The last few weeks have been a source of frustration, to say the least. My host, whose name I won't mention (hint: it begins with a "Dream" and ends with a "host"), decided to add a disallow all to my robots.txt file on one of my biggest sites (not this one, thankfully). In non-geek speak, that means they changed settings on my files (without permission) to tell Google to de-index every page on my site. Needless to say, it's distracted me from the relaxing things I love, like trying out and making new recipes for this blog.
However...
A foolproof way to remedy a creative block in the kitchen
Oh, that's easy. Just have a clever dad. Go on.
I have a plastic tofu press which yields a block of tofu just about large enough for one. It was great when I first bought it because I'd never made tofu prior to that point and it was a novelty. But time went on and I realised it wasn't a very good product for a serious tofu lover. You just can't make enough with it, for one, and it just isn't that high of quality. It works but it's the most bottom line press you can get, in my opinion.
I looked and looked for something wooden, something bigger, something that represented my mind's image of the ideal tofu press. I couldn't find it.
So I rang my father (who's all clever and stuff with making things). I then e-mailed him some images and measurements and he knocked this up, adding a few ideas of his own. A couple of weeks later a gigantic box arrived on my doorstep and I became the proud owner of a certifiably awesome tofu press. How cool is that?
Design requests
My biggest request was a lid with a good sized handle that would sit outside of the box when pressing thin blocks of curd. This is not a traditional design, but I wanted it because the aforementioned plastic kit contained a lid which was just crap. It was light and sat improperly on the block, with very little accessible surface area on which to place an object to aid in pressing. This meant tofu pressed with an inconsistent texture (like pockets where the liquid was not evenly pressed out).
I wanted ultimate control. The new box allows me to press the tofu to the point I determine is right for what I want as an end product. I can easily stack books or a cutting board with a bowl of liquid on top of the handle to press more (for super firmness).
Second, it's bigger. Much, much bigger, and with a whole lot of holes for the whey to drain away (awhey? Har har. Sorry). I can press ten times the amount of bean curd as before. That's a lot.
Yum. Can't get enough of it. If you hate tofu, you haven't had it fresh.
And you know how chocolate milk always tastes better from a cardboard carton than from plastic? The same applies for tofu made in a wood press versus plastic (try the chocolate milk thing though, I'm serious).
Carriep says
Totally agree about carton milk, or soda in glass bottles compared to cans.
This design looks like it would work great for a cheese press as well. Very cool. Kudos to your dad.
MellowPresser says
@ Mink, Tofu is the last seperation of curds and whey the whey is a sort of soap in and of itself so you really dont need to worry to much about this bacteria trouble! you can save the whey after you press the curds and boil it one more time then add a tiny bit of soda ash to it so you have real counter top dish soap. This could be just an unness-ascarry bit of worrie honestly. also if you treat it like you would any of your cutting boards or rolling pins it would last a very long time.
Kristen says
Wow - that's a serious piece of equipment there - what a cool Dad, indeed! 😀 So are you adding up the pounds of tofu that you make with this? Could be fun to tally that.
john says
Very nice press! I'm looking to try my hand AGAIN at making a tofu press. I lived in South Korea and one thing I did for fun on my first attempt was to reverse care my name in the top so that my name (in Korean) was formed atop the block of tofu! I found that the wood I used wasn't good as it somehow soaked flavor into the tofu 🙁
Are there holes drilled in the base of your press? Do you know the type of wood used? Are those just grooves for the edge of the press to sit in, or do they also function as some sort of drainage as well? Thanks for any tips/reply to johnhobgood@gmail.com
--John
Mink says
I'm about to get a tofu press, and was wondering mainly about the cleaning aspects of the wood compared to a plastic press. One I could throw in the dishwasher, or at least hand wash, and feel confident that it is not accumulating bacteria. But what about wood? I want to get wood, but am worried that it will foster bacterial growth by absorbing soymilk/liquid. Opinions?
Kip says
There's no doubt about the plastic being easier to clean if you want to go the dishwasher route, though I've admittedly not put my wooden press in the dishwasher to test how well it would stand up to that. To clean my wooden one, I scrub it lightly with soapy water before rinsing it with boiling water. I then leave it to dry on the radiator. I sort of look at the process like that of using cast iron or a trusty wok- maybe it's not the cleanest, but people have been using them for a long time and I haven't seen any cases of tofu press related illnesses 😉
Best of luck whichever you choose! You'll love the home made tofu no matter which route you take.
patrickshannon says
It is important to use stailess steel screws and a hard wood ( oak, hickory, walnut or teak)
Teak is the best but is expensive. it is used on boats. It is good idea to remove splinters or countersink the holes so they are smooth. this will make it easier to clean and leave less areas for bacteria. any wood should be dishwasher safe and could also be soaked in light bleach water for 15 minutes or more. The design is good and I love the big handle.
patrickshannon says
It is important to use stailess steel screws and a hard wood ( oak, hickory, walnut or teak)
Teak is the best but is expensive. it is used on boats. It is good idea to remove splinters or countersink the holes so they are smooth. this will make it easier to clean and leave less areas for bacteria. any wood should be dishwasher safe and could also be soaked in light bleach water for 15 minutes or more. The design is good and I love the big handle.
richard says
i like your box. i made tofu for the first time today. i didn't have a box but i have a steamer basket that goes with the pot. I just layed down some chessecloth over the holes in the steamer basket and put a large can of tomatoes to push out the water. It worked.... only thing is that the tofu is in a circle form and not rectangle.
I have been thinking of building a box but my kitchen is running out of space.
Kip says
Who cares what shape it is, so long as it works?! I know what you mean about kitchen space. I'm running out fast...
marco says
(i realize this is from 2009 but if youre able to remember)) so im trying to find an alternative to the tofu box and ive realized you used the steamer basket instead, im aware you've already explained how you were able to do so but if you dont mind me asking how thick did the tofu get?
Eventuario says
Can your dad make more of that wooden tofu press??? I would like to order.....Please e-mail me for the possibility of making business...Ive been looking but Ive been very unsuccessful too..Plus, I can customize with your dad. Thanx.... Katrina  eventuario@yahoo.com
Kip says
I wish! I told him there would be a demand and people would buy them, but he's not interested. I hope you're able to find something though!
David Robert Lewis says
What does it look like underneath?
Kip says
It just has a series of holes drilled in it to let the liquid flow out.
Ganzgemutlich says
How much tofu are you able to make now in one batch? How do you store it after it is done?
Kip says
I make a fairly decent amount. I haven't weighed it, but it's bigger than what I could get in a shop. I store it either in water or wrapped in cloth, depending on the consistency and texture I want for cooking...
Diane says
OK, for the benefit of humanity, would your dad be willing to do a youtube video explaining how to make this? It looks like the box part comes off the bottom part, for cleaning, is that right?Â
Kip says
If only I could! He's categorically not interested. The box comes in three parts: the base, the centre square, and a lid to press. It's a pretty simple construction, with holes on the middle and base parts to allow for draining. Grooves are cut in the base for the box to sit in. It all just sits together lightly so it's super easy to clean.
Agness Kaku says
Wow, if you arrived at the design yourself, I'm extra impressed—it's pretty much spot-on as far as the traditional Japanese tofu press goes:
http://engaru.jp/asobu-manabu/21kyoutsu/kankousisetu/kouraku-keikan/mokurakukan/use/31)katawaku_b.jpg
The idea of a *plastic* tofu maker is pretty weird to this Japanese person.
Kip says
The plastic presses are really weird, I agree, and the wood imparts such a lovely (and important, in my opinion) flavour to the tofu that I wouldn't trade for anything!
Yolanda Quimby says
I haven't made my own like in close to 40 years, back when I was healthy! Then life happened. So, here I am again...I like the wood too,but I will get a plastic one first-they are cheap and then save for a really good or a handmade!! My sweetie can make it,he has the skill. But,since he doesn't eat either Tempeh or Tofu...'tis gonna take him way more than a minute to come up with his own design and then put the design to the wood! The time he takes to get to it,will give me time to save for the really good wood!
Now, I just have to come up with the size-I haven't yet figured how much Tofu/Tempeh I'm gonna eat every week!!!
Kip says
I know what you mean about life happened (I think we all do) and then suddenly realising time has passed. Glad you're getting back into it! I'd love to hear how it goes...
Wannes says
Hi, great tofu press! Can you tell me what the measurements are? And what kind of wood did your dad use? Thank’s 🙂 Kind regards
Kip says
Hi Wannes,
Thank you! The press makes an approx 12.5x18cm block of tofu (and however deep based on the amount of tofu made). The entire press is approx 15x28x23cm. I believe the wood used is pine, but that's a guess based on what my father typically worked with...
TANYA says
Trying to come up with an alternative to a wood press since I dont have any wood at the moment. I have lots of soybeans and the stores dont seem to have any tofu! I was thinking I could cut the bottom 1/4 off and empty 2L soy milk container, poke holes in the bottom, add the unpressed tofu and then cut a piece of the sides of the soymilk container to cover. I'd add a weight, such as a can of tomatoes to press it. Would that work?
Kip says
Hi Tanya,
I wouldn't stress much about the container. Anything will work, really, so long as liquid from the tofu can drain away. You could even wrap the curd in muslin and press it in a mesh strainer if you aren't concerned about the shape. I think your idea would work, but I'd place the container on a wire rack with a dish under it so that it can strain properly. Let me know if you try it!
Debbie says
Well how do you make the press?
Kip says
Working from an image from William Shurtleff's The Book of Tofu, my father made it using woodworking tools in his garage.
I reserve the right to improve malicious and trollish comments.