Head-to-head comparison

Soybeans (mature, cooked) vs Tofu (firm): Which Has More Protein?

Both Soybeans (mature, cooked) and Tofu (firm) are common enough protein choices that they get compared directly all the time — here's what the actual numbers say.

Soybeans (mature, cooked)

18.2gprotein / 100g

173 cal · 9.0g fat · $ · Quality 0.85

Tofu (firm)

17.3gprotein / 100g

144 cal · 8.7g fat · $ · Quality 0.91

Per 100g, Soybeans (mature, cooked) comes in at 18.2g of protein against Tofu (firm)'s 17.3g, a 0.9g gap that's noticeable across a full day's eating but won't make or break either choice on its own.

Quality flips the other way, though: Tofu (firm) has the stronger amino acid profile (DIAAS-adjusted, complete plant protein) versus Soybeans (mature, cooked)'s DIAAS-adjusted, complete plant protein.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Verdict

These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Soybeans (mature, cooked) or Tofu (firm) works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gSoybeans (mature, cooked)Tofu (firm)
Protein18.2g17.3g
Calories173144
Fat9.0g8.7g
Carbs8.4g2.8g
Fiber6.0g2.3g
Quality score0.850.91
Relative cost$$
Prep time90 min15 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, soybeans (mature, cooked) or tofu (firm)?

Soybeans (mature, cooked) has 18.2g of protein per 100g compared to Tofu (firm)'s 17.3g.

Which is lower in calories?

Tofu (firm) is lower in calories per 100g, at 144 vs the other's 173.