When shopping, tofu is often easy to find and affordable, and has a delicious taste. However, if tofu has the following signs, no matter how cheap it is, you should not buy it.

Tofu is made from coagulated soy milk, is gluten-free and low in calories, and is a familiar dish in many Vietnamese families. You can eat tofu right away, fry it, stir-fry it, or process it into dishes such as tomato sauce, stuffed with meat, etc.

However, when choosing to buy tofu, you should be careful with poor quality products, as they can affect your health. Below are 4 signs to avoid when buying tofu, no matter how cheap it is.

Strange smell

Tofu is made from soybeans, so it often has a characteristic light aroma of beans. However, if the tofu has a strange smell or a sour smell, it is a sign that the tofu has been made for a long time or has been contaminated during storage. This type of tofu not only has an unpleasant taste but can also contain many bacteria and toxins, which are harmful to health when consumed.

Tofu is not soft

Tofu is mainly made from water, and when left for a long time, the amount of water in the tofu will gradually decrease. Therefore, when buying tofu, we should check the elasticity of the product.

Fresh tofu will have a high moisture content, and when pressed lightly, you will feel the elasticity. If you do not feel the elasticity, the tofu may have been left for a long time and lost its natural moisture.

Tofu color is too white

Tofu is produced by grinding soybeans, combining them with some additives and cooking. The main ingredient is soybeans, which are naturally light yellow in color due to the presence of some pigments and proteins. Therefore, tofu often has this color. However, to create a more attractive product appearance, many manufacturers add whitening agents or other chemicals during processing.

Although tofu that is too bright white looks appealing, its flavor and nutritional value will be significantly reduced. Even if eaten in large quantities, this product can be dangerous to your health.
Sticky surface

When buying tofu, you can check by gently touching the surface to see if it is sticky. Fresh tofu will have a soft, smooth surface, and will feel slightly elastic when pressed. If the surface feels slimy and sticky, it is a sign that the tofu has been left for a long time and is starting to spoil.

The cause of this phenomenon is due to bacteria growing and producing toxins, which can be dangerous to your health, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. In severe cases, it can cause food poisoning.