Tofu has a long history of use and is rich in high-quality plant protein; however, its production process is relatively complicated. The tofu production process includes soybean pretreatment, soaking, grinding, boiling, pulping, pressing, and packing. Every step in this process has an impact on the soy protein and, ultimately, affects the quality of the tofu. Furthermore, soy protein gel is the basis for the formation of soy curd. This review summarizes the series of changes in the composition and structure of soy protein that occur during the processing of tofu (specifically, during the pressing, preservation, and packaging steps) and the effects of soybean varieties, storage conditions, soybean milk pretreatment, and coagulant types on the structure of soybean protein and the quality of tofu. Finally, we highlight the advantages and limitations of current research and provide directions for future research in tofu production. This review is aimed at providing a reference for research into and improvement of the production of tofu.

Tofu has captivated researchers’ attention due to its distinctive texture and enrichment in nutritional elements, predominantly soybean protein. Coagulants play a critical role in promoting coagulation during tofu production, directly influencing its texture, quality, and physicochemical characteristics. Currently, the impact of coagulant characteristics on coagulation, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. This review provides a summary of research progress on salt coagulants, acid coagulants, enzyme coagulants, novel coagulants, polysaccharide additives, and various coagulant formulations. The coagulation mechanisms of various coagulants are also discussed. Accordingly, this paper seeks to offer reliable theoretical guidance for the development of novel coagulants and the realization of fully automated tofu production.