Soaking yuba is a common cooking step, which can make yuba easier to taste and more tender by soaking. However, to achieve both fast and good results, in addition to the simple soaking process, some small skills and meticulous operations are required. Here's a guide on how to soak yuba quickly and effectively.
First of all, it is important to choose the best yuba. High-quality yuba usually dries evenly and has a natural color with no noticeable discoloration or odor. When buying, you can choose a slightly wider yuba, which is easier to absorb after soaking and has a fuller taste.
Secondly, before soaking the yuba, it is recommended to soak the yuba in warm water for a while. This helps to soften the surface layer and allows for smoother subsequent foaming. However, do not soak it for too long at one time, so as not to affect the taste of the yuba. 5 to 10 minutes or so is enough.
Next, choose to soak in warm or hot water. The choice of water temperature is directly related to the speed and effect of soaking. If you have enough time, you can choose warm water, and the longer the soaking time, the yuba will absorb more water and taste better. But if you want to do it quickly, you can choose slightly heated water, such as rinsing it slightly with a hot water tap, which will achieve the effect of soaking in a short time.
In addition, some seasonings such as salt, cooking wine, ginger slices, etc., can be added to the water to help inject some flavor into the yuba in advance. In this way, the soaked yuba is more likely to absorb the sauce during cooking, making it more delicious.
During the soaking process, stir the yuba at the right time to ensure that each piece of yuba can fully absorb the water. You can gently rub it with your hands to make the yuba absorb water more evenly. At the same time, the state of the yuba can be observed, and when it becomes soft, swollen, and can be easily torn apart, the soaking can be stopped.
Finally, drain the soaked yuba, and gently wring out the excess water by hand to make it easier to absorb the flavor. The soaked yuba can be used directly for cooking, or sliced, cut and other treatments as needed to prepare for different cooking needs.
In general, the key to soaking yuba lies in the reasonable combination of purchasing, soaking, water temperature and seasoning. Through clever operation, it is possible to achieve fast and excellent cooking results while maintaining the taste and nutrition of the ingredients.