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Best Tofu Presses (2026): Firm Tofu Without the Towel Tower

By Captain Vegan · Updated November 5, 2026 · 5 picks compared

Stacking cookbooks on a paper-towel burrito works. Sort of. A tofu press squeezes evenly, hands-free, with no soggy towel pile. We ranked five on what Serious Eats, Reviewed, and The Spruce Eats found when they pressed real blocks, and Serious Eats even weighed the water.

See the top 3 ↓Compare all 5

A young girl in a green VEGAN shirt lifting the side of a muddy SUV with one hand

“Wet tofu doesn't crisp. It steams, sulks, and falls apart. Press it like you mean it.”— Captain Vegan

The Top 3 Tofu Presses

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Prices come from Amazon and were right at the time shown. They can change; the price on Amazon at checkout is the one you pay.

#1
NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press with Marinating Lid Best overall

NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press with Marinating Lid

Spring + twist dial 路 lift-out drip tray 路 marinating lid

$17.54

Check price →
#2
TOFUDEE Tofu Press Most water removed

TOFUDEE Tofu Press

Spring-and-screw dial 路 fits a 16 oz block 路 dishwasher safe

$28.95

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#3
TofuBud Tofu Press Best compact

TofuBud Tofu Press

Two pressure levels 路 fits up to 14 oz 路 side spout

$22.99

Check price →

All 5 Tofu Presses, Side by Side

#PickKey specs
1
NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press with Marinating Lid
 Spring + twist dial 路 lift-out drip tray 路 marinating lid
Reviewed's best overall; Serious Eats' best budget		 $17.54Check price
2
TOFUDEE Tofu Press
TOFUDEE Tofu Press
Most water removed
 Spring-and-screw dial 路 fits a 16 oz block 路 dishwasher safe
Serious Eats' top pick		 $28.95Check price
3
TofuBud Tofu Press
TofuBud Tofu Press
Best compact
 Two pressure levels 路 fits up to 14 oz 路 side spout
A Serious Eats budget winner		 $22.99Check price
4
TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press
TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press
Best press-and-marinate
 Fixed spring 路 fits 12 to 16 oz blocks 路 one-tub marinating
Reviewed's best upgrade; Spruce Eats' best plastic		 $39.95Check price
5
EZ Tofu Press
EZ Tofu Press
Best spring-free
 Two plates, two knobs 路 no springs 路 made in USA
The Spruce Eats' best overall		 $25.99Check price

How We Picked

  • We leaned on hands-on testing by Serious Eats, Reviewed, and The Spruce Eats. We didn't press a single block ourselves.
  • Serious Eats weighed every block before and after pressing. When we quote a percentage, that's their scale talking.
  • Every pick is sold on Amazon by its own brand, and we name one exact listing. Serious Eats' OXO winner missed the cut because Amazon only offered it through an outside seller.
  • We searched the CPSC recall database for every brand here. No tofu press recalls turned up.
  • Order: expert agreement first, then value, then variety (compact, marinating, spring-free).

The Reviews

Ranked, roasted, and recommended.

#1
NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press with Marinating Lid
Best overall

NOYA Adjustable Tofu Press with Marinating Lid

Two separate testing teams put this one on the podium. Reviewed named it best overall after it turned out some of the firmest tofu of its test, crack-free, in 15 minutes. Serious Eats made it the budget winner, called it a pleasure to use, and praised a block that came out remarkably uniform and square. Captain's verdict: the safe bet, and the cheapest pick here.

  • Stainless steel spring
  • Lift-out drip tray
  • Pour spout
  • Extra marinating lid
  • 1.3 lb

Why it made the list

  • Even, crack-free blocks at both Reviewed and Serious Eats
  • Drip tray with handles plus a pour spout, so no counter puddle
  • A second lid turns the tub into a marinating dish
  • Cheapest pick here

Watch out for

  • Pulled less water than the TOFUDEE in Serious Eats' weigh-in (about 9% vs. 20% in 15 minutes)
  • Serious Eats suggests hand-washing, even though the listing says dishwasher safe
  • Water out in 15 min: About 9% of the block's weight (Serious Eats)
  • Water out in 2 hours: About 19% (Serious Eats)
  • Pressure: Stainless spring with a twist dial
  • Weight: 1.3 lb (Serious Eats)
  • Materials: Plastic, silicone, stainless steel; BPA-free per the brand

Sources: Reviewed: Best tofu presses · Serious Eats: Best tofu presses

Check price on Amazon →$17.54 as of Nov 5, 9:13 PM ET

#2
TOFUDEE Tofu Press
Most water removed

TOFUDEE Tofu Press

Serious Eats crowned it the best tofu press, and the scale backs that up. In 15 minutes it squeezed out about 20% of the block's weight, roughly what most presses needed two hours to do, and about 32% by the two-hour mark. One caution: Reviewed's earlier test found it pressed unevenly and cracked the block. Captain's verdict: the driest tofu any expert measured.

  • Adjustable pressure dial
  • Fits a 16 oz block
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Made in Korea
  • 1-year limited warranty

Why it made the list

  • Most water removed in Serious Eats' test, by a wide margin
  • Dial lets you add pressure in stages
  • Takes a full 16 oz block
  • Dishwasher safe, with a 1-year limited warranty (brand)

Watch out for

  • Opaque red tub makes it hard to see how far you've pressed
  • Embosses its logo onto your tofu (Serious Eats)
  • Reviewed found it pressed unevenly and cracked the block
  • Water out in 15 min: About 20% of the block's weight (Serious Eats)
  • Water out in 2 hours: About 32% (Serious Eats)
  • Fits: Up to a 16 oz block (Serious Eats)
  • Weight: 1.5 lb (Serious Eats)
  • Made in: Korea (brand)

Sources: Serious Eats: Best tofu presses · Reviewed: Best tofu presses

Check price on Amazon →$28.95 as of Nov 5, 9:13 PM ET

#3
TofuBud Tofu Press
Best compact

TofuBud Tofu Press

The smallest of Serious Eats' winners, and one of the thirstiest. It pulled about 11% of the block's weight in 15 minutes and close to a quarter by the two-hour mark, second only to the TOFUDEE in Serious Eats' weigh-in. The brand says it's flat enough to press inside the fridge. Fair warning: its ridged tub kept the tofu sitting in the drained liquid, so pour as you go.

  • Two pressure levels
  • Blocks up to 14 oz
  • Built-in pour spout
  • Dishwasher safe
  • 1.1 lb

Why it made the list

  • Second-most water removed in Serious Eats' weigh-in
  • Smallest of Serious Eats' winners
  • Built-in spout for draining
  • Dishwasher safe

Watch out for

  • More parts than the spring-dial presses
  • Ridged tub keeps tofu in the drained water (Serious Eats)
  • Takes blocks up to 14 oz, so a 16 oz block won't fit
  • Water out in 15 min: About 11% (Serious Eats)
  • Water out in 2 hours: About 24% (Serious Eats)
  • Fits: Blocks up to 14 oz (brand)
  • Size: 6 x 4.75 x 5 in; 1.1 lb (Serious Eats)
  • Pressure: Two levels (brand)

Sources: Serious Eats: Best tofu presses · Reviewed: Best tofu presses

Check price on Amazon →$22.99 as of Nov 5, 9:13 PM ET

#4
TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press
Best press-and-marinate

TofuXpress Gourmet Tofu Press

The veteran of the group, and the priciest pick here. Reviewed called it the best upgrade after it made seriously firm tofu in 15 minutes, and The Spruce Eats named it the best plastic press, partly because you press and marinate in the same container. Serious Eats was less charmed: the plate pressed unevenly and the tofu sat under the water it squeezed out. Tilt and drain as you go.

  • Press and marinate in one tub
  • Fits 12 to 16 oz blocks
  • Stainless steel spring
  • 1-year warranty

Why it made the list

  • Seriously firm tofu in 15 minutes at Reviewed
  • Press and marinate in the same container
  • Also drains spinach, eggplant, and cabbage, per The Spruce Eats
  • One-year warranty

Watch out for

  • Priciest pick here
  • No drain tray: water pools on top until you tilt it out
  • Serious Eats found the plate pressed unevenly
  • Springs aren't adjustable, so it fits 12 to 16 oz blocks only
  • Pressure: Fixed spring, one setting
  • Fits: 12 to 16 oz blocks (Spruce Eats)
  • Size: 5 x 5 x 5 in (Spruce Eats)
  • Press time: Firm in 15 min at Reviewed; Spruce Eats suggests about an hour
  • Warranty: 1 year (Spruce Eats)

Sources: Reviewed: Best tofu presses · The Spruce Eats: Best tofu presses · Serious Eats: Best tofu presses

Check price on Amazon →$39.95 as of Nov 5, 9:13 PM ET

#5
EZ Tofu Press
Best spring-free

EZ Tofu Press

No springs, no tub: just two plates and two knobs you tighten every few minutes. The Spruce Eats named it best overall and had tofu fully pressed in about 15 minutes. Serious Eats and Reviewed were tougher on it. Tightening both knobs evenly is fiddly, the block can come out lopsided, and with no tray you'll want it over a sink or a plate.

  • No springs
  • Fits many block sizes
  • BPA-free plastic plates
  • Made in USA
  • Top-rack dishwasher safe

Why it made the list

  • Fully pressed in about 15 minutes at The Spruce Eats
  • Flat, simple design that handles different block sizes
  • Made in the USA (brand)
  • Top-rack dishwasher safe (brand)

Watch out for

  • No drip tray: set it over a sink or a plate
  • You re-tighten the knobs every 2 to 3 minutes
  • Serious Eats found uneven knobs gave a lopsided block
  • Pressure: Two hand-tightened knobs, no springs
  • Size: 9 x 5.25 x 4 in (Spruce Eats)
  • Materials: BPA-free plastic plates, stainless steel grommets
  • Made in: USA (brand)
  • Cleaning: Top-rack dishwasher safe (brand)

Sources: The Spruce Eats: Best tofu presses · Serious Eats: Best tofu presses · EZ Tofu Press (brand)

Check price on Amazon →$25.99 as of Nov 5, 9:13 PM ET

What Actually Matters

The first 15 minutes. Serious Eats found most presses squeezed out about as much water in the first 15 minutes as in the hour and 45 minutes after that. A quick press while the pan heats gets you most of the way.

Spring or knobs. Spring presses with a twist lid keep squeezing while you chop. Knob presses like the EZ need you to come back and tighten. In Serious Eats' test, the spring-and-twist designs were the easiest to use.

Drainage. A drip tray or spout keeps the tofu out of its own puddle. The EZ and TofuXpress have neither, so plan on a tilt or a sink.

Block size. Check your favorite tofu's package. The TofuBud takes up to 14 oz, the TofuXpress takes 12 to 16 oz, and the TOFUDEE fits a full 16 oz block.

Why Bother Pressing?

Water is the enemy of a golden crust. Pressed tofu browns instead of steaming, and it has room to soak up a marinade instead of diluting it.

Tofu is also one of the easiest whole-food proteins to cook at home. If you're working out how it fits into your day alongside a shake or two, our guide to how much vegan protein you need per day does the math.

Quick Questions

Do I really need a tofu press?

No. A towel and a heavy pan work. A press is more even, hands-free, and won't topple off the counter. If you cook tofu every week, it earns its drawer space.

How long should I press tofu?

About 15 minutes does most of the job, based on Serious Eats' weigh-in. Leave it longer, in the fridge, if you want it extra dry. The Spruce Eats suggests about an hour for the TofuXpress.

Should I press silken tofu?

No. Press firm and extra-firm. Silken tofu is meant to stay soft and will just collapse under a spring.

Is there a plastic-free tofu press?

Yes, but the experts weren't fans. The Spruce Eats' best stainless pick, the Raw Rutes press, was very heavy and one of the weakest performers at Serious Eats, and the bamboo press Serious Eats tried shed splinters and its tray seeped. That's why every pick here is plastic with a steel spring or steel hardware.

Are tofu presses dishwasher safe?

All five picks are, per their brands or listings. Serious Eats still suggests hand-washing the NOYA, and The Spruce Eats suggests hand-washing the TofuXpress.

Now Feed It Something Good

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Sources

Specs and models change: check the Amazon listing before you buy.