This take a look at helped me realise simply how a lot I really love tofu, even chilly. Like all deceptively easy merchandise, equivalent to wine, espresso and chocolate, tofu’s character is rooted in its terroir: the soil, biodiversity, local weather, plant species and manufacturing course of. Most tofu is made by curdling soy milk with nigari, a coagulant produced from magnesium chloride, which is of course derived from seawater. It’s an historical technique nonetheless used throughout Japan and south-east Asia.
To maintain issues honest, I tasted every tofu chilly, straight from the packet, then boiled and fried (with out urgent or seasoning) every one to watch its flavour, construction and efficiency. Boiling confirmed that each one the tofus held their form, whereas frying introduced out main variations in colouring, crust and chunk: some crisped up fantastically, others stayed delicate and chewy, so should you primarily fry your tofu, that’s value taking into consideration. It’s additionally value noting that natural tofus are GMO-free by definition.
The very best grocery store tofu
89p for 180g at Aldi (49p/100g)
★★★★★
A small, beige block with rounded edges and a candy, acquainted soya aroma. It’s a super-firm tofu with a dense, satisfying chunk that holds up brilliantly to cooking, particularly frying. Made with 57% EU-grown natural soya, it’s very excessive in protein (14g a serving) and astonishingly good worth. An actual standout.
And the remaining …
Sainsbury’s So Natural super-firm tofu
£1.34 for 300g at Sainsbury’s (45p/100g)
★★★★☆
An incredible clean canvas with a refined aroma and delicate, candy style. Agency however moist, and reworked by frying to a golden-crusted, deep flavour. Produced from natural, non-EU soya (34%), it’s excessive in protein and glorious worth. Although a bit of decrease in soya content material, it delivers improbable efficiency within the pan and at an unimaginable worth.
Cauldron natural genuine tofu
£2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)
£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)
★★★★★
Distinctively marbled and off-white/gray, this has a refined aroma and a clear, advanced flavour. Very agency and reacts properly to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% natural soya, utilizing a mixture of EU and non-EU beans, it’s excessive in protein and has sturdy sustainability credentials. A well-rounded possibility that’s a really shut runner-up to the most effective general.
The Tofoo Co Bare natural tofu
£2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury’s (82p/100g)
£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)
★★★★☆
An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, nearly smoky aroma and a beautiful agency bounce. One of many densest, much less conventional tofus examined, with a chewy chunk. When fried, it kinds a very good golden crust with a great deal of flavour. Made in Yorkshire utilizing natural soya from EU and non-EU farms. Nice Style Award-winning, very excessive in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a daring, characterful alternative.
M&S Plant Kitchen natural super-firm tofu
£2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)
★★★★☆
A uniform block with a candy, refined aroma, a delicate chunk and a mild soya flavour. Holding its form and forming a fragile, uniform golden crust when fried, this has probably the greatest textures in the entire take a look at group. Produced from natural, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content material and a good protein degree. Strikes a stable steadiness between style and texture.
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Dragonfly natural super-firm tofu
£2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)
£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)
★★★★☆
A uniform block with a candy, impartial aroma, a delicate chunk and a creamy mouthfeel. Flavourful and pleasantly candy, it’s completely crunchy and scrumptious when fried, with a constant golden crust – maybe the most effective general for frying. Licensed natural with non-EU soya, it’s been handmade in Devon since 1984 and holds a Style of the West Gold award.
Tesco Plant Chef natural agency tofu
£1.95 for 399g at Tesco (49p/100g)
★★★☆☆
A uniform, cream block with a candy, clear odor and a mild flavour. Its delicate texture makes it satisfying to eat uncooked, although it doesn’t crisp up simply when fried, therefore the decrease rating (as an alternative, it develops a chewy, caramelised edge with a spongy inside). Produced from natural, non-EU soya (34%), it’s a very good supply of protein and distinctive worth for natural tofu.
Waitrose PlantLiving natural agency tofu
£1.95 for 300g at Waitrose (65p/100g)
★★★☆☆
A mild, savoury aroma and a delicate chunk with a slight sweetness. The feel is on the fragile aspect, particularly when boiled, and it doesn’t fry particularly properly (urgent first will assist). Made with 34% natural, non-EU-grown soya, it’s licensed natural, however lacks firmness. First rate worth, however there are extra versatile choices at a cheaper price level.
Home Meals premium agency tofu
£3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)
★★★☆☆
A white block with a delicate chunk, this has a candy, refined aroma and a clear soya style. Regardless of being one of many softest within the take a look at, it crisps up surprisingly properly when fried, forming a lightweight however satisfying crust. Nevertheless, it’s the one non-organic product examined, and made with simply 16% soya – far decrease than the others. Restricted provenance or sustainability info, so with such sturdy competitors, it gives much less worth for cash.
Biona natural plain tofu
£5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)
£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)
★★★☆☆
An irregular, mottled, off-white block that appears hand-shaped, and that’s filled with bubbles. One of many firmest to chunk with a fancy, soya-forward flavour. Fries very properly, forming an amazing crust. Licensed natural with non-EU soya, it’s the one product examined with a completely reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, an amazing firm dedicated to natural farming, which earns it a bonus level.
