‘Astonishingly good value’ – the best supermarket tofu, tasted and rated | The food filter

This test helped me realise just how much I truly love tofu, even cold. Like all deceptively simple products, such as wine, coffee and chocolate, tofu’s character is rooted in its terroir: the soil, biodiversity, climate, plant species and production process. Most tofu is made by curdling soy milk with nigari, a coagulant made from magnesium chloride, which is naturally derived from seawater. It’s an ancient method still used across Japan and south-east Asia.

To keep things fair, I tasted each tofu cold, straight from the packet, then boiled and fried (without pressing or seasoning) each one to observe its flavour, structure and performance. Boiling showed that all the tofus held their shape, while frying brought out major differences in colouring, crust and bite: some crisped up beautifully, others stayed soft and chewy, so if you mainly fry your tofu, that’s worth bearing in mind. It’s also worth noting that organic tofus are GMO-free by definition.

The best supermarket tofu

_{89p for 180g at Aldi (49p/100g)}
★★★★★

A small, beige block with rounded edges and a sweet, familiar soya aroma. It’s a super-firm tofu with a dense, satisfying bite that holds up brilliantly to cooking, especially frying. Made with 57% EU-grown organic soya, it’s very high in protein (14g a serving) and astonishingly good value. A real standout.

And the rest …

Sainsbury’s So Organic super-firm tofu

_{£1.34 for 300g at Sainsbury’s (45p/100g)}
★★★★☆

A great blank canvas with a subtle aroma and gentle, sweet taste. Firm but moist, and transformed by frying to a golden-crusted, deep flavour. Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it’s high in protein and excellent value. Though a little lower in soya content, it delivers fantastic performance in the pan and at an incredible price.

Cauldron organic authentic tofu

_{£2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)
£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)}
★★★★★

Distinctively marbled and off-white/grey, this has a subtle aroma and a clean, complex flavour. Very firm and reacts well to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% organic soya, using a mix of EU and non-EU beans, it’s high in protein and has strong sustainability credentials. A well-rounded option that’s a very close runner-up to the best overall.

The Tofoo Co Naked organic tofu

_{£2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury’s (82p/100g)
£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)}
★★★★☆

An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, almost smoky aroma and a lovely firm bounce. One of the densest, less traditional tofus tested, with a chewy bite. When fried, it forms a good golden crust with loads of flavour. Made in Yorkshire using organic soya from EU and non-EU farms. Great Taste Award-winning, very high in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a bold, characterful choice.

M&S Plant Kitchen organic super-firm tofu

_{£2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)}
★★★★☆

A uniform block with a sweet, subtle aroma, a soft bite and a gentle soya flavour. Holding its shape and forming a delicate, uniform golden crust when fried, this has one of the best textures in the whole test group. Made from organic, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content and a respectable protein level. Strikes a solid balance between taste and texture.

Dragonfly organic super-firm tofu

_{£2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)
£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)}
★★★★☆

A uniform block with a sweet, neutral aroma, a soft bite and a creamy mouthfeel. Flavourful and pleasantly sweet, it’s perfectly crunchy and delicious when fried, with a consistent golden crust – perhaps the best overall for frying. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it’s been handmade in Devon since 1984 and holds a Taste of the West Gold award.

Tesco Plant Chef organic firm tofu

_{£1.95 for 399g at Tesco (49p/100g)}
★★★☆☆

A uniform, cream block with a sweet, clean smell and a gentle flavour. Its soft texture makes it satisfying to eat raw, though it doesn’t crisp up easily when fried, hence the lower score (instead, it develops a chewy, caramelised edge with a spongy interior). Made from organic, non-EU soya (34%), it’s a good source of protein and exceptional value for organic tofu.

Waitrose PlantLiving organic firm tofu

_{£1.95 for 300g at Waitrose (65p/100g)}
★★★☆☆

A gentle, savoury aroma and a soft bite with a slight sweetness. The texture is on the delicate side, especially when boiled, and it doesn’t fry especially well (pressing first will help). Made with 34% organic, non-EU-grown soya, it’s certified organic, but lacks firmness. Decent value, but there are more versatile options at a lower price point.

House Foods premium firm tofu

_{£3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)}
★★★☆☆

A white block with a soft bite, this has a sweet, subtle aroma and a clean soya taste. Despite being one of the softest in the test, it crisps up surprisingly well when fried, forming a light but satisfying crust. However, it’s the only non-organic product tested, and made with just 16% soya – far lower than the others. Limited provenance or sustainability information, so with such strong competition, it offers less value for money.

Biona organic plain tofu

_{£5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)
£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)}
★★★☆☆

An irregular, mottled, off-white block that looks hand-shaped, and that’s full of bubbles. One of the firmest to bite with a complex, soya-forward flavour. Fries very well, forming a great crust. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it’s the only product tested with a fully reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, a great company committed to organic farming, which earns it a bonus point.