This article was updated on 03/07/2023, and I tested a new reheating method; the air fryer.
If you’ve recently made a load of tofu, you might be wondering what the best reheating method is to retain its moist, spongy texture.
Tofu can be delicate, and a lot of the reheating advice posted online is either untested or yields poor results.
So I decided to run my own experiment to find out the very best way to reheat tofu.
In a rush? Here’s the short version.
The easiest and most reliable way to reheat tofu is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C (or 325°F/160°C for a convection oven) and heat the tofu for 10-15 minutes. You can also reheat tofu in the microwave or by frying it. The microwave is best for saucy dishes like tofu curries.
How I tested reheating tofu
I got myself some tofu, marinated it in soy sauce and baked it until it was nice and crispy (it was delicious!).
I left the tofu overnight and the next day I tested 5 different ways of reheating it to see what worked best.
I tested frying, oven baking, microwaving, steaming, and air frying the tofu.
I’ve based my reheating recommendations on the taste and texture of the reheated tofu, as well as how easy the method was.
Pssst… I used baked tofu, but these reheating methods will work for fried tofu, tofu stir fries, and breaded tofu as well.
Quick tip
Your tofu will reheat best if it was properly pressed before cooking. If you know you’re going to have leftovers, make sure to press as much water out of the tofu as you can during prep.
How to reheat tofu in the oven (or toaster oven)
Time: 10-15 minutes
Rating: 8/10 (good for baked, fried, and breaded tofu)
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) if a convection oven, or 375°F (190°C) if it’s a regular oven, and put a baking tray in the oven while it’s heating.
- Dry the tofu using a paper towel (wet tofu won’t crisp up as well, but skip this step if the tofu has a a sauce).
- Coat the tofu with a very light layer of oil (to prevent sticking) and spread it out on the hot baking tray.
- Place the tofu in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until it’s warm and crispy. Bigger chunks of tofu may take longer, and toaster ovens will be quicker. Flip the tofu chunks half way through heating.
The idea behind pre-heating the baking tray is so the side of the tofu that’s resting on the tray doesn’t get too soggy.
If the tofu is in big enough chunks to rest on a wire rack, you can also do that with a tray underneath to catch any drops of fat or sauce.
If you want to add a bit of flavor to your tofu, sprinkle some salt and pepper over it before you put it in the oven. Garlic powder, chili powder, or nutritional yeast are also delicious.
Psst… if you’re worried about the tofu drying out, you can cover it with foil for most of the heating process and then take the foil off for the last 3-4 minutes of heating.
Results: The oven method was super easy and the results are reliable, not much can go wrong. In terms of texture, the tofu wasn’t as crispy as the ones I fried but it was definitely more crispy than the microwaved stuff and the inside was still moist. The oven is great for big batches of tofu.
How to reheat tofu by frying
Time: 5 minutes
Rating: 8/10 (good for all kinds of tofu, especially tofu stir fry)
- Dry the tofu using a paper towel (wet tofu won’t crisp up as well, but skip this step if the tofu has a a sauce).
- Coat your pan in a layer of oil* and heat it on medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot enough to sizzle when you drop a breadcrumb in, add the tofu.
- Fry the tofu for around 5 minutes, flipping it over every minute. For s tofu stir fry, stir the dish more frequently.
*How much oil you use is up to you. For breaded tofu I’d be generous with the oil, but for plain tofu you can use less. And for something like tofu stir fry, you don’t need much.
The oil will stop the tofu from sticking to the pan, and by getting it hot first you’ll ensure the tofu crisps up instead of absorbing all the oil and going soggy.
If your tofu is dry and you want to add a sauce you can add this to the pan too. If this is your plan, consider coating the tofu with cornstarch or flour first to help the sauce stick and maintain a crunchy texture.
Or to add flavor without using a sauce, saute some chili, garlic, or ginger in the pan before adding the tofu.
Results: This method gave me the crispiest results. There was a defined crust on the outside of the tofu, and the inside was nice and firm. But it’s not the easiest method because you have the worry about the oil temperature and flipping the tofu.
How to reheat tofu in the microwave
Time: 30-60 seconds
Rating: 7/10 (good for tofu in a dish or soft tofu, not good for breaded tofu)
- Place the tofu in a microwave safe bowl and sprinkle it with some water.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, leaving a gap for steam to escape.
- Microwave the tofu in 30-second increments until warmed through.
I microwaved a small bowl of tofu and it was done after the first 30 seconds, so less is definitely more when it comes to time in the microwave.
The microwave won’t keep your tofu crispy, instead it’ll make it more chewy.
Some people enjoy the change in texture, some don’t, and those that don’t would describe the tofu as rubbery!
It’s really easy to overcook the tofu in the microwave, but checking on it in regular intervals helps to prevent this from happening. (no-one wants to eat a tough tofu-shaped brick, surely?!).
If the tofu is in a dish where it’s easy to pick out, I recommend removing it and heating the rest of the dish in the microwave until warm, then adding the tofu for the last 30 seconds. This way the tofu won’t overcook.
Results: Some people worry that the microwave will ruin their tofu, but it was actually okay. The tofu was chewy instead of crispy, but I didn’t mind the new texture. The microwave is good option for reheating tofu if you’re in a hurry and don’t need it to have any crunch.
Other methods to consider
The oven, frying, and microwaving are the most common ways to reheat tofu, but they’re not the only options.
How to reheat tofu by steaming
Set up your steamer and bring the water to a boil. You can also use stock or water flavored with herbs and lemon. Place the tofu in your steamer and cover with a lid. Steam the tofu for 3-4 minutes or until warmed through.
If you don’t have a steamer to hand then you can use a makeshift one (like I did).
Fill the bottom of a normal saucepan with some water and place a sieve or a colander on top. Put the tofu in the sieve and then put a lid over the sieve. Perfect!
Psst… this method is only good if you don’t want crispy tofu.
Results: I knew steaming wasn’t going to crisp my tofu up, but I was interested to see how it turned out. The tofu ended up being really wet because of all the steam, and super moist. I can see the steamer being good for something like silken or soft tofu.
How to reheat tofu in an air fryer
Set the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and spread the tofu out in the basket, lightly spraying it with oil if you want. The oil will give it that ‘freshly fried’ taste. Heat the tofu for 4-5 minutes, shaking the basket half way through.
The one thing to watch out for with an air fryer is overcrowding. You want to make sure each tofu piece has good airflow around it so it can crisp up.
Results: The air fryer is amazing if you want fast and crispy tofu. My tofu had loads of crunch and tasted good as new. The only downside is not everyone has an air fryer.
How to reheat tofu scramble
The best way to reheat tofu scramble is in a frying pan. Heat a little butter or oil over medium heat, then add the tofu scramble and stir fry it for 2-3 minutes. You can also use the microwave. Cover the tofu scramble with a damp paper towel and blast it for 30-60 seconds.
How to store leftover tofu
To store leftover tofu, let it cool to room temperature and then put it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep any breaded tofu separately from the sauce if possible, otherwise the breading will soak up the sauce and become mushy.
The secret to keeping your (unsauced) tofu crispy is to spread the tofu pieces out so they’re not touching too much, and placing the tofu in between two layers of paper towel. The paper towel will soak up any excess moisture so the tofu or breading doesn’t absorb it.
And always allow the tofu to cool completely before putting it in the container. If it’s still hot, there’ll be condensation build up in the container.
If the tofu is already sauced, try to eat it within 2 days so it doesn’t get too soft.
For longer term storage, you can also freeze cooked tofu. It may be a little drier than the first time you cooked it, but nothing too noticeable.
Quick tip: to store uncooked tofu, place it in a container and cover it with cold water. Seal the container so it’s airtight and keep it in the refrigerator. The tofu will last for 7-10 days. Use filtered water if possible and change the water if it turns cloudy.
How to freeze leftover tofu
To freeze cooked tofu pieces, spread them out on a parchment-paper-lined baking tray and freeze them for an hour. Once it’s frozen solid, transfer the tofu pieces to a freezer bag. Squeeze all the air out of the freezer bag and use the tofu within 3 months.
Related: Can You Freeze Seitan
To get as much air as possible out of the bag I recommend getting a straw and sucking the air out. This is a lot more effective than just squeezing.
By pre-freezing the tofu you make sure the pieces won’t stick together in the freezer bag, so you can take out as much as you need for your meal.
To thaw the tofu simply take it out the night before you plan to use it and let it defrost in the fridge. If you forget, you can use the defrost setting on your microwave.
If your tofu is part of a dish, you can freeze it together with the dish. Put your food in an airtight container and place it in the freezer. Be aware water from the tofu might leak out into the dish so the sauce might be a little watery upon thawing.
My tofu packaging says ‘do not freeze’
You’ll often see do not freeze written on tofu packaging which is confusing. What it means is that you shouldn’t freeze tofu in that specific packaging, because the swelling tofu could cause the packaging to explode and create a mess.
The BEST Way To Reheat Tofu [Tested Methods]
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 portion tofu
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch optional
Instructions
Reheat tofu in a frying pan
- Dry the tofu using a paper towel.
- Coat your pan in a thin layer of oil and heat it on a medium heat.
- Once the pan is hot enough to sizzle, add the tofu.
- Fry the tofu for around 5 minutes or until heated through.
- Serve immediately.
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