As a food enthusiast and someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen, I can tell you that pressing tofu is an important step in many recipes. It helps remove excess water from the tofu, allowing it to absorb flavors better and achieve a firmer texture. However, it is possible to press tofu for too long, resulting in undesirable outcomes.
When you press tofu for too long, especially beyond the recommended time mentioned in a recipe, it can become overly dry, crumbly, and even mushy. This is because pressing removes not only water but also some of the natural fats and proteins that give tofu its texture and taste. So, it's important to follow the instructions and only press tofu when a recipe specifically calls for it.
In my personal experience, I once over-pressed tofu for a stir-fry dish. The recipe only required a light pressing, but I got distracted and left the tofu under the weight for much longer. When I started cooking, I noticed that the tofu was falling apart and had lost its firmness. It ended up disintegrating into small pieces, making it difficult to stir-fry and resulting in a less satisfying dish overall.
To avoid over-pressing tofu, it's crucial to pay attention to the recipe instructions. Different recipes may call for different pressing times, ranging from just a few minutes to several hours. If a recipe doesn't mention pressing at all, it's usually safe to assume that it's not necessary.
If you're unsure about how long to press tofu, a general guideline is to press it for about 15-30 minutes. This should be sufficient to remove excess water without compromising its texture. You can use a tofu press, or if you don't have one, wrap the tofu block in paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and place a weight on top to help with the pressing process.
While pressing tofu is a beneficial step in many recipes, it's important not to overdo it. Over-pressing can result in crumbly and even mushy tofu, which may negatively impact the overall dish. Follow recipe instructions and press tofu for the recommended time to ensure you achieve the desired texture and flavor.