A SIMPLE FACT FROM USA TOFU
TOFU IS
SOYBEANS.
Meet the bean behind the block.
A familiar food. An agricultural story.
THE CROP. THE FOOD. THE CONNECTION.
America grows tofu01 / THE BASICS
It starts
with a bean.
Tofu is made from soybeans. Water and a coagulant help turn soybean milk into the familiar food.
Start with the ingredient, then follow it back to the crop.
Tofu basics · Colorado State University- 01
Soak & grind.
Soak the beans and grind them with water.
- 02
Heat & filter.
Heat and filter the mixture to make soybean milk.
- 03
Set & shape.
Add a coagulant to form curds. Press for firmer tofu; silken tofu can set in its package.
Methods vary by product. How tofu is made
02 / THE CROP
Same bean.
More possibilities.
Edamame is a soybean harvested while still green. Tofu is another way the soybean reaches the table.
Edamame Food-grade soybean uses
American agriculture has a place in that story. U.S. farmers grow soybeans, and food-grade production supplies foods including tofu.
U.S. soybean agriculture03 / NUTRITION
Read the food.
Read the label.
USDA’s Food Buying Guide lists tofu among protein-food choices.
For a particular product’s nutrients, use its Nutrition Facts panel and compare matching serving sizes.
USDA protein foods FDA label guide
Soybeans are a major food allergen. Check the ingredient and allergen information on the product you choose. FDA allergen reference
04 / COMMON QUESTIONS
A little
clarification.
Is tofu a block of mashed beans?
It is made by coagulating soybean milk. That processing step creates its structure.
The tofu-making processIs regular tofu fermented?
Ordinary tofu is a non-fermented soy food.
Food referenceIs every block of tofu American-grown?
“America grows tofu” describes an agricultural connection. To establish the origin of a particular product, use that manufacturer’s sourcing information.
Read about the campaignAre all soybeans grown for tofu?
Soybeans serve many markets, including meal and oil. Food-grade supply chains connect selected crops to food makers.
USDA sector overview Food-grade production05 / THE WORDS WE USE
What changes
with a name?
What do people picture when they hear “soy”? What changes when they hear “soybean”?
Soybean Literacy is exploring how food names and explanations affect first impressions. It is part of American Soybean Co., which has a commercial interest in these questions. No naming preference or perception effect is claimed here.
Read the research methodsA SIMPLE FACT. A LARGER CONNECTION.
AMERICA
GROWS TOFU.
TOFU IS SOYBEANS introduces the ingredient.
AMERICA GROWS TOFU connects it to the crop.