How To: Make A Tofu Press

If you haven't already tried making your own tofu, building a tofu press might be the push to get you started.

This box was purchased from a fabric shop. It is ideal because it has a lid with an inset, which can become the 'floating' lid.

You will need:

A wooden box approx 6'' x 8'' (15 cm x 20 cm)

A drill (15/64" bit)

A saw

A pencil and ruler

Wood glue

Sandpaper

Food grade mineral oil

Step 1

Draw dots where you would like the holes to be.

Tofu presses need holes for the water from tofu to escape. It's important that the holes are placed on the bottom of the press and the lower edge of the tofu press walls. There is no requirement for the number or configuration of holes, however try to make sure the holes are evenly distanced from each other.

Step 2

Drill holes where you have drawn the dots.

These holes will become the drainage for the tofu.

Step 3

Make the floating lid.

The floating lid is used as a press when making tofu and is important for compressing the tofu. Using the inset of the lid as a guideline, saw the shorter edges off the lid and then the long edges. The short edges will be used for the tofu press' legs. Once the edges are sawed off, the lid should fit snugly in the wooden box.

Step 4

Build the legs.

Glue the shorter ends of the lid to the base of the box. This will create depth underneath the press for water to drain out.

Step 5

Sand and finish.

Sand the box down with sandpaper and finish with food grade, non-toxic mineral oil.

Now that you've created your very own tofu press, it's time to get started with making tofu! Check out our guide for making tofu at home and our tips for cooking the perfect tofu.

[Instructions originally found on Instructables]

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