Have you ever eaten tofu? It may not be a typical cooking ingredient for you unless you’re a vegetarian. Tofu is a meat alternative that is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the resultant curds into soft white blocks. Making tofu can be a great way to shake up your current dinner rotation, adding something new and different to your plate. Cooking tofu, though, is much different than cooking with meat, which is why we’ve come up with the below list of tips to make sure that the first time you cook tofu, it turns out wonderful.

When making tofu, remember to:

• Drain it – Since tofu is sold packed in water, the first thing to do is to drain it. You’ll want to slice up the block of tofu, lay the slices in a single layer on a paper towel-lined baking sheet, lay down more paper towels, and lastly, top it with a heavy object (like a cookbook). Let that sit for one to two hours.

• Use cornstarch if you want crispy tofu – Simply add cornstarch to a bowl, add the tofu pieces, and toss lightly. When finished, remove any excess cornstarch using a colander.

• Sear using sesame or coconut oil – Don’t use olive oil when searing because you’ll want to use oil that can handle heat well and adds subtle flavor to your dish. Your best options are sesame or coconut oil.

Tofu is a wonderful ingredient to add to a salad, on top of pizza, in soup, or even substituted for eggs in an egg scramble. Once you learn how to cook with it, the options are nearly endless!

If you’re looking for an Alachua, Florida, apartment where you can try your hand at new recipes, consider One 51 Place. Our apartments come with beautiful kitchens that are equipped with modern appliances in bisque finishes. Our apartments also feature professionally designed color schemes in beige, taupe, or gray.

Contact us today or stop by our leasing office to learn more.