Purine content of Tofu
across 9 measured preparations · median 68 mg · spans low to very high
Across the 9 tofu measurements in this database, purine content runs from 21.9 to 292.3 mg per 100 g, with a median of 68 mg — a fairly low-purine food.
On this page (4)
Why the numbers vary
The soy foods and legumes measured here run from 45.9 mg to 192.4 mg per 100 g, so the category is a poor guide on its own — which specific food, and prepared how, decides almost everything.
Preparation matters more than the food's name. Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu) measures 292.3 mg, while Tofu, boiled 3 minutes measures 21.9 mg — a difference of 13.3 times. Drying and grilling remove water and concentrate what is left; boiling can move purines into water that is then poured away.
Every form of tofu measured (9)
Highest first, each with the preparation that was measured.
| Food as measured | Per 100 g | Level | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu) | 292.3 mg | Very high | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Tofu burger | 102.6 mg | Fairly high | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Tofu (nigari) | 100 mg | Fairly high | NHC 2024 |
| Dried tofu (soft) | 94 mg | Fairly high | NHC 2024 |
| Water tofu (firm) | 68 mg | Fairly low | NHC 2024 |
| Tofu, deep-fried | 54.4 mg | Fairly low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Tofu, boiled 5 minutes | 35.8 mg | Fairly low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Tofu, raw (nigari) | 31.1 mg | Fairly low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
| Tofu, boiled 3 minutes | 21.9 mg | Low | ODS-NIH 2.0 |
Questions about tofu and purines
Is tofu high in purines?
Median 68 mg per 100 g, tofu falls in the fairly low band (30–75 mg per 100 g) on the six-level scale used across this site. Individual measurements range from 21.9 to 292.3 mg.
How many purines are in a serving of tofu?
It depends entirely which preparation. Compared at the same 150 g: about 33 mg for tofu, boiled 3 minutes, about 438 mg for tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu). That upper figure is a like-for-like comparison rather than a serving — dried and concentrated foods are normally used by the spoonful, so their per-100 g value is the fairer read. The table on this page lists both for every preparation measured.
Does cooking change the purine content of tofu?
Substantially. In this database Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu) measures 292.3 mg while Tofu, boiled 3 minutes measures 21.9 mg per 100 g. Drying and grilling concentrate purines by removing water; boiling can leach some into the cooking liquid.
Where does this tofu purine value come from?
USDA and ODS-NIH Database for the Purine Content of Foods, Release 2.0 (2025) and Dietary Guideline for Adults with Hyperuricaemia and Gout (2024 Edition). Values are total purines in milligrams per 100 g of the food as described, and nothing is estimated or averaged across sources.
How does tofu compare with other soy foods and legumes?
The median for soy foods and legumes in this database is 67.7 mg per 100 g, with a range of 45.9 to 192.4 mg. Tofu is above that median.
Source
- USDA and ODS-NIH Database for the Purine Content of Foods, Release 2.0 (2025) — Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Dietary Guideline for Adults with Hyperuricaemia and Gout (2024 Edition) — National Health Commission of China, appendix 1. Issued February 2024.
Reference information only. Purine values describe foods, not people: they cannot tell you what is safe for you to eat, and nothing here diagnoses or treats gout. Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your own diet and medication.