changes, it is important to defrost gradually. To do this, place the tofu on the refrigerator shelf and let it gradually thaw.
Depending on the size of the piece, complete thawing will take from several hours to half a day.
Conclusion
Universal, dietary and light tofu cheese can take pride of place in the kitchen, and even be used as a meat substitute. Excess product will not spoil if it is frozen in time. It is also possible to freeze dishes already prepared with tofu.
