How to make the best crispy tofu! We’ll show you how to make perfectly golden crispy tofu three different ways: baked, pan fried, and in the air fryer.

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Oh hey, Rhubarbarians! Let's show you how to make some perfectly golden crispy tofu.
I know, I know. There are a LOT of tofu skeptics out there. Tofu is an ingredient that needs some love before it can be tasty.
But, we are here to tell you that YES, TOFU IS DELICIOUS! Especially when it's golden and crispy.
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The best crispy tofu
It's a bold statement, but we definitely think that these three methods make the best crispy tofu. We've tested a lot of crispy tofu recipes and found that keeping it simple with some sesame oil, soy sauce, and flour makes the most delicious flavor and crispy exterior.
Here's what we found to be true:
- Baked tofu: we love baking tofu in the oven for ease and perfectly even crispness.
- Pan fried tofu: we love pan frying tofu on the stove top for delicious flavor and golden fried crisp.
- Air fried tofu: we love frying tofu in the air fryer for speed, convenience, and the extra crispy exterior!
Why this recipe works: Extra firm tofu, the right flavors, and a coating of oil and flour make perfect crisp on the outside and soft on the inside crispy tofu!
Choose the right tofu
Before you start, make sure you choose the right tofu for crispy tofu. You'll want to look for a block of tofu that is 14-16oz and is labeled firm or super firm. Super firm is best if you can find it!
Our favorite tofu is the Trader Joe's organic super firm tofu. You don't usually have to press super firm tofu, which makes it really convenient for weeknight meals.
If you can only find firm tofu, that's okay! If you have a tofu press, go ahead and use that. If not, here's how to press firm tofu to get the best crispy tofu texture:
- Remove the tofu from the package and make sure all the liquid is drained off.
- Wrap the tofu a couple of times around in a paper towel (or a lint-free kitchen towel).
- Place the wrapped tofu on a plate or cutting board and put something heavy on top to press it. We like to place a cast iron skillet with a couple of cans of food on top.
Here's a helpful article to help you press your tofu like a pro!
Have you tried our crispy vegan tofu tacos recipe?
Here's what you'll need
You don't need a lot of ingredients, but you do need some special equipment depending on the method you choose. Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
Ingredients:
- Tofu: one 14-16oz block of super firm or firm tofu.
- Sesame oil: for flavor and crispness. If you can't find sesame oil, you can use olive oil or grape seed oil.
- Soy sauce: for umami flavor. Don't worry, your tofu won't taste like soy sauce!
- All-purpose flour: for coating the tofu.
- Salt and pepper: for seasoning.
- Grape seed or vegetable oil: for pan frying only.
Equipment:
- Tofu press or tools for pressing tofu: you will only need to press the tofu if you are using firm rather than super firm tofu. Tools for pressing tofu if you don't have a tofu press are paper towels, plate or cutting board, and something heavy to put on top of the tofu. (See the section above titled "choose the right tofu" for details.) Here's a tofu press that we like!
- Cutting board: for cutting the tofu into cubes.
- Sharp knife: for cutting the tofu into cubes.
- Medium sized mixing bowl: for seasoning and coating the tofu.
- Measuring spoons: for the seasoning and coating the tofu.
- Small bowl and fork/whisk: for whisking together the oil and soy sauce.
- Large spoon or spatula: for seasoning and coating the tofu. We love this spoonula!
- Sheet pan: for the baking method only.
- Tongs or spatula: for flipping the tofu.
- Large non-stick skillet: for the pan frying method only. We love our Green Pan!
- Large air fryer: for the air frying method only. This is the air fryer that we have!
You will love this amazing honey garlic cashew tofu recipe!
Seasoning and flavoring
Tofu is one of those ingredients that is bland on it's own, but soaks up seasoning and flavoring very well.
We like to season the tofu with sesame oil and soy sauce. But don't worry, the tofu won't taste like sesame oil and soy sauce! The sesame oil just adds a bit of nuttiness while the soy sauce sauce adds umami flavor. So the tofu will still be very versatile and can be used in any way you like to eat your crispy tofu.
Need some more to seasoning ideas?
- Add some Indian curry powder to the flour for an Indian curry.
- Add some taco seasoning to the flour for tofu tacos.
- Add some vegan chicken seasoning to make vegan chicken nuggets.
Recipe tips
- When seasoning the tofu, toss the tofu in oil before flour. Better yet, let your tofu marinate in your wet ingredients for 30 minutes before tossing in your dry.
- Cook the tofu in a single layer. You want to make sure that all the parts of the tofu cubes brown as much as possible. Don't overlap the cubes while cooking.
- Don't stir or flip the tofu until browned when cooking. Be patient and let the tofu completely brown on one side before flipping!
Have you tried our vegan sweet and sour tofu recipe?
How to serve
We love crispy tofu because of how versatile it is! We eat it at least once a week and have tried it many different ways. Here are our favorite ways to serve crispy tofu:
- As a main course alongside roasted veggies. We eat this often and usually slice the tofu into rectangles when serving this way.
- In a veggie stir fry. Sautee some veggies and toss with crispy tofu and your favorite stir fry sauce or teriyaki sauce! Delicious.
- In a Thai or Indian curry. Sautee some veggies and toss with crispy tofu and your favorite Thai curry sauce or Indian curry sauce.
- In ramen. Whip up a quick and easy ramen and add some crispy tofu cubes!
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Baked tofu
We love baking tofu in the oven for ease and perfectly even crispness. (Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below)
- Press, cube, and toss the tofu in the oil, sauce, and flour.
- Spread the tofu cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet, making sure that the cubes are not overlapping.
- Bake for 15 minutes, flip, and then bake for another 15 minutes.
Pan fried tofu
We love pan frying tofu on the stove top for delicious flavor and golden fried crisp. (Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below)
- Press, cube, and toss the tofu in the oil, sauce, and flour.
- Heat oil in a skillet until very hot. Add the tofu cubes in a single layer in the pan, making sure that the cubes are not overlapping.
- Let the cubes pan fry until they are golden brown! Don't flip until you see a golden crust, about 5 minutes.
- Flip the cubes and pan fry for another 5 minutes, letting the other side brown.
- Toss the cubes in the pan and continue to cook, stirring as needed, to brown all sides of the tofu.
- Transfer the tofu to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up excess oil.
Air fried tofu
We love frying tofu in the air fryer for speed, convenience, and the extra crispy exterior. (Full instructions are listed in the recipe card below)
- Press, cube, and toss the tofu in the oil, sauce, and flour.
- Add the tofu to the air fryer basket in a single layer making sure that the cubes are not overlapping.
- Air fry for 8 minutes, shake the cubes in the basket, and air fry for another 8-10 minutes until crispy.
Storing and reheating
- Storing: Store any leftover crispy tofu in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: The tofu cubes may become soggy in the refrigerator, but you can crisp them again the same way they were cooked. Bake them in the oven, pan fry them in a bit of oil, or air fry them until they are crispy again.
FAQs
Cornstarch or arrowroot powder.
Yes! Keep in mind that the tofu will become more dense and chewy after freezing.
Yes. But you still need to make sure that the tofu is in a single layer when cooking and isn't overlapping. So, you might need to cook the tofu in 2 batches.
Did you make this recipe? Leave us a review and star rating in the comments below! We read every single review and appreciate your feedback.
Recipe
How to make crispy tofu (3 ways)
Ingredients
- 1 16oz block of firm or extra firm tofu
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon Grapeseed or vegetable oil (ONLY IF PAN FRYING)
Instructions
- If you aren't using super firm tofu, start by pressing your tofu. This is optional, but helps with the texture. Wrap your block of tofu in a paper towel, place it on a plate or cutting board, and top with something heavy like a cast iron skillet with cans of beans on top or a kettle full of water. Press for at least 20 minutes. Discard the paper towel and proceed to the next step.
- Cut the block of tofu into ¾" cubes and place in a medium sized bowl.
- Whisk the sesame oil and soy sauce together and pour over your tofu cubes. Very gently toss to combine with a large spoon.* Add the flour, salt, and pepper and gently toss to combine again. Make sure all the cubes are coated in flour.
BAKED TOFU IN THE OVEN
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (optional for easy clean up).
- Place the tofu cubes onto your baking sheet and spread in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping on the pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the cubes over to brown on the other side. Bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown.
PAN FRIED ON THE STOVE TOP
- Heat 2 tablespoon of grapeseed or vegetable oil in a non stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the tofu, making sure the cubes are in a single layer in the pan. Let the tofu pan-fry and do not flip or stir until the bottom has browned, about 5 minutes.
- Flip the tofu cubes and let the other side brown without stirring, about another 5 minutes. When both sides have browned, go ahead and stir the tofu and brown the remaining sides, stirring often, until the cubes are golden brown.
- Line a plate with paper towels and transfer the browned tofu to the plate to let some of the oil soak up.
AIR FRIED IN THE AIR FRYER
- Add the tofu cubes to your air fryer basket and make sure they aren't overlapping each other. You want a single layer of tofu cubes. If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook the cubes in 2 batches.
- Set the air fryer to 380° F for 8 minutes. When the timer goes off, shake the tofu cubes in the basket and air fry for another 8-10 minutes or until crispy.
Notes
Nutrition
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