Tofu comes in two very different forms, and they live in different parts of the shop. Fresh tofu is chilled. Long life tofu is sold in sealed cartons. Knowing which one your recipe needs saves a lot of wandering.
Fresh tofu: where it is
Fresh tofu is in the chilled section, usually next to the vegetarian and plant based range and close to meat free burgers and sausages. It is not with the Asian ingredients. Check the chiller cabinets in the main part of the store, since smaller branches may carry only one or two blocks.
Some larger stores also keep chilled tofu in the world food section near the fresh noodles. If the vegetarian chiller is empty, check there before you give up.
Long life tofu: where it is
Long life silken tofu comes in a sealed carton and sits on a room temperature shelf, usually in the world food aisle. It keeps for months unopened, so it is an easy item to add to an online order.
Firm or silken: which to pick
Firm and extra firm tofu hold their shape. Use them for frying, stir fries and curries. Silken tofu is soft and smooth, so it suits soups, sauces and puddings. Firm tofu also holds more protein per gram, which matters if tofu is the main part of a meal.
Press firm tofu for ten minutes or so before cooking. Removing the water helps it brown rather than steam.
Asian grocers and online
A Chinese, Korean or Japanese grocer usually sells a wider range, including pressed, smoked and fried tofu. Blocks are often larger and cheaper per gram. Fried tofu puffs are often sold bagged near the chilled noodles.
Supermarket delivery is the simplest way to get chilled tofu without a trip. Specialist Asian grocers may ship chilled boxes if you order enough to justify the postage.
Storage
Once opened, keep chilled tofu covered in fresh water in the fridge and change the water daily. Use it within a few days. Long life tofu keeps in the cupboard until opened, and then needs the fridge like fresh tofu.
For a fresh spring roll that uses tofu, see our rice paper wrappers guide. If you are cooking a tofu soup, the miso paste guide shows where to find the miso. For a classic tofu dish, try our mapo tofu recipe.