it may not seem important now and some tofluencers’ recipes may say you don’t need to do this, but press your tofu!
If you have to, sandwich it between plates and put a heavy pot full of water or a stack of books on top for at least 15 minutes (though more time only helps, albeit with diminishing returns).
More water you squeeze out in the pressing stage => more room for flavors to soak into the tofu when marinading/cooking/resting and also less water to sog/stop the crisping when you cook it
ALSO
it may not seem important now and some tofluencers’ recipes may say you don’t need to do this, but press your tofu! If you have to, sandwich it between plates and put a heavy pot full of water or a stack of books on top for at least 15 minutes (though more time only helps, albeit with diminishing returns).
More water you squeeze out in the pressing stage => more room for flavors to soak into the tofu when marinading/cooking/resting and also less water to sog/stop the crisping when you cook it