How long can tofu stay in the fridge? (+3 Tips)
In this article, we will answer the question, “How long can cooked Tofu stay in the fridge?”, and How to store Tofu?
How long can cooked Tofu stay in the fridge?
If the tofu purchased came in an aseptic container, it is safe to consume until its mentioned expiry date on the packaging. You probably don’t even need to refrigerate it, but once opened, it should be kept in the fridge. Tofu that has been kept in the fridge lasts for 3 – 5 days if stored properly. If the fridge is accessed frequently, it may not last that long.
However, for an opened tofu, it will last in the fridge for a maximum of 3-5 days. If you store it any longer than that, then you are basically welcoming any possible chances of contamination and food poisoning.
Note that this duration is for the best quality tofu. Moreover, the temperature needs to be maintained at a constant. That is why you should not store any meat products on the door of the fridge. Doing so will unnecessarily expose your tofu and it will gradually decrease the shelf life of your tofu.
What is Tofu?
Tofu is a nutrient-dense food and is formed when condensed soy milk is pressed into solid white blocks. It is said that It was accidentally discovered when a Chinese cook mixed a batch of fresh soy milk with nigari.
Nigari is a natural coagulant. It is the water that reminds when salt crystallizes out of the seawater. The soybeans grown in the Us are mostly GMO. If you avoid GMO food or food products, you can opt for organic Tofu brands.
How to store Tofu properly?
Temperature and cross-contamination are the most important factors when it comes to storing tofu properly. These storage conditions also depend on whether you want to store tofu for long or short-term storage. For instance, storing the tofu in the freezer for just one day simply doesn’t make any sense.
Whichever way you choose to properly store tofu, make sure you always use airtight containers or reusable sealing bags. This will prevent microorganisms from entering your tofu and it will also nullify the chances of deterioration.
Make sure your tofu is at the back of the fridge where temperature variation is minimum. Changes in temperature also decrease the shelf life of tofu.
Other FAQs about Tofu which you may be interested in.
Can you get sick from eating expired tofu?
Can you freeze Tofu?
Yes, you can absolutely freeze tofu! As a matter of fact, many people/chefs also recommend freezing tofu for the flavor and texture once it has thawed. Make sure to use freezer bags and freeze the tofu in small portions. This saves you extra time on cooking, handling, and cutting the tofu when you need it.
When tofu is thawed after frozen, there is better texture and flavor. Frozen tofu will remain in the best quality for 4-5 weeks before it starts to bad. Now the reason that I mention, “starts” to go bad is because your tofu might still be completely safe to consume.
Since tofu has a lot of moisture, the ideal practice when freezing tofu is to absorb the excess moisture with the help of a paper towel or any other clean towel.
Less moisture is the ideal practice for storage in the freezer. However, when you store tofu in the refrigerator, you can put it in a pan alongside some water.
How to tell If Tofu has gone bad?
There are many ways in which you can tell that your tofu has gone bad. Some of them are mentioned below.
- Visible growth: If you notice a visible growth like that of molds on your tofu, it means that the tofu has gone bad. This visible growth can be a result of careless handling in the kitchen or as a result of long-stored tofu. Molds are often black in color.
- Taste: Tofu has a very rich and distinctive taste. Even if you have some stored tofu in the fridge and are now wondering whether it should be consumed or not, the best practice is to taste just a little bit of the portion and then decide for yourself. Spoiled tofu has a salty and pungent
- Smell: Another excellent way to check whether your tofu has expired or not is by taking a whiff. Just like you check the authenticity of the taste, you have to follow the same procedure. The smell of spoiled tofu has a sour taste.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question, “How long can cooked Tofu stay in the fridge?”, and How to store Tofu?
References
https://medium.com/@nomealnohealth/does-tofu-go-bad-you-need-to-read-this-b3ace5b76f33
How Long Does Tofu Last?
https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-freeze-tofu-695270#:~:text=Freezing%20tofu%20will%20give%20the,last%20up%20to%20five%20months.
https://www.thekitchn.com/yes-its-ok-to-freeze-tofu-and-it-actually-has-one-big-benefit-222926
