From veganfoodandliving.com
By Holly Johnson, Helen Greaves, Rachel Smith
From simple tofu to tasty tempeh bites, these are the best tofu and tempeh products to buy in UK stores now
When building a healthy, balanced vegan diet, whole-food plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh are among the best products to include. Packed with complete protein, essential minerals, and minimal processing, these soy staples offer endless versatility in the kitchen.
Tofu is a particularly versatile ingredient, able to soak up the flavours of everything from sweet and sticky stir fries to fiery curry dishes. It’s smooth enough to be blended into a sauce while firm enough to be fried until golden and crispy, and can even be used in sweet vegan tofu dessert recipes.
Meanwhile, gut health-friendly fermented tempeh offers a firm bite and earthy flavour, adding a meat-free meaty chew to a range of vegan tempeh recipes, from chunky tempeh scramble to smoky tempeh burgers.
With dozens of tofu and tempeh products available in UK supermarkets, finding the right one for your meal can feel overwhelming. To help you decide, we’ve picked out the best store-bought tofu and tempeh brands and put them to the test. Here’s what the Vegan Food & Living team thought:
1. Clearspring Organic Japanese Silken Tofu – Best for versatility
RRP: £1.80 | clearspring.co.uk | Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Ocado
Overall score: 5/5
Silken tofu is one of the most versatile ingredients in a vegan kitchen, and Clearspring’s Organic Japanese Silken Tofu shows you exactly why. Made from just three ingredients, water, organic soya beans and nigari, it has a clean flavour and a wonderfully smooth texture that lends itself to a wide variety of dishes. I recently used it to create a creamy pasta sauce and was genuinely impressed by the results.
One of the biggest strengths of this product is its adaptability. It can be used in pasta sauces, soups, dips, dressings and spreads, yet works just as well in sweet recipes such as cheesecakes, mousses and puddings. Its mild flavour means it readily takes on the character of whatever ingredients you pair it with, making it an excellent foundation for creative cooking.
Nutritionally, it offers 6.5 grams of protein per 100 grams while remaining low in fat and calories, with just 61 calories per 100 grams. It is also a source of magnesium, making it a useful addition to a balanced plant-based diet.
Tester: Debra Butler
2. Better Nature Original Tempeh – Best for high-protein dinners
RRP: £2.75 | betternaturetempeh.co | Available at Tesco, Asda, and Ocado
Overall score: 5/5
Tempeh seems to be an acquired taste for some, but I would argue that you just need to know how to cook it! More than just a high protein meat alternative, tempeh is core to many of my meals, including tacos, bolognese, ‘’bacon’ sandwiches and curries.
Better Nature tempeh is one of my favourites. It has a lovely, firm bite which is often missing from vegan meals and it slices and crumbles well. I like to air fry it for a short time to crisp it up slightly, marinated first in whatever sauce or spices match my meal choice. What’s more, it’s made with just three ingredients and has a very low-carbon rating.
With 44 grams of protein per pack, this is a staple in my household for keeping teenagers full for longer and myself feeling satiated and ready to tackle a full-on day. A fridge essential!
Tester: Holly Johnson
3. Cauldron Authentic Tofu – Best for creamy sauces & scramble
RRP: £2.90| cauldronfoods.co.uk | Available at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose
Overall score: 4/5
Another staple in my fridge, Cauldron Authentic Tofu is my go-to for tofu scramble. Because it’s packed in water, it’s super soft and mashes easily. It’s also light and airy, meaning it absorbs marinade well. I simply add turmeric, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, salt and pepper to create a high-protein, tasty breakfast.
This would also work well blended into a thick, creamy sauce for pasta or added to a noodle ramen dish just before serving. However, because of its high water content, this product isn’t ideal for chopping and slicing, if you wanted to use it in a curry or sandwich, for example. You can, of course, press it, but I find that even after doing so it’s still very soft and spongy.
Still, a brilliant, affordable tofu option that’s readily available in most major supermarkets.
Tester: Holly Johnson
4. Tofoo & Co Extra Firm Teriyaki Tofu – Best for cooking in a hurry
RRP: £2.85 | tofoo.co.uk| Available at Sainsbury’s
Overall score: 4/5
Stir-frying tofu over a hot hob in an epic heatwave was not my idea of fun, but definitely worth it for the delicious umami flavours of teriyaki tofu. The Tofoo Co, recently rebranded to Tofoo & Co, is arguably one of the market leaders in the tofu category, and it’s easy to see why. This tofu stays firm and doesn’t crumble when you chop it, and crisps up beautifully in a wok, air fryer or frying pan.
The teriyaki marinade was wonderfully strong and flavourful (sometimes pre-marinated tofu needs a little more kick, but this was just right). I especially liked that the packaging recommended reserving the excess liquid and using it in the finished dish. I made a very simple peanut butter and soy sauce noodle dish – you don’t need to add much more flavour when the marinade is so good.
This is yet another great product from the Tofoo & Co range.
Tester: Jenny Davies
5. Tiba Tempeh Protein Bites – Best for snacking on the go
RRP: £1.50 | tibatempeh.com | Available at Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado
Overall score: 4/5
How brilliant to finally have a handy, healthy, high-fibre, protein-packed alternative to crisps when you fancy a savoury snack!
These small bags are super satisfying and actually hit the spot when you need something to munch on as a stopgap between meals or as a pre-or post-workout boost. The flavour is mild and gently seasoned, and reminiscent of sausages with its soft texture.
I would love to see more flavours in the range, or for the flavour profile to be dialled up more to make them even more munchable, as some people may find the flavour a little bland. But the pack size is great (one bag gives you a whopping 12 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fibre!) while being low in fat.
A fantastic new option to keep in your cupboard for when hunger strikes.
Tester: Rachel Smith
6. THIS Extra Firm Mushroom Tofu (with Spinach & 4 Seed Mix) – Best for something different
RRP: £3 | this.co | Available at Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s
Overall score: 4.5/5
If you’re not a fan of mushrooms, move along. This was not the subtly mushroom-based tofu product I was expecting. As soon as I opened the packet, I was hit with a pungent, earthy smell, but luckily, as a fan of funghi, this smelled amazing to me, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.
Raw, it looks a little like grey meatloaf, but it holds firm when sliced and contains chunky morsels of chopped mushroom to help keep the texture moist and interesting. Pan-frying the mushroom tofu makes it look much more appetising, with a golden, crispy edge to each piece.
I was pleased to find that it wasn’t soggy or mushy like some ‘plant loaf’-style proteins can be. This is firm, meaty and chewy, with a good umami flavour that’s not bland when eaten alone, but neutral enough to be used in a variety of recipes. I can also confirm that the taste and texture are still great if you let the pan-fried tofu go cold.
Overall, it’s a delightful surprise to find a genuinely delicious new meat alternative.
Tester: Helen Greaves
How we test our products:
The Vegan Food & Living team sample offerings from various brands – both new launches and established products – rating them on visual appeal, taste, texture, packaging and health credentials. The overall rating awarded is based on all of these factors.
Make the most of your newfound favourites with these delicious vegan tofu recipes
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/products/best-vegan-tofu-tempeh-products-test/
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