Tofu

In Japan, fresh tofu, immersed in water, is sold at local tofu shops, and it has a clean, taste and soft, almost creamy texture. The tofu available in the United States is reasonably good and inexpensive. In three basic types—firm, medium, and soft (silken, sometimes labeled kinugoshi)—tofu is sold in shelf-stable boxes that need to be drained and then refrigerated after opening or in plastic tubs that are refrigerated at the market. The tofu is usually, though not always, in a single large block, and the packages typically weigh 14 or 16 ounces. Always check the sell-by date on tofu packages. Once opened, tofu does not keep well and takes on the flavor of whatever is around it, so store it immersed in cold water in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator, away from anything with a strong smell, for no more than a couple of days, changing the water daily.