Tofu Types

Fresh Silken or Custard Tofu

Silken tofu is soft with a smooth texture equivalent to a thin custard or heavy cream.

Silken tofu is best used in delicate dishes like puddings, custards, and sauces.

Photo by Andrea Nguyen

Soft Block Tofu

Soft tofu has a somewhat creamy texture, milky, and sweet flavour. Soft tofu breaks up easily with handling, and adds a bit of texture to a dish.

This form of tofu can be eaten raw, but is usually pureed or boiled. It is commonly used in stews, mapo tofu, tofu tart and hiyayakko (cold tofu).

Photo by kattebelletje

Medium Block Tofu

Medium-firm tofu has more texture than soft tofu, but will still break apart with handling.

Medium tofu is usually served pressed, drained, salt soaked, frozen, stir fried, baked, or even fermented. You can try it in tofu curry, tofu salad, grilled tofu, or tofu couscous.

Photo by Ron Dollete

Firm Block Tofu

​Firm tofu has a crispy exterior and soft creamy middle, meaning it holds together better than other tofu textures. It still contains a great amount of moisture.

Firm tofu is often served stir fried or in stewed dishes where it can be battered, crusted, baked or boiled. It can also be frozen and then crumbled. Try firm tofu in ELLICSR Kitchen's Yummy Ramen with Shiitake & Kombu Dashi recipe.

Photo by I Believe I Can Fry

Dry, Gan, or Five Spice Tofu

An ultra-dense block of tofu is stained a deep purple/brown and seasoned strongly, usually with Chinese five spice powder. It is then baked and pressed into tight cubes.

Five spice tofu will work in any dish to give it stronger flavours. It is often used in vegetarian stir fry or stir-fried green beans.

Photo by Sharyn Morrow

Smoked Tofu

This extra-firm tofu is most often smoked in tea leaves, giving it a light hue and smokey flavor. No preparation work needed, simply remove it from the package and it's ready to eat.

Smoked tofu works in any dish where you're looking for a smokey and chewy texture. Try it in quinoa & smoked tofu salad, or with broccoli and teriyaki sauce.

Photo by kattebelletje

Inari

Inari is a sweet and salty fried tofu pocket. Like smoked tofu, there is no preparation work needed.

Inari is usually served stuffed with sushi rice or added to brothy soups. Common recipes that use inari are Japanese vegetable and rice stuffed tofu, inari sushi, or vegetable soup with Inari.

Photo by di.wineanddine

Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu or chòu dòufu is a form of fermented tofu that has a strong odour.

Stinky tofu can be eaten cold, steamed, stewed, or most commonly, fried and is often accompanied by chili sauce.

Photo by LWYang