{"id":1769,"date":"2022-09-13T17:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T17:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2022-09-14T22:19:20","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T22:19:20","slug":"does-tofu-go-bad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/does-tofu-go-bad\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Tofu Go Bad? Unopened, Opened & Freezer Expiration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"block<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tofu is a versatile and delicious protein source. Just a quarter of a block has about 9 grams of protein and only 90 calories. It comes in multiple textures from silken, which is great for smoothies, to extra firm, which soaks up sauces in stir fries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tofu is made of soy. More specifically, from coagulated soy milk pressed together into blocks. You may think about how shelf-stable soy milk is and wonder, does tofu go bad and how quickly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any food, tofu will go bad eventually. How long it lasts depends on if it\u2019s opened or unopened, and how it\u2019s stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does Tofu Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tofu<\/strong><\/td>How long it\u2019s good for<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Unopened tofu, refrigerated<\/td>2-3 months<\/td><\/tr>
Opened tofu, refrigerated<\/td>5-7 days<\/td><\/tr>
Cooked tofu, refrigerated<\/td>4-5 days<\/td><\/tr>
Frozen tofu<\/td>5 months<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unopened<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"packages<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unopened tofu will typically last 2-3 months. Review the \u201csell by\u201d date at the time of purchase. Tofu is good for 3-5 days after the sell by date, assuming it doesn\u2019t show signs of spoilage, which we detail below. If the unopened package is bloated, it\u2019s likely unsafe to eat. Bloating happens when contaminating microorganisms produce gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opened<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"peeling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Raw tofu lasts about 5-7 days in the fridge once it\u2019s opened. If it becomes slimy or begins to smell sour, it is no longer good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Store Opened Tofu<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cover tofu in water and store it in an airtight container. This will prevent the tofu from drying out and keep it fresh for longer. It\u2019s best to change the water regularly. While some people recommend changing it everyday, I typically change it every couple of days and it\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cooked tofu lasts around 3-4 days in the refrigerator. If you\u2019ve cooked the tofu in a dish with other ingredients, consider their expiration too. For example, if you stir fried tofu with vegetables that were about to expire, you probably want to eat the dish in the next couple of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tofu can last in the freezer for 5 months. Freezing tofu will change it\u2019s texture because tofu has a high water content. As the tofu freezes, the water in it expands, creating little pockets in the tofu. When the tofu is defrosted, the pockets remain, making it more spongey and chewy. It will absorb sauces better, too. Some people like to freeze tofu because defrosted tofu has a \u201cmeatier\u201d texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Freeze Tofu<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"tofu<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are two ways you can freeze tofu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Freeze it in cubes<\/strong>. Cut the tofu into cubes and freeze it in an airtight container to freeze. To reduce the cubes sticking together you can flash freeze them. Put them on a plate or baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them for a couple hours until they\u2019re frozen and then transfer them to a freezer-safe container.<\/li>
  2. Freeze in blocks<\/strong>. You can freeze the whole tofu block. Either put the unopened package in the freezer or transfer the whole block to a freezer safe container. This method takes longer to defrost when you are ready to use your tofu.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How to Defrost Tofu<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    There are multiple ways to defrost tofu. It\u2019s important to note that defrosted tofu may have a slightly yellow color. That doesn\u2019t mean the tofu has gone bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Place in refrigerator overnight<\/strong>. Move the tofu from the freezer to the refrigerator and wait. It will take about 8-12 hours to defrost.<\/li>
    2. Place it in a bowl of water<\/strong>. Similar to defrosting chicken<\/a>, you can place an airtight back in a bowl of water, swapping the water out every 20 minutes. It should take 30-60 minutes to defrost tofu cubes.<\/li>
    3. Microwave<\/strong>: You can use the defrost setting on the microwave on 2-minute increments. This is my least favorite defrosting method because the cubes are small and it can be easy to overheat them.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      How Long Can Tofu Sit Out?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"cubes<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      According to the USDA, tofu that sits out at temperatures above 40\u2109 for more than 2 hours should be discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to Tell if Tofu is Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      There are multiple signs that tofu is bad. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n