Where is tofu in the grocery store? Most grocery store chains carry tofu, which can be nine times out of ten in the Produce Department. Tofu, oftentimes referred to as “bean curd” in some countries, is a protein-rich ingredient utilized in cuisines across Asia.
Unfortunately, not all supermarket chains in the United States carry tofu. It really depends on the Asian population, as it is more commonly utilized in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines. Learn more about tofu, its location in grocery stores, and other important facts by reading the content provided in the article below.
Where Is Tofu In The Grocery Store?
When there is little time to locate tofu in your local grocery store, what should be the first thing to consider? The first factor to consider is what is tofu. As mentioned above, tofu is a low-calorie, protein-rich, soybean-based ingredient for Asian recipes. Manufacturers utilize soya milk to make their tofu because it is a healthier dairy alternative. Soya is a legume cultivated by farmers across the globe.
Now, you know what tofu is, it is time to focus on the second factor, which is its uses. What is tofu utilized for? This is a great question as it can help you locate tofu in your local supermarket. Tofu is utilized in Oriental recipes to replace sour cream, meat, and cream cheese.
As a plant-based alternative to meat and dairy, tofu is always kept in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. In most cases, the refrigerated section is located in the Produce Department. Along with tofu, you will find a decent selection of other plant-based protein products, such as the following:
- Basil vegetable dumpling
- Vegan egg roll wrap
- Plant-based Italian sausage
- Vegan hot dogs
- Vegenaise mayonnaise substitute
- Veggie burgers
- Meatless chicken patty
- Soyrizo
- Mozzarella cheese alternative
- Veggie ham
- Vegan won ton wraps
- Organic tempeh
- Egg roll wrap
- Plant-based Dino nuggets
Most American grocery store chains keep their plant-based products in their Produce Department.
Most Popular Tofu Brands
There are various brands of tofu, which are available in various textures, including soft, firm, medium- and extra-firm. The texture most depends on the chef’s preferences and recipe needs.
Some Chinese cuisine recipes may call for an extra-firm texture of tofu while others recommend a firm or soft texture.
The most popular brands of tofu products include the following:
- Pulmuone
- Wildwood
- Sunrise
- Hodo
- O Organics
- 365 Organic
- Sprouts
- Wo Chong
- House Foods
- AFC
- Golden Gate
- Nasoya
Some brands tend to offer a variety of tofu textures. So, consumers can stick with their favorite tofu brand, regardless of their texture needs.
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Natural food Section
While the first place to look for tofu would be the Produce Department, some mom-and-pop stores, convenience stores, delicatessens, health food stores, warehouse clubs, and neighborhood stores may opt for a different location.
This may be a bit inconvenience for consumers who are accustomed to finding tofu in the Produce Department, sometimes it is necessary. Larger grocery stores have more space to play with as compared to a small mom-and-pop or neighborhood store.
When you check the Produce Department to find there is no tofu available, it is recommended to head to the Natural Food Aisle. Some tofu brands do not require refrigeration. Since there is no need to store these tofu products in a refrigerated section, the grocery store may opt for the Natural Food Department instead.
Again, this may be a bit inconvenient for some consumers, but necessary for the grocery store. As long as you have an idea of where to start your search, it should not be too difficult to find what you are looking for in a timely manner.
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How To Find Tofu In a Land-Based Grocery Store?
The quickest and easiest way to locate tofu in your local supermarket is by conducting an online search. Utilize the supermarket’s official website for the search. Most US grocery store chains break their selection of products into departments. Since tofu is generally located in the Produce Department, this is where your search should start.
When you click on the Produce Department feature, a list of available plant-based products will appear on the screen. If tofu appears on the screen, you are guaranteed to find it in the Produce Department of the grocery store. If it does not appear on the screen, you will need to search another department like the Natural Food Department.
Do All US Grocery Store Chains Sell Tofu?
Most grocery store chains operating in the United States carry a decent selection of tofu products. A few examples are listed below:
- Walmart Supercenter
- Shaw’s
- Smith’s
- QFC
- E.B.
- Publix
- Winn Dixie
- Hannaford
- Hy-Vee
- Piggly Wiggly
- Fred Meyer
- Food Lion
- Wegman’s
- Harris Teeter
- Food City
- Whole Foods
- Trader Joe’s
- Meijer
- Albertsons
- Vons
- Giant Foot
- Costco
- Sam’s Club
- Kroger
- The Fresh Market
Aldi’s and Save A Lot may not sell tofu. Many of the largest American supermarket chains have hundreds of locations. Not all stores will carry tofu for a variety of reasons, such as low demand. If there is no demand for tofu in a small community, the grocery store may opt to not stock it in-store.
Do US Pharmacy Chains Sell Tofu?
No, like small mom-and-pop and grocery stores, pharmacies have limited space for produce. Pharmacies carry a decent selection of dairy products, beverages, and other grocery items, but no tofu. Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS are just a few examples.
Check The Asian Food Section
Some grocery stores like Kroger, Food City, and Publix have sections specifically set up for their Asian customers. This is where you may find tofu.
The Asian Food Section offers a decent selection of egg rolls, noodle bowls, seaweed snacks, won ton soup, fried rice, teriyaki sauce, Asian salad dressing, shrimp paste, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and Chinese five-spice.
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Tofu Health Benefits
If you ask some people what tofu tastes like they will say tasteless. Others will disagree, swearing it has a mildly sweet and nutty flavor. Some chefs are not interested in changing the natural flavors of their recipes. Tofu is a healthier plant-based alternative to heavy cream, turkey, ham, chicken, beef, cheese, and egg.
One of the key nutrients in tofu is protein. Every 100 grams of tofu has approximately 8.1 grams of protein. What is protein? As a macronutrient, protein plays a major role in healthy muscle mass, bones, hair, skin, and nails.
Every 100 grams of tofu also contains approximately 4.2 grams of fat. While it is crucial for humans to monitor their fat intake, removing all fat from the diet is not recommended. The medical community recommends between 44 and 77 grams of fat in the daily 2,000-calorie diet.
Fat is key to healthy cell growth, cholesterol maintenance, vitamin absorption, body temperature regulation, a healthy immune system, and lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Every 100 grams of tofu consists of approximately 0.5 grams of saturated fat, which plays a role in cholesterol maintenance, insulin resistance prevention, and lowering heart disease risks.
Is Tofu A Safe And Healthy Dairy Alternative For Everyone?
No, tofu is not recommended for everyone. People who have a history of soya allergies should not transition from dairy foods to tofu. The severity of soy allergies varies from one individual to another. Some people experience severe allergic reactions after ingesting a minute amount of soy.
Others experience mild to moderate soy allergic reactions, with varying symptoms. Soy allergy symptoms vary from person to person:
- Tingling sensation in the mouth
- Skin hives similar to eczema
- Edematous (swelling) of the lips and face (more severe reactions include throat and tongue swelling)
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Runny nose
- Abdominal pain, with or without diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- Flushing of the skin
Tofu is also not recommended for people with a history of an underactive thyroid “hypothyroidism” or overactive thyroid “hyperthyroidism.” Soya derives from the soya plant. More specifically, the bean pods of the soya plant.
Soya bean pods consist of goitrogen compounds, which have been shown to alter the function of the thyroid gland in live chickens. Goitrogen compounds found in soy-based baby formula are believed to increase the risk of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities “IDD” in babies. Speak with your primary care physician before switching from dairy to tofu if you have a thyroid condition.
Tofu has also been linked to calcium oxalate kidney stones. People who have been diagnosed with calcium oxalate kidney stones should not utilize tofu in their recipes.
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