Not a Prime Member? Try a day free trial today! Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that proteins usually have a sell by date and not an expiration date.
That's why you can safely use tofu to compliment your favorite meals even after the sell by date has lapsed, if it was stored properly.
Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your tofu has gone bad. Some common traits of bad tofu are a change in color away from white toward a deeper tan and a sour smell.
Fresh tofu does not really smell, so when you get the sour smell the taste will also be sour. There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!
You can help keep tofu fresh longer by storing it in your refrigerator immediately after use. Once opened, tofu must remain covered in water that should be changed at least daily - preferably with filtered water.
Once prepared, tofu should be stored in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator to keep out moisture and other contaminants. For a long-term option, you can freeze your tofu while preserving its taste if you use a freezer safe container. If it's opened, refrigerated tofu is generally good for 3 to 5 days, as long as you've stored it properly.
Any more than that, and there's a risk it may have started to spoil, especially if the refrigerator door is opened frequently. Reduce that amount by a couple of days if you've been removing it frequently to chop and use in meal preparation. The best way to be sure is as we said above, trust your eyes and nose. If it doesn't quite look right or doesn't smell great, maybe don't take a chance on it or you may get sick.
If your tofu is within the use-by date, and you've kept it refrigerated and it's still gone bad, then it might be that you need to take more care over how it's stored. Leaving it uncovered in the refrigerator means it is still exposed to bacteria from other foodstuffs, and it may also absorb flavors from pungent items like garlic or onions.
So the best method is to keep it tightly wrapped, or in a sealed plastic tub with some freshwater to stop it drying out you should change the water every 24h at least. Tofu is perfectly fine for freezing. In fact, some people think that freezing tofu makes it more absorbent once defrosted, so it'll hold more of the flavor of whatever you're cooking it with.
For best results though, don't freeze tofu in a whole block. You'll get better results if you chop it up into roughly one-inch cubes before freezing. This also means that you can take the exact amount you need out of the freezer later, without having to try and slice through a solid block of frozen tofu. Ideally, you should also try to reduce the water content as much as possible before freezing. Place the chopped cubes on a paper towel to soak up any excess.
To dry it further, you could cover with another paper towel, then add weight such as a cookbook or frying pan on top, which will gently press the water out of the tofu if left for ten or twenty minutes. You can also use a tofu press for maximum convenience. Tofu will last for 4 - 6 months in the freezer. Any longer than that and it will probably still be safe to eat, but the flavor and texture is likely to have worsened.
Once you've cooked your tofu, it has a slightly longer shelf life compared to raw tofu, usually an extra 2 or 3 days. This type of tofu would usually require a combination of rice wine and salt.
The less common type of fermented tofu is the red fermented bean curd, which also includes yeast rice and chili in the brine. The proper storage of tofu is the key to making sure that you are able to maximize the use of your tofu. After all, we want to make sure that we are able to consume tofu at its best state.
It is easy to tell tofu has gone bad. When tofu is spoiled, it is evident in the smell. Spoiled tofu will smell sour and it is a clear indicator that the tofu has gone bad. Another important indicator of the freshness of the tofu is by how it looks. When tofu is curdled, there is a high chance that the tofu is already spoiled.
You may also check for any signs of mold on the tofu. If there is mold on the tofu, there is a Food should always be handled hygienically. This is important in order to prevent spoilage. Consuming spoiled food can lead to some repercussions.
The first possible consequence of eating spoiled tofu is food poisoning. Food poisoning can lead to vomiting and uncontrollable bowel movement. It may also cause weakness and fever in some people. But no matter which option you go with, you only get a couple of days of storage once you open the package.
That is, unless you decide to freeze your tofu, which is also a pretty popular option that I cover. Interested in learning the basics of shelf life, storage, and spoilage of tofu? Shelf-stable tofu comes with a shelf life of a few months up to a year, while refrigerated tofu typically lasts for only a month or so.
Once you open the package, tofu stays good for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Having said that, take those suggestions with a grain of salt. Producers usually recommend finishing their tofu within 2 to 3 days of opening the package. Of course, you need to remember to at least seal the tofu in an airtight container for the soy product to last those four days. For the shelf-stable variety that comes with a shelf life of even a year , I would assume an extra week or two should be perfectly safe.
Of course, the longer the total shelf life, the longer tofu should stay good past its date. That means a week for tofu that lasts three months and two weeks or even more for one that keeps for a year. For refrigerated tofu, its storage time is much shorter, quite similar to many dairy products.
And once you open the package, tofu goes bad in only a couple of days, even if you store it in perfect conditions.
0コメント