I Tested 10 Tofu Presses—Three Squeezed By the Competition

The best way to get tofu really crispy is to use the best tofu press—and no, they don't all work the same. The key is removing as much water from the tofu as possible, and while you could do that with a couple of sheet pans and a cast iron skillet, a good tofu press will work much better. It's also easier to set up and use.

There are a few styles of tofu presses available, including dual platforms with screws, spring-driven block-shaped presses with draining platforms, and weighted presses. I put 10 popular tofu presses to the test to find out which drained the most water, were the easiest to operate, and cleaned up without a fuss. 

The Tests

• Quick Tofu Press Test: I loaded each tofu press with its maximum capacity (a 1-pound brick of firm tofu for most), set it to extract the most liquid it could, and let it drain for 15 minutes. I weighed the tofu before pressing and afterward to see how much water the press removed.
• Long Tofu Press Test: I placed each tofu brick back into the press after quick pressing and adjusted the setting to see how much more water each press could extract after two hours. After weighing each brick, I compared the weight to that after the 15-minute press and at the start. 
• Usability and Cleanup Tests: I checked how easy it was to add a brick of tofu to each press, how simple it was to set the pressure to the highest setting, and how easy it was to clean. The best tofu presses not only performed well, but were simple to setup and use.

What We Learned

Tofu Presses with Dual Screws Were Hard to Balance Evenly

A few of the tofu presses we tested, like the EZ Tofu Press and Grow Your Pantry Tofu Press, consisted of two platforms that applied pressure to the tofu bricks by adjusting the screws that held them together. While it was an effective way to drain water from the tofu, it was hard to center the tofu and match the pressure on both screws. The result was inconsistently drained tofu bricks that lost their shape, leaving them poorly prepped for cooking. 

The Easiest Tofu Presses to Use Were Spring-Based

All of the spring-based models I tested were easy to load and set. Screw-based platforms took too long to even out the pressure, and the one elastic band-based press we tried from Tofuture kept snapping back at my hands, making it difficult to adjust to higher pressure settings.

Multi-Stage Tofu Presses Were Best for Marinating

While spring-based presses were effective at expelling excess water, the multi-stage presses from Tofudee and NOYA, which featured added screw mechanisms, that really stood out. By adding a screw to gently increase the pressure, you could adjust these models according to the resistance from the tofu. This helped the bricks keep their shape for neat slicing. Just as important, the containers can be used for marinating after the tofu is pressed and the water is removed—the NOYA tofu press comes with a marinating lid that's super handy if you don't plan on cooking right away.

The Best Tofu Presses Had Drainage Trays

Four of the presses I tested didn’t come with trays, meaning I had to set them on a sheet pan or in a dish to collect the water. Tofu presses that came with a tray were a great space saver, as they could be placed anywhere on the counter (or even in the fridge) while draining, and pouring off excess water was much easier, too. 

The Best Tofu Presses Had Elevated Platforms and Drainage Solutions

An elevated drainage platform helped keep tofu dry during pressing, and the Tofudee had the tallest platform I tested with a full inch of clearance from the bottom of the tray. The NOYA and Yarkor models also had elevated platforms that produced drier tofu blocks after pressing.

Because the tofu sat at the bottom of the TofuXpress press, all the excess water was forced upwards, resting on top of the tofu brick until it was poured off. Even though this press removed the most water, the brick was still fairly damp on the outside edges and needed to be thoroughly patted dry. 

How Long Should You Press Tofu?

A quick press will extract plenty of water, but if you want to really dry it out, you need to apply steady, even pressure over time. While the Yarkor Tofu Press press extracted 19% of the tofu’s starting weight in 15 minutes, it was able to press out an extra 7% over the next 75 minutes. With multi-stage presses, the difference was even more drastic. Both the Tofudee and NOYA nearly doubled their extraction at the end of a long press compared to the 15-minute test.

But too much pressure all at once is a bad thing. Some of the tofu presses I tested missed that mark. Even though the spring-based Yarkour and the TofuXpress Tofu Press were the most effective at water removal, they put a lot of immediate pressure on the tofu. The Yarkor model caused some mild splitting, but the TofuXpress decimated the block, causing it to crumble in parts. You can still use crumbled tofu, but it may not work with the recipe you had planned on.

The Best Tofu Presses and Tofu Water Loss
Tofu Press	Starting Tofu Block Weight	Weight After 2 Hours	Percent Difference at 2 Hours From Starting
EZ Tofu Press	463g	389g	16%
Yarkor Tofu Press	448g	328g	27%
Grow Your Pantry Tofu Press	331g	287g	13%
TofuXpress Tofu Press	466g	319g	32%
Tofuture Tofu Press	489g	406g	17%
NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press	441g	337g	24%
TofuBud Tofu Press	439g	358g	17%
Tofudee Tofu Press	449g	337g	25%
Raw Rutes Stainless Tofu Press	475g	395g	17%
Bamboo Tofu Press	468g	362g	23%

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Tofu Press

The best tofu presses were spring-based and had an elevated drainage platform, and a tray to collect excess water. The most effective models also had a screw-based mechanism to compact the tofu even further, helping the bricks hold their shape while draining. We also gave points for the fastest tofu presses that got lots of water out quickly.

Our Favorite Tofu Presses

What we liked: The Tofudee is the best tofu press for a few reasons. Most important: It was the most effective at removing excess water while still retaining the original shape of the tofu. It had the highest elevated platform out of any of the models I tested, which kept draining bricks dry and allowed the water to collect in the bottom tray for easy cleanup. Its multi-stage press was key to its success: the initial spring-driven pressure helped remove excess water, and the screw-down lid helped put a further squeeze on the tofu without causing splitting. 

What we didn’t like: While effective, the biggest drawback of this press is the screw-down handle on the lid. Because it sticks up, you can’t stack anything on top of it, which means it takes up greater shelf/storage space.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic, stainless steel
• Dimensions: 5.5 x 6 x 6 inches
• Capacity: 1 pound
• Style of press: Spring-based with additional screwtop for added pressure
• Settings: 1, with continuous adjustment
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
• Added features: Draining platform, catch tub

What we liked: Featuring a multi-stage press just like the Tofudee, this model from NOYA was also effective at removing water while retaining the tofu shape. I particularly liked how the drainage tray had handles that fold out into wings when pulled upwards, making it easy to extract the drained tofu. It comes with a marinating lid, and functions as a storage container once you remove the pressing mechanism. It's a smart way to turn a tofu press into a multitasking kitchen tool.

What we didn’t like: The drainage platform could be taller to help keep the tofu separated from the extracted water below, though I didn’t find this to be too big of an issue during my tests.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic, stainless steel
• Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 8 inches
• Capacity: 1 pound
• Style of press: Spring-based with additional screwtop for added pressure
• Settings: 1, with continous adjustment
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
• Added features: Removable draining platform

What we liked: The Yarkor press extracted the most water in 15 minutes by far. It's the tofu press I would use when I need to cook dinner fast, or if I forgot to press tofu earlier in the day. Plus, I really liked its simple, spring-driven design. Because the spring does all the work, it’s also the best-performing set-it-and-forget-it model I tested. I also appreciated how flat the lid was; we could easily stack stuff on top of it in the fridge. 

What we didn’t like: Since you can’t fine-tune the pressure, the press caused some deformation and mild splitting of the tofu block, but that could likely be fixed by using smaller bricks of tofu.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic, stainless steel
• Product dimensions: 5.5 x 4.5 x 4 inches
• Capacity: 1 pound
• Style of press: Spring-based with strainer basket
• Settings: 1
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe
• Added features: Draining platform, catch bin

The Competition

• EZ Tofu Press: Dual adjustment knobs meant the pressure plates were hard to center with equal force, causing the tofu to become lopsided. It also didn’t come with a drainage tray. 
• Grow Your Pantry Tofu Press: This tofu press had a very limited height range and couldn’t fit the full 1-pound tofu brick. It was the hardest to clean.
• TofuXpress Tofu Press: The plate didn’t provide even pressure, causing the tofu to become lopsided. Since it didn’t have a drainage platform, the tofu sat underneath the expressed water. 
• Tofuture Tofu Press: The elastic bands on this model were hard to stretch, making it difficult to reach the highest pressure setting. 
• TofuBud Tofu Press: This tofu press also produced a lopsided tofu brick, and the lid was hard to slide onto the tray. 
• Raw Rutes Stainless Tofu Press: Extremely heavy, this tofu press relied on weight to expel excess water. It ranked among the lowest-performing models and was cumbersome to move. 
• Bamboo Tofu Press: The issues with this model were similar to the other models with dual screws: They were difficult to adjust evenly. It didn't have a drainage tray, either.

FAQs

What's the best stainless steel tofu press?

We don't recommend stainless steel tofu presses. They're heavy and rely on weight to extract moisture. This one performed poorly in our testing, and it's expensive.

Are bamboo tofu presses good?

We don't recommend the bamboo tofu press we tested, because it had dual screws that were tricky to evenly align. It also didn't have a drainage tray. That said, there are other bamboo tofu presses in different styles. If you buy a bamboo tofu press, get one that has a drainage tray so the tofu doesn't sit in its extracted water.

What's the best tofu press for beginners?

Get a spring-based tofu press that is easy to load and applies the perfect amount of pressure. The Tofudee tofu press is the best option for beginners.

What happens when you press tofu for too long?

Some tofu presses might damage the shape of the tofu if left in a press for too long, but the tofu itself will still be fine for cooking. If your goal is to slice your tofu into neat rectangles for searing, baking, or grilling, it’s best to use a tofu press with an adjustable pressure plate, like two of our top picks. 

Can you use a tofu press on extra soft tofu?

No, you shouldn't use a press on extra soft tofu—it will just disintegrate under the pressure and weight. Firm tofu works best in a press.

Do you refrigerate tofu while pressing? 

If you plan to cook your tofu right away, you can leave your tofu press out on the counter to complete its draining process. If you’re looking to get a head start on tomorrow’s cooking, however, you should leave the press in the fridge. You can also add a marinade to tofu after pressing it. One of the best tofu presses in our review even have a specific lid for marinades.

Why We're the Experts

• Jesse Raub was a writer for Serious Eats.
• During his time at the site, he tested various gear—including reviews of garlic presses and espresso machines.
• For this review, Jesse tested 10 tofu presses, evaluating how much water each squeezed out, how easy they were to use, and more.