Tofu scramble (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is tofu scramble? ›

Scrambled tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein and is a complete protein, meaning it has all of the essential amino acids. Tofu also contains phytoestrogens that are protective against certain cancers like prostate cancer and breast cancer, and against heart disease.

Compared to scrambled eggs, scrambled tofu is lower in calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol, and higher in fiber. While eggs are a respectable source of protein, scrambled tofu is a better option for those looking to reduce their cholesterol intake or follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Even when you are cooking for one, it's worth taking a few minutes to make a hot, protein-rich breakfast. By stretching an egg with a little tofu, you reduce the cholesterol and saturated fat.

This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture. It takes on a chewier, firmer texture, which makes it super satisfying to eat and less likely to fall apart.

Contains antinutrients

Like most plant foods, tofu contains several antinutrients. These compounds are naturally found in plant foods and lower your body's ability to absorb nutrients from food ( 6 ).

In case you're wondering which is healthier, eggs or tofu, the match-up is surprisingly close. If you compare them per serving (1 egg to a 3.5-ounce serving of tofu), the tofu has a similar amount of calories and slightly more protein. Here's how they stack up: Calories: egg = 78 | tofu = 70.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

The effect of eating tofu with weight loss has been proven on many studies. Specifically, people who follow the tofu diet from 2 months to 1 year will lose an average of 4.5 kg. Therefore, this food has been and is appearing popular in many people's weight loss, diet, and vegetarian menus.

Chicken also wins when it comes to B vitamins and potassium, but tofu is higher in zinc, magnesium, iron, calcium—plus it has fiber. “What's most important when cooking either chicken or tofu is to choose a healthy preparation method,” says Stamm.

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something you're trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

What happens if you don't drain tofu? ›

However, in recipes calling for tofu to hold its shape, it's critical that you press the tofu to remove enough water so that it will hold its shape when used in recipes for salads, stir-fries, or grilling. Unless you do this, the tofu will fall apart and lose all shape.

If you decide to press tofu, take care not to smoosh it too much, as it can break apart. Rinsing: Counterintuitively, you can use water to ultimately help you get rid of it. Yang suggests rinsing tofu with hot, salted water, which adds flavor and ultimately draws out moisture.

Tofu may help you to lose weight by keeping you fuller for longer on fewer calories than meat. It may reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when swapped for saturated fat-heavy animal proteins. Soy foods like tofu also contain isoflavones, which act similarly in the body to estrogen.

"For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said. He and his family eat "probably three servings per week," Sun said. He likes using soft tofu in soups and firm tofu – frozen and cut up – in a traditional Chinese hot pot.

Soy has actually been found to increase the good bacteria in the gut, leading to overall better gut health when consumed. This might help explain why soy foods have been associated with healthier outcomes as we are learning more and more about how connected a healthy gut is to an overall healthy body.