Air fry tofu

If you quickly wheel your cart past plant proteins in the grocery store because you have no clue what to do with them, it's high time you circled back—and learned how to cook tofu, one of the best meat-free options imaginable.

Versatile, inexpensive, and often overlooked, tofu is essential in so many recipes. It can be used across various cuisines as a meat substitute or to add extra protein and flavor. Made from soybean curd, tofu is a daily food across Asia.

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If you're not using tofu regularly, you're missing out—and we're here to change that with tips and advice from a plant-based cookbook author.

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Before You Cook

Here's what to keep in mind when shopping—and how to prep tofu before it hits the heat.

Types of Tofu

Stateside, tofu is typically sold in blocks of varying texture—silken, soft, medium, firm, and extra firm. Certain types are preferable for different recipes. "I rotate my type of tofu," says Maggie Zhu, author of Chinese Homestyl