Nasoya® Tofu

What is tofu?
Tofu, also known as soybean curd, is a soft, cheese-like food made by curdling fresh hot soymilk (water & soybeans) with a coagulant, such as calcium-sulfate, magnesium chloride, or glucono delta lactone (GDL).

How is tofu made?
It is similar to the process used for dairy cheese making. The soybeans are soaked overnight, finely ground and cooked in water. This "soymilk" is then filtered to remove all fiber. The curding agents Magnesium Chloride (nigari) and Calcium Sulfate are added. The curds are raked, drained and pressed into blocks and packaged for use.

What textures of Nasoya® tofu are available?
The different textures of tofu range from Extra Firm to Silken. These refer to the density of the tofu curd. The textures, identical in taste, are used for different types of prepared dishes.
Extra Firm – Ideal for stir-frying, broiling, hearty stews and casseroles.
Firm – Perfect for slicing, dicing and pan-frying.
Soft – Great for sauces, soups and salads
Silken –This is excellent for use in soups or blended into dressings, dips and creamy desserts. It is a delicate tofu with a custard-smooth consistency.

How is the Best Before Date printed on the front of the container?
First Line: Best Before 09/09/05 = September 9, 2005
Second Line: 08:25 12345 = Time: 8:25am, Consecutive # 12345

What is the shelf life of Nasoya® Tofu – opened and unopened packages?
Nasoya Tofu has a shelf life of 70 days from the date of manufacture, which is represented by the Best Before Date stamped on every package. If the package is unopened and refrigerated, the Nasoya Tofu will last until the Best Before Date. We do not recommend using tofu after the Best Before Date.

Once the package is opened, any leftover Nasoya Tofu should be transferred to an airtight container. The Nasoya Tofu should be submerged under fresh water, whereby the water is changed daily or every other day, and stored covered & refrigerated. Following this procedure, the Nasoya Tofu will last 3-5 days.

How do I know if the Nasoya® tofu has spoiled?
If the Nasoya Tofu has spoiled, there are generally definite signs. For an unopened package, the package may become bloated due to pressure building inside. After the package has been opened, if the water is cloudy or murky AND the Nasoya Tofu has a sour smell or taste, the tofu should not be consumed. Cloudy or murky water alone is not a sign of spoilage.

Can Nasoya® Tofu be frozen?
Yes, Nasoya Tofu can be frozen for up to 3 months if these directions are followed:
1. Remove the Nasoya Tofu from its container and drain in a colander.
2. Wrap the Nasoya Tofu securely, by itself, in several layers of plastic wrap, or place in an airtight container.
3. Place the Nasoya Tofu in the freezer.

Will freezing harm the Nasoya® Tofu or change it in anyway?
Freezing does not harm the Nasoya Tofu, but it will change the tofu's color and texture somewhat. Frozen tofu will become slightly darker in color and a little spongier which makes it excellent for grilling.

Is Nasoya® Tofu Kosher?
Yes, Nasoya Tofu is Circle K Kosher and Pareve.

What are some of the health benefits of using Nasoya® Tofu?
Nasoya Tofu, as well as many other soy products, are showing increasing promise in helping many medical conditions when used as part of a healthy diet. Through ongoing research, soy products that contain a significant amount of soy isoflavones, such as Nasoya Tofu, may be helpful in:
1. Lowering the risk of heart disease and cholesterol
2. Preventing many hormonally-based cancers such as breast and prostate
3. Lowering the risk of osteoporosis
4. Reducing the many side effects of menopause

Is Nasoya® Tofu a pasteurized product?
Yes, Nasoya Tofu is pasteurized to prevent spoilage from harmful microorganisms. Pasteurizing our products helps insure that our Nasoya Tofu will be safe and remain good until the Best Before Date.

Can I eat tofu raw?
Yes, our tofu is already cooked and pasteurized; you can eat it right out of the package.

How do you marinate tofu?
Slice or cube the tofu and marinade it for an hour, a few hours, or even overnight – depending on the recipe. It should be marinated in the refrigerator since tofu is a perishable product.

Is tofu a fermented product?
No. Fermentation involves the use of microorganisms in the processing. Tempeh and miso are examples of fermented soyfoods. Tofu is produced through a coagulation process, very similar to cheese making. Soymilk is made from soybeans, then coagulants are added and curds are formed. The curds are then pressed and the whey is drained out.

What is Calcium Sulfate?
Natural, unrefined calcium sulfate is a translucent, crystalline white stone found in the mountains. It is baked and crushed for use as a tofu coagulant or firming agent. It is a completely natural with no chemical processing or refining.

What is Magnesium Chloride?
Magnesium Chloride is derived from seawater during the salt making process. It is used as a tofu coagulant, or firming agent.

Is the salt in our tofu iodine free?
There is no salt used in our tofu, salt meaning sodium chloride. The sodium in the tofu is naturally occurring from the raw materials (beans & water). The magnesium chloride (nigari) is iodine free.

Why does the firm tofu have more calcium than the extra firm tofu?
Calcium sulfate, a coagulant, is used in the firm, soft and silken tofu, but not in the extra firm tofu. Magnesium chloride is used in the extra firm tofu, giving it the consistency that it has.

Is tofu a complete protein?
Yes, it is a complete protein and it has all eight essential amino acids. Our product has not been analyzed for specific contents of the eight amino acids, but using the newest protein evaluation method (protein digestibility corrected amino acid score) soy protein has the same score as egg white and milk protein.

How many isoflavones are in Nasoya® tofu?
Total Isoflavones Per Serving:
Silken: 23 mg.
Lite Silken /Enriched: 21 mg.
Soft:23 mg.
Firm: 25 mg.
Firm Lite/Enriched: 23 mg.
Extra Firm: 26 mg.
Garlic Onion: 23 mg.
Chinese Spice: 23 mg.

Does Nasoya® tofu contain any animal products or by-products?
Our NASOYA tofu does not contain any animal products or by-products. All of our ingredients are vegan and vegetarian.

How do the Nasoya® products meet the new organic regulations?
All NASOYA water pack tofu meets the 95% claim (excluding Lite tofu). All NASOYA tofu, including Lite tofu, use only 100% whole organic soybeans.

What does the heart with the soyleaf represent?
The soy leaf inside the heart represents compliance with the FDA soy health claim. This is a proprietary mark for only Vitasoy USA branded products. The Silken Tofu products do not carry this trademarked heart as the soy protein level does not meet the FDA guidelines for 6.25 grams.

Does Nasoya® tofu contain cholesterol?
No, cholesterol is only found in animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs.

Nasoya Pasta

Is Nasoya® pasta a fresh or a dried pasta?
Nasoya pastas are considered refrigerated pastas. They are found in the produce sections of many local supermarkets.

What type Nasoya® pastas are produced?
Nasoya pastas come in a wide range to meet just about everyone's cooking needs. Depending upon what the dish is, the choices of Nasoya pastas are:
Nasoya Large Square Wrappers – perfect for egg rolls, lasagnas, and crepes.
Nasoya Round Wraps – ideal for pot stickers, tortellini and simple desserts.
Nasoya Square Wraps – great for won tons, raviolis, and dumplings.
Nasoya Thin Cut Noodles – Asian style noodles, good for pan-fried dishes such as chow mein, soups, and linguini.

The Nasoya® pastas sound versatile enough to substitute for other pastas – is this possible?
Yes, Nasoya pastas can be substituted for other pastas. Use our Nasoya Large Square Wrappers in place of lasagna noodles when baking lasagna. Use our Nasoya Thin Cut Noodles instead of linguini. In a pinch, Nasoya Round Wraps can be baked as pastry shells for fruit tarts.

What is the shelf life of Nasyao® pastas - opened and unopened?
If the Nasoya pasta is unopened, it has 50-day shelf life from the date of manufacture. Once the package is opened, it is recommended that the Nasoya pastas be used in a one-meal preparation. If the Nasoya pasta cannot be used all at once, transfer any leftover Nasoya pasta to an airtight container and keep refrigerated. This will keep the Nasoya pasta good for 5-7 days.

Can I freeze the Nasoya® pastas instead of refrigerating them?
Yes, you can freeze the Nasoya pastas if you transfer them to an airtight container. This will keep the Nasoya pastas good for up to two months.

If I do not want to deep fry the Nasoya® Wrappers/Wraps, can I bake them?
If a person is looking for a more healthy way of cooking instead of deep frying, they can bake our Nasoya pastas. Follow these easy directions for alternative cooking:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray non-stick cooking spray on baking sheet. Spray the Nasoya wrappers/Wrap with non-stick cooking spray as well. OR brush sheet and wrappers lightly with oil. Place them on the baking sheet.
3. Bake for a half an hour or until golden brown.

Are Nasoya® pastas Gluten Free?
No, Nasoya pastas are not gluten-free, as we use wheat in our ingredients.

Are the Nasoya® pastas vegetarian?
As the Nasoya pastas contain egg whites, the line is considered vegetarian, but not vegan.

Are Nasoya® pastas considered Kosher?
Yes, Nasoya pasta is Circle K Kosher and Pareve.

Are preservatives used in the Nasoya® pastas?
No, we do not use preservatives in our Nasoya pastas.

How can the Nasoya® pasta be spoiled if the Best Before Date is still good?
As with many of our products, Nasoya pastas are perishable items. If the products have been abused, such as temperature abuse, then the products will begin a spoiling process, regardless of the Best Before Date still being current. Temperature regulation and proper storage is HIGHLY important in helping to maintain top quality, fresh products. Another reason for spoilage, including wrappers being stuck together, is too much moisture or condensation in the package. If there are no off flavors, and you can peel the wrappers apart, they are okay to use.

I opened my package of Nasoya® pasta today and there are white dots on the pasta. Does this mean that the product is spoiled?
In order to keep the pasta from sticking to the packaging and each other, cornstarch is dusted on and in between the Nasoya Pasta. If the white dots are uniformly white through the package, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about. If, however, there are dots of black and/or green, then the Nasoya pasta is spoiled.

What does the Best Before Date look like on the front of the package?
Best If Used Before: 07-14. This signifies July 14th, 2005. (Year is not printed.)

Nasoya Vegi-Dressings®

What flavors and sizes are Nasoya Vegi-Dressings® available in?
Nasoya Vegi-Dressings are available in an 11.5 fl. oz size (340ml).
·Available flavors are: Creamy Dill, Creamy Italian, Garden Herb, Sesame Garlic, Thousand Island

What do the Nasoya Vegi-Dressings® taste like?
Creamy Dill – a full-bodied dressing with just the right amount of dill weed that perks up pasta salad or creates a tantalized topping for any tossed salad.
Creamy Italian – a combination of red pepper bits, garlic and the right amount of Italian spices that makes this dressing perfect for vegetable dipping or salad topping.
Garden Herb – a delightful mixture of herbs and light mustard that adds a sweet and spicy zest to any salad.
Sesame Garlic – an exquisite sesame flavor that is unsurpassed! The secret is in the perfect blending of roasted sesame seeds, fresh garlic and toasted sesame oil.
Thousand Island – an ideal mixture of our deep, rich, tomato flavor and the subtle sweet taste of our specially blended relish, which makes this dressing the most popular choice for salads, and sandwich spreads.

Is the dill in the Creamy Dill fresh?
No, it is dehydrated.

What kind of salt is in the dressings?
Table salt.

Are our dressings lactose free?
Yes – no milk product…made with soymilk

Does our Dressings contain casein?
No

Are the Dressings gluten free?
Yes

Are the Dressings considered Kosher?
Yes, OU Kosher

Nasoya Nayonaise®

What varieties and sizes is Nasoya Nayonaise® available in?
Regular Nasoya Nayonaise® is available in three sizes: 14 fl. oz, 24 fl oz and 64 fl. oz.
Fat Free Nayonaise® is available in a 14 fl. oz size.

What are the uses of Nasoya Nayonaise®?
Use Nasoya Nayonaise right from the jar as a delicious alternative to other spreads and dressings in your favorite salad or sandwich, on vegetables, fish, baked potatoes and more. Also, Nasoya Nayonaise will add a special, wholesome richness to your favorite recipes.

What are the benefits of Nasoya Nayonaise® over regular mayonnaise?
Nasoya Nayonaise is a cholesterol free, non-dairy vegi-dressing and spread. It is made with organic soybeans and without eggs. It's all-natural and contains no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. Regular Nayonaise has 70% fewer calories than mayonnaise.

Can you freeze Nayonaise?
No, it comes apart when defrosting.

Are cane juice solids a product of cane sugar refinement?
Yes.

Why is the Nayonaise sometimes "watery"?
This is due to the separation of liquid from a gel which occassionaly happens when gums are used. This is similar to the separation seen in yogurt. It is still fine to use; just stir.

Is any ingredient derived from corn?
Distilled vinegar is derived from corn.

Is the natural flavor in the Fat Free Nayonaise® a processed extract?
Yes

Is the Nayonaise gluten free?
Yes

Is there any trans fat (trans fatty acid) in Nayonaise®?
No

Does our Nayonaise® contain casein?
No

How should Nayonaise® be stored?
Prior to opening, store it at room temperature. After the Nayonaise is opened it should be kept refrigerated.

How do you read the Expiration Date on the Nayonaise®?
Exp 051205 3 16:59 = Expires May 12th, 2005, Line 3, 4:5pm

Is our Nayonaise® lactose free?
Yes – no milk product…made with soymilk

Is Nayonaise® considered Kosher?
Yes, OU Kosher