Tofu is one of the traditional foods in China, with a long history and rich production techniques. Among them, stone-ground tofu is a kind of tofu made by using a stone mill as a tool. The process of making it is unique and tedious, but it produces tofu with delicate texture and delicious flavor. Here, let's learn more about the process of making stone-ground tofu.

Material Preparation

The main materials needed to make stone ground tofu are soybeans, gypsum and water. First, we need to prepare clean soybeans and soak them in water for about 8 hours so that they can fully absorb water. Then, put the soaked soybeans into a blender, add appropriate amount of water and blend it into soybean milk.

Process of making stone ground tofu

The first step in making stone ground tofu is to heat the soymilk to about 80 degrees Celsius, which kills the bacteria in the soybeans and activates the enzymes in the soymilk. Next, the heated soy milk is poured into the stone mill and grinding begins. The stone mill needs to be rotated constantly to ensure that the soy milk can be ground evenly. The grinding time is usually 1-2 hours until the soymilk becomes fine and grain-free.

The ground soymilk needs to be settled, which is a step to separate the solid and liquid parts of the soymilk. Pour the soymilk into a large container and let it sit for about 30 minutes until the solids in the soymilk settle to the bottom of the container. Then, pour off the top layer of soy milk liquid, leaving only the settled portion.

Next, pour the settled soy milk into the tofu molds and smooth the surface with a spatula. Then, place the mold in a steamer and steam over medium heat for about 30 minutes. The steamed tofu will become firmer and have a better texture.

Taste and Characteristics of Stone Ground Tofu

Compared with traditional mechanically made tofu, stone ground tofu has a more delicate taste and a stronger soy flavor. This is because during the grinding process of the stone mill, the soybean milk rubs against the stone mill to generate heat, which denatures the proteins in the soybean milk, creating a more delicate tofu.

In addition, no chemical additives are added during the production of stone ground tofu, making it healthier and more nutritious. Tofu is rich in high quality protein, many vitamins and minerals, which is very beneficial to human health. Moreover, stone ground tofu has a delicious taste and is suitable for all kinds of cooking methods, which can be made into tofu soup, tofu stir-fry and many other delicacies.