What to do with leftover cooked tofu

Q: Can I eat leftover cooked tofu?

Once youve cooked your tofu, it has a slightly longer shelf life compared to raw tofu, usually an extra 2 or 3 days. So if you have a large amount of raw tofu, which you want to eat the same week, you could cook it all at once and store some in the refrigerator for 6-7 days.

Q: Can you eat tofu the next day?

Refrigerated, opened Usually, youll take the whole block and make a meal out of it. But if you only need a small amount at a time, the tofu will stay, opened, for 3-5 days in the fridge.

Short of eating it raw, how do you use up half a block of tofu?

Table of Contents Show

Popular on Food52
1. In Dessert
2. As an Egg Substitute
3. To Thicken Smoothies
4. As a Creamy Dip
5. Grill It!
Use Tofu in Asian (and Asian-Inspired) Dishes
Whip Tofu into Smoothies and Desserts
Replace Meat with Tofu
Make Tofu Scrambles and Quiches
Use Tofu to Make Creamy Sauces
Make Sandwiches With Tofu
Bake Tofu in the Oven
Add Protein to Soups and Salads with Tofu
More About Tofu
Can I eat leftover cooked tofu?
Can you eat tofu the next day?
Can you reheat tofu twice?
How long can you eat tofu leftovers?

We all have our own regular refrigerator and pantry dregs—the things that linger and linger while we cook everything else. And about once a week, I find myself in the position of having purchased and drained a block of tofu, used half, and then been left with the other half—and while I have a standard rotation of go-to recipes, I asked the Hotline: Short of just eating it raw (c'mon, tofu lovers, we've all done it), what should I do with half a block of tofu?

HalfPint recommended crumbling and scrambling firm tofu with some onions, garlic, curry powder, and salt. For silken tofu, warm it by covering with hot water for 5 minutes, then drain it gently, splash on some soy sauce, and top with thinly sliced green onions and bonito flakes.
Many suggested cubing tofu and adding it to soups—like miso, hot and sour, or kimchi soup.
Someone suggested I layer it onto banh mi-inspired sandwiches.
Nancy shared that she purées silken tofu to use in smoothies or as an egg replacement.
Marinate and stir-fry tofu to add protein to fried rice or tacos.
"Tofu salad with rice wine vinegar or miso dressing, scallions, and bonito flakes!" advised Ali. She says sesame seeds make a good addition.
Puréed silk tofu makes for a creamy vegan Caesar salad dressing, according to matthewcarberry.
Micki isn't vegan, but said that silken tofu, when puréed, can make a rich, mousse-like chocolate pudding.
And if you can't get to it for a couple of days, just store it submerged in water, said cv.

Photo by James Ransom

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(Image credit: Emily Han)

Tofu is versatile, nutritious, and so handy to have around. But what about those days you find yourself in a “tofu rut,” or are stuck with half a block left over from a stir-fry?

Here are five unexpected ways to quickly use up leftover tofu, whether it’s just a few slices or a whole block.

Tofu is one of those foods that I always find handy to have in the fridge. It’s super versatile, can take on a wide variety of flavors and always comes to the rescue when I need to bulk up dinner.

Unfortunately it’s also easy to fall into the “tofu rut”. You know, when your tofu consumption becomes limited to stir-fries, rice bowls, curries and tossing a few cubes on top of your salad.

Don’t let that happen to you! Tofu is capable of so much more. Here are five ways to put it to work.

(Image credit: Megan Gordon)

1. In Dessert

That’s right, tofu in dessert! Smooth and creamy silken tofu works like a charm in cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, pudding and even ice cream.

2. As an Egg Substitute

No eggs, no problem! Whether you’re vegan or not, consider swapping out eggs for tofu the next time you make a scramble, frittata or quiche.

3. To Thicken Smoothies

Hot summer morning or not, there’s a lot to love about starting your day with a cool smoothie! Blend in a few ounces of protein-packed silken tofu is to make your smoothie thicker, creamier and even more filling.

4. As a Creamy Dip

Silken tofu is the perfect addition to make your dip even creamier, without the heaviness of some dairy-based dips.

5. Grill It!

Summer is prime time grilling season, and there’s no reason why tofu shouldn’t get some grill time, too. Extra-firm tofu is your best bet. Grill the whole block or cut it into cubes and cook it on skewers.

What’s the most interesting way you’ve cooked with tofu?

There's no food that strikes fear into the hearts of new vegetarians like tofu does. Tofu! It comes swimming in a plastic container full of water, it's strange and springy and white and incredibly bland out of the package. So many of the questions we get at Oh My Veggies involve tofu cooking and preparation, so I've rounded up some of our favorite ways to use tofu—both from Oh My Veggies and from other food blogs.

Use Tofu in Asian (and Asian-Inspired) Dishes

This is pretty much fool-proof, so if you're not quite comfortable with using tofu in your cooking, adding it to stir-fries and pairing it with Asian flavors is a great place to start. Extra-firm and firm tofu will work best in a stir-fry or curry—just be sure to press it first, which will allow the tofu to absorb the sauce.

Korean Barbecue Tofu Bowls with Stir-Fried Veggies and Quinoa
Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Creamy Sesame Dressing
Thai Red Curry with Asparagus and Tofu
Veggie Pad Thai
Crispy Sweet and Sour Tofu [Running to the Kitchen]
Sesame-Crusted Tofu [An Edible Mosaic]
Miso Mustard Tofu Over Asian Greens [Borrowed Salt]
Vietnamese Noodle Salad [Simple Healthy Kitchen]
Sesame Tofu Noodle Bowl with Peanut Sauce [Aggie's Kitchen]

Whip Tofu into Smoothies and Desserts

When blended, silken tofu adds a rich, creamy texture to desserts and smoothies. Toss a few cubes into a smoothie to give it a boost of protein or whip a block of silken tofu with melted chocolate and your sweetener of choice for an easy vegan mousse.

Green Apple Pie Smoothie
Orange Cardamom Chocolate Mousse
Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse
Vegan Mango Lassi [Connoisseurus Veg]
Strawberry Pudding [Tia's Kitchen]
Mango Pineapple Mousse [Healthy Nibbles and Bits]
Little Lemon Pots [Coconut and Berries]

Replace Meat with Tofu

Tofu doesn't really replicate the flavor of meat, but it does replace the protein in meat-based dishes. When I'm making a dish meatless, I usually replace the meat ounce-for-ounce with extra-firm tofu.

Tofu Vindaloo
Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese with Baked BBQ Tofu
Pineapple Jerk Tofu
Sweet Potato and Tofu Enchiladas
Cauliflower and Tofu Lasagna with Butternut Squash Sauce
Buffalo Tofu Wings with Creamy Ranch Dip
Tofu Taco Filling [Apron Strings]
Tofu Tostadas [Two Peas and Their Pod]
Barbecue Tofu Pizza [Kitchen Treaty]

Make Tofu Scrambles and Quiches

And meat isn't the only thing tofu can replace! It's also a great stand-in for eggs. You're probably already familiar with tofu scrambles, which involve breaking tofu into small pieces and sautéing it with herbs and spices, but you can make vegan quiches with tofu too.

Freezer-Friendly Greens and Tofu Scramble Wraps
Edamame "Egg" Salad [Spabettie]
Spinach Artichoke Tofu Quiche [Yup, It's Vegan]
Tofu Scramble with Cauliflower Rice [Food Faith Fitness]
Tofu Scramble Masala [Connoisseurus Veg]
Turmeric Tofu Scramble [The Muffin Myth]
Curried Tofu Scramble Tacos [Eats Well With Others]
Southwestern Tofu Scramble [The Garden Grazer]
Vegan Asparagus Fennel Quiche with Quinoa Crust [Coconut and Berries]

Use Tofu to Make Creamy Sauces

Blended tofu can replace heavy cream, cream cheese, sour cream and other dairy-based ingredients to make creamy sauces, dressings and dips. Typically, you'd used silken tofu for this, although some recipes call for soft tofu too.

Fettuccine Kalefredo
Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches with Creamy Chimichurri Spread
Sweet Potato Tacos with Spicy Cream Sauce [The Tomato Tart]
Silken Tofu Ranch Dressing [Connoisseurus Veg]
Penne with Chard and Lemon Bechamel [Yummy Beet]
Vegan Mayo [Dear Kitchen]
Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip [Taste Space]

Make Sandwiches With Tofu

Everything tastes better on a sandwich! Baked and pan-fried slabs of tofu are a great alternative to frozen veggie burgers—either add sauce after cooking or marinate the tofu first, then pile on your favorite toppings.

Crispy Tofu Sandwiches with Ginger Peanut Sauce
Balsamic Tofu Sandwiches with Sun-Dried Tomato [Connoisseurus Veg]
Smoky Baked Tofu Sandwiches with Wasabi Mayo [Connoisseurus Veg]
Korean BBQ Tofu Sliders [Eats Well With Others]
Asian Tofu Salad Sandwiches [She Likes Food]
Sesame Tofu Sandwiches with Spicy Basil Tahini [The Kitchen Paper]
Baked Tofu Banh Mi [The Pancake Princess]
Pineapple Teriyaki Tofu Sandwiches [Connoisseurus Veg]

Bake Tofu in the Oven

If the soft texture of tofu squicks you out, try baking it. The tofu will get firmer and chewier in the oven, giving it an almost meat-like texture. Baked tofu is best when marinated first—I like to take it out once or twice during the cooking process and baste it with extra marinade and with thicker sauces, like barbecue, I'll toss it in extra sauce after cooking too.

Peanutty Quinoa Bowls with Baked Tofu
Baked Barbecue Tofu
Baked Italian Herb Tofu
Crispy Baked Tofu Fingers [Hummusapien]
Sweet Chili Baked Tofu [Clean Eating Veggie Girl]
Tequila Lime Baked Tofu with Chipotle Crema [Yup, It's Vegan]
Baked Sesame Tofu Sticks [Kalyn's Kitchen]
Roasted Broccoli Crispy Tofu Bowls [With Food and Love]

Add Protein to Soups and Salads with Tofu

Without the meat, vegetarian soups and salads are delicious, but not always a complete and filling meal. Enter: tofu. Keep some baked tofu on hand in the fridge for adding to salads to make them meal-worthy. As for soups, well, it couldn't be easier—just press your tofu, cube it, and stir it into your soup.

Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup
Coconut Lime Tofu Soup
Thai Tofu and Noodle Salad
Thai Red Curry Soup
Chopped Power Salad with Baked Tofu and Almond-Miso Dressing
Kale Caesar Salad with Tofu Croutons [Kitchen Treaty]
Tofu, Kale and Shiitake Mushroom Ramen Noodle Soup [The Little Kitchen]
Vegan Greek Salad [Simple Vegan Blog]

More About Tofu

Need some more Tofu 101 resources? We've got you covered! Our Guide to Tofu goes over all the different types of tofu and how to use them and our Baked Barbecue Tofu post includes common reasons why people don't like tofu and how to overcome them. Do you see recipes that call for pressing tofu and wonder what that means? This post explains it. And if you're feeling bold, you can try your hand at making your own tofu too.

Can I eat leftover cooked tofu?

Once you've cooked your tofu, it has a slightly longer shelf life compared to raw tofu, usually an extra 2 or 3 days. So if you have a large amount of raw tofu, which you want to eat the same week, you could cook it all at once and store some in the refrigerator for 6-7 days.

Can you eat tofu the next day?

Refrigerated, opened Usually, you'll take the whole block and make a meal out of it. But if you only need a small amount at a time, the tofu will stay, opened, for 3-5 days in the fridge.

Can you reheat tofu twice?

Ideally, we should all eat food straight after it has been cooked. This is when it's at its freshest and likely to taste the best. In terms of food safety, however, so long as you reheat the food at the correct temperature and for the correct duration of time, it can in fact be safely reheated multiple times.

How long can you eat tofu leftovers?

Opened tofu, cooked tofu, or leftover tofu will only last around 3-5 days in the refrigerator so unless you intend to eat all of it at once you should consider putting the remainder into the freezer to use at a later date.