Tofu making apparatus

An apparatus for extracting soybean milk from soybean go, utilizing a pot, the pot having a bottom and cylindrical side walls, comprising:

• a filter insertable into and removable from the pot, said filter having a smaller diameter than the pot to form an annular gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of the pot when said filter is inserted into the pot, said filter for receiving the soybean go;
• a circular pressing member received and movable within said filter;
• an elastomeric seal held between said filter and said pressing member;
• and
• press means for moving said pressing member downwardly in said filter, whereby soy milk is forced through said filter into said annular gap.

An apparatus for making tofu, comprising:

• a pot having side walls;
• a filter insertable into and removable from said pot, said filter having sides with a dimension smaller than an inner dimension of said pot to form a gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of said pot when said filter is inserted into said pot;
• a pressing member insertable into, removable from and movable within said filter;
• a form insertable into, removable from and movable within said pot, said form extending between and conforming to the side walls of said pot, said form having openings therein to allow the escape of soybean whey;
• and
• press means for, alternatively, moving said pressing member downwardly through said filter, or moving said form downwardly within said pot.

An apparatus for making tofu from a mixture of soybean curds and whey, comprising:

• side walls forming an enclosure;
• a flat, rigid base extending between and conforming to said side walls of said enclosure, said base being separate and removable from the side walls of said enclosure;
• a form insertable into, removable from and movable within said enclosure, said form extending between and conforming to said side walls, and said form being parallel to said base, said side walls, base and form defining a volume within which the mixture of soybean curds and whey are received;
• press means for moving said form towards said base;
• and
• outlet means in one or more of said side walls, base or form for allowing the escape of soybean whey when said form is moved towards said base.

An apparatus for making tofu, comprising:

• a pot having cylindrical side walls for cooking soy milk, curdling soybean curds, and for settling soybean curds;
• a circular base insertable into and removable from said pot, said base having a diameter substantially the same as but smaller than said pot;
• a cylindrical filter insertable into and removable from said pot, said filter having sides with a diameter smaller than the pot to form an annular gap between the sides of said filter and the side walls of said pot when said filter is inserted into said pot;
• a funnel, said funnel having a small end attached to the top of said filter and a large end having a diameter substantially the same as said pot;
• a circular disk insertable into, removable from and movable within said filter, said disk having openings therein to allow soy milk to pass therethrough;
• an elastomeric seal molded to a circumferential edge of said disk for sealing between said disk and the sides of said filter;
• a form insertable into and removable from the pot, said form having a diameter substantially the same as but smaller than said pot;
• a frame attached to said base, said frame having a pair of spaced apart uprights extending upwardly from said base;
• a bridge attachable to and removable from said frame, said bridge bridging the span between said uprights;
• a press plate engagable, alternatively, with either said disk or said form;
• and
• a screw means held by said bridge and engaging said press plate, said screw means including a handle, whereby rotation of said handle causes said screw means to extend downwardly for, alternatively, moving said disk downwardly through said filter or moving said form downwardly towards said base.

An apparatus for making tofu from a mixture of soybean curds and whey, comprising:

• a pot having side walls and a bottom;
• a base insertable into said pot when the same contains hot soybean milk, said base having a dimension smaller than said side walls whereby a turbulence in the soy milk is caused when the base is inserted into said pot;
• and
• a rod held to said base to facilitate insertion of said base into said pot.