Why is tofu so popular compared to tempeh?
The preference of tofu over tempeh is purely subjective. However, in the US many do not enjoy tofu (aside from perhaps breaded/fried) but do enjoy tempeh. In fact, many people have never heard of or tried tempeh.
Is there a reason tofu is ubiquitous and tempeh is still uncommon?
Note: This was observed in the US. Perhaps this difference is strictly regional.
Best Answer
One possible reason is that Tempeh is uniquely from Indonesia, which is much less of a culinary influence on the US than China, Japan, and Korea - all of which use tofu in traditional dishes. There were an estimated 95,000 Indonesian immigrants in 2010, where Eastern Asian immigrants was over 3.9 million in 2014.
sources:
Pictures about "Why is tofu so popular compared to tempeh?"
Why is tofu more popular than tempeh?
Tempeh and tofu are both nutritious. Tempeh provides more protein, fiber, iron, and potassium per serving, while tofu contains more calcium and is lower in calories....Nutritional profiles.TempehTofuCarbs10 grams2 gramsFiber7 grams2 gramsFat5 grams5 gramsCalcium6% of the Daily Value (DV)15% of the DV6 more rows•Nov 21, 2019Which is better for you tempeh or tofu?
While you can't go wrong with either plant-based protein, tempeh is generally considered to be the healthier option due to its rich nutrient profile. It contains more protein, fiber, and vitamins than tofu. Tempeh is also fermented, and fermented foods are easier to digest and provide healthy gut bacteria.Why is tofu so popular?
One reason tofu is popular among so many cuisines is because it can be used in so many ways: stir-fried, deep-fried, pureed, steamed, baked, crumbled and marinated.Is tempeh more expensive than tofu?
An 8-ounce package of tempeh will ring up at around $3.50 at your local Target, whereas blocks of tofu -- depending on their type -- can cost as low as $1.50 for a pre-portioned cube. Seitan is probably the most expensive of the three, but even so it's not necessarily more expensive than purchasing meat products.Tofu vs Tempeh / The 3 Things You Need To Know
More answers regarding why is tofu so popular compared to tempeh?
Answer 2
Tofu is available in a range of textures and has only a subtle taste of its own, making it versatile. Tempeh brings a strong taste (which tends to have ammonia-like notes similar to camembert cheese) and texture that can interfere with many culinary uses.
Answer 3
It may be related to the shelf life of the product. Tempeh has a very short shelf life, just a few days. It can be stored at room temperature for 2 days (say) or 4 days in a refrigerator. The flavours and physical appearance is less good after that. On the other hand Tofu (its called Tahu here in Indonesia) keeps well. In a plastic container with or without its liquid kept well in the refrigerator it will stay good for seven days with no change in flavour.
Answer 4
Appearently, Tempeh cultures (Rhizopus Oligosporus and Rhizopus Oryzae) are dangerous...
After handling raw Tempeh you should wash your hands and all surfaces, cutting boards, knives and utensils with soap and hot water. Tempeh manufacturers that sell raw Tempeh must inform their clients about above safety measures, for example by mentioning it on the label.
-https://www.tempeh.info/faq/faq.php
...and most manufacturers don't want to be involved in "damages lawsuit".
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ella Olsson, Ella Olsson, Pixabay, Valeria Boltneva