Patent ID: 8383182

Claim:
A method for removing excess moisture from blocks of tofu as commonly sold in grocery and health food stores, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container member, said container member comprising a base, a front wall, a back wall, and two opposed side walls to form a cavity, said cavity further comprising an upper rim, and a first predetermined surface area, wherein a pair of arm like projections are disposed above said upper rim, each of said projections being attached to one of said opposed side walls of said container member, each of said arm like projections pointing in opposed directions one from the other; (b) placing a block of tofu in said container member; (c) placing a first substantially flat plate member inside said container member on top of said block of tofu, said first substantially flat plate member having a second predetermined surface area which is less than said first predetermined surface area by an amount at least sufficient to allow moisture to flow to a surface above an upper surface of such tofu, said first substantially flat plate member having at least one raised portion on an upper surface thereof; (d) engaging a second substantially flat plate member having a handle member formed on an upper surface thereon and having a biasing member connected to an inner surface of said handle member with said pair of arm like projections that are disposed on upper surfaces and on opposite sides of said container member; (e) caging said biasing member between said upper surface of said first substantially flat plate member and an inner surface of said handle member when said second substantially flat plate member is engaged with said pair of arm like projections; (f) applying pressure on said block of tofu by said first substantially flat plate member, said first substantially flat plate member being forced downward by said biasing member; (g) removing said excess moisture from said block of tofu; (h) storing said apparatus in a refrigerator while said excess moisture is being removed from said tofu; (i) collecting said excess moisture removed from said tofu above said first substantially flat plate member; (j) pouring off said said excess moisture collected above said first substantially flat plate member; and (k) returning said container member with tofu therein, with excess moisture removed, to a refrigerated area until ready for use.