Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (2024)

by Monica - 12 Comments

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Soy Curls are a minimally processed dehydrated soy protein made by Butler Foods. Soy curls simply need to be rehydrated and then cooked with any seasoning that you choose to make a delicious plant-based gluten-free meat alternative.

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (1)

I discovered Butler Soy Curls at my local natural foods store about 6 years ago. When I bought my first bag, I wasn't really sure what to do with it. I rehydrated them in some vegan chicken-style broth and then saute them in with a stir-fry. My whole family went crazy over them and we've been hooked ever since. I now use them in soups, sandwiches, wraps, and stir-fries. You can use them to replace chicken, beef, pork, or any type of meat.

Jump to:
  • Where can I buy soy curls?
  • What are soy curls?
  • What is the difference between soy curls and tofu?
  • Soy curls vs TVP
  • What are soy curls good for?
  • Pro Tips
  • How to store soy curls
  • How long do soy curls last?
  • How to rehydrate soy curls
  • Soy curls recipes

Where can I buy soy curls?

You can find soy curls at some small local natural-food co-ops, but the easiest way to buy soy curls is directly from Butler Foods own website or on Amazon. Typically the more that you buy, the better the price, so don't be shy about a case. They are shelf-stable for months and you will find a ton of delicious recipes for them.

What are soy curls?

Soy curls are a meat alternative made from whole soybeans. Similar to TVP, soy curls are dehydrated and absorb the flavor of the broth that you rehydrate them in. Simply rehydrate them in some hot water or broth, and then use them as you would meat strips in any recipe.

  • Gluten-free
  • Made from non-GMO whole soy
  • High in protein.
  • A good source of fiber.
  • Great for vegan camping and backpacking food.

What is the difference between soy curls and tofu?

Soy curls and tofu are both made from soy, however, soy curls have been dehydrated into long strips. Soy curls need to be rehydrated before being cooked. Therefore soy curls can absorb more flavor than marinated tofu. Soy curls also have a more meat-like texture and hold up better than tofu in stir-fries and soups.

Soy curls vs TVP

Both Butler soy curls and TVP are made from dehydrated soy protein. Soy curls are made from whole soybeans whereas TVP is usually made from defatted soy flour. This means that soy curls are less processed than TVP.

What are soy curls good for?

Soy curls are a great meat substitute in just about any recipe that calls for sliced or diced meat. Since the soy curls take on the flavor of any broth that you rehydrate them in, they can taste like chicken, beef, or ham. They are also a great meat alternative for soups, like vegan chicken noodle soup, since you can just toss them in and they will absorb the flavor of the broth.

Soy curls are a great shelf-stable plant-based protein that is perfect for camping and backpacking, especially when made into soy curl jerky.

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (2)

Pro Tips

  • I like to separate my soy curls into size categories. I use the longest soy curls for vegan popcorn chicken, vegan jerky, and fajitas. The medium size soy curls are perfect for tossing into soups like vegan orzo soup, vegan cream of chicken, or vegan green chile stew.
  • There are always small pieces at the bottom of the bags that are great for making homemade bacon bits or vegan meatballs.
  • Remember, soy curls will double in size when rehydrated.

How to store soy curls

Unopened packages of Butler Soy Curls will keep well in your fridge, freezer, or pantry for up to 6 months as long as they stay sealed. Once the package has been opened, you need to store the soy curls in an air-tight container or they will absorb the moisture in the air.

The Butler company suggests keeping them in the fridge or freezer for the best flavor, but I only do this before I open a bag since opened bags will absorb flavors of other foods nearby.

You can buy a large box of 12 pounds of soy curls for a great price. I have done this many times since we go through so many. If you do this, be sure to divide this box into smaller glass containers that are sealed tightly with a lid and stored in a cool dry place. The soy curls tend to absorb a weird flavor if kept in plastic too long, so I prefer glass storage containers.

How long do soy curls last?

Once rehydrated and cooked, you will need to store the soy curls in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to rehydrate soy curls

There are 2 methods that you can use to rehydrate the soy curls. You can soak them in hot water then squeeze them to get as much water out as possible and then sprinkle them with any seasoning of choice. Or you can use the second method of simply rehydrating them in a seasoned broth and then cooking them.

Soy curls recipes

Here are some of my vegan family's favorite ways to use soy curls...

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (3)

Soy Curls Beef Jerky

Vegan Popcorn Chicken

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (4)
Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (5)

Vegan Chicken Pot Pie in a Slow Cooker

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (7)

Soy Curls Fajitas

Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (8)
Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (9)

BBQ Soy Curls Sandwich

Vegetarian Pozole

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (10)
Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (11)

Vegan Chicken a la King

Homemade Vegan Bacon Bits

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (12)
Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (13)

Vegan Orzo "Chicken" Soup with Spinach and Lemon

Vegan Green Chile "Chicken" Stew

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (14)

📌 Be sure tofollow me on Pinterestfor new vegan recipes!

5 from 2 votes

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (15)

Print Recipe

How to Make Soy Curls

How to rehydrate Butler Soy Curls

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: butler soy curls, rehydrating soy curls

Servings: 4

Calories: 84kcal

Author: Monica Davis

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Boil broth (or hot water) then turn off the heat and add the soy curls.

  • Stir it well, then cover and let it sit for 5 minutes to soak up the flavor and rehydreate.

  • Use as you would chicken strips in any recipe. They are great sauteed in a little cooking oil.

Notes

Use a 1:1 ratio of liquid to Soy Curls to rehydrate it.

Change the flavor of the broth to change the flavor of the faux meat.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 3mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (16)Don Urias says

    Awesome recipes thank you I tried about five those recipes before I read your article and they are awesome and hopefully curls are addicting I even for everything last night and make chicken salad for wraps oh it was good

    Reply

    • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (17)Monica says

      I'm so happy that you like the recipes! We eat a ton of soy curls in my house! There are just so many things that you can make with them! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (18)Val Scout says

    This was very comprehensive and useful. I am thinking of using these for my backcountry hiking trip. Do you know if, once rehydrated, they must be cooked further? ie is that a requirement or a matter of taste. On our trips we try to minimize fuel needed for cooking, so opt for meals which can be prepared by soaking / rehydrating. Would that be enough for soy curls or do they require additional “cooking”. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (19)Monica says

      You only need to rehydrate them, no need for further cooking. They are perfect for backpacking. You can also make my vegan jerky with them which is a great option for backpacking. Here is that recipe... https://thehiddenveggies.com/vegan-jerky-easy-gluten-free/

      Reply

      • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (20)Val Scout says

        Thanks 😊

        Reply

  3. Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (21)Kat says

    Not sure if you'll know the answer to this but I'll ask anyway just in case. One store near me just got in something similar to this, but a different brand. They do not specify gluten free (which I need) and I've read that soy is notorious for cross contamination with gluten. I have no experience with this type of product, yet, and was wondering if you had any experience with other brands of this type of product and any idea if it is normal for them to use gluten safe soy? Or should I just avoid them since they don't say?
    Sorry if stupid question. With so many food allergies navigating food is frustrating! Even supposedly "whole" foods can be contaminated. (argh!)
    Appreciate you sharing your experiences.

    Reply

    • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (22)Klaudia says

      If it has risk of cross contamination, it’s usually because they make it or pack it in a factory which also handles gluten. Because gluten is one of the most common allergens, you should ALWAYS be able to find info on a package. Usually it’s labelled as “allergy information” or similar. There are 2 options: it will say “may contain: gluten” which means that the product itself doesn’t contain gluten, but it is handled in a factory which does. It might also say “contains: gluten”, which is pretty straightforward. You need to check the specific product you have on hand because it’s impossible to predict whether the brand you chose uses a factory which also handles gluten. There are tons of products which aren’t labelled exclusively as “gluten free” but they still might be gluten free - you just have to check ingredients.

      Reply

      • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (23)Kat says

        Um, thanks, but this doesn't really answer my question. I always read every package very carefully, small print and all. It may be normal where you are for gluten to always be listed, but it isn't here. I read the ingredients and the rest of package. No information was listed. But that's how it is for a lot of food in the "International" sections of stores.
        (And the rest of the store.)
        Thanks anyway.

        Reply

  4. Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (24)Lisa says

    This was so helpful! Thankyou!

    Reply

    • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (25)Monica says

      You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

      Reply

  5. Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (26)Janette says

    Can’t put email address in the space to register for free book, it will only take upper case and my email is lower case. I would like the seitan please.

    Reply

    • Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (27)Monica says

      You should be signed up now. Look for the email with the free eBook in your inbox. 🙂

      Reply

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls (2024)

FAQs

Everything You Want to Know About Soy Curls? ›

Made from a single ingredient, soy curls are made of whole, non-GMO soybeans that are slow cooked until tender, then pulled into strands by a proprietary process. These strips are then dried, packaged, and ready for sale; nothing is added, removed, or otherwise messed with.

Are soy curls good for you? ›

In addition to protein and healthy fats, soy curls are high in fiber, containing 6 grams of fiber per serving, which can help aid in digestion and prevent constipation. They are also a good source of iron, calcium, and other essential minerals that are important for maintaining a healthy body.

Are soy curls considered a processed food? ›

Soy Curls

These protein-packed strips are different than soy products like tofu and tempeh because they are considered minimally processed.

How long do soy curls last? ›

How long do soy curls last? Once rehydrated and cooked, you will need to store the soy curls in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How do you know if soy curls have gone bad? ›

The most obvious sign that soy curls have gone bad is a change in smell. They should have a neutral odor; if they smell sour or strange, it might indicate that they're no longer good. In addition to smell, look for any visible mold or discoloration. Remember, when in doubt, it's best to throw it out!

Are soy curls healthier than tofu? ›

They're healthy. Soy curls are made from only one ingredient: whole soybeans. This means they provide fiber (6 grams per serving) and a good amount of protein (11 grams per serving, 3 more than tofu).

Are soy curls healthier than chicken? ›

Soy curls contain some fat, but they are generally low in fat compared to meat-based protein sources. They are especially low in saturated fat, often contributing to heart disease and other health problems.

Do soy curls cause gas? ›

Answer. Excessive soy intake can cause gas in some people. Like beans, soy products are derived from a legume. Some people have a hard time digesting the sugars in legumes which results in gas when eaten in large amounts.

Do soy curls need to be refrigerated? ›

The cooked and cooled soy curls will stay fresh in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can you eat soy curls raw? ›

You always want to rehydrate soy curls before eating them. This is because: 1 - Soy curls are bland AF if you don't rehydrate and flavor them. They're a completely blank canvas, which is why we use them in so many different ways.

How do you get water out of soy curls? ›

Drain and pat dry, squeezing liquid out of the soy curls(I use my salad spinner to remove liquid then pat dry in a towel). 2. Toss soy curls with 2 Tbsp cornstarch. In a large skillet over medium high heat with 2 Tbsp oil cook soy curls until well browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.

Can you soak soy curls too long? ›

Soy curls come dehydrated and require soaking before use. Soak in warm water for 10 minutes. Be careful not to soak for too long or they will become mushy.

Do dried soy curls go bad? ›

Do soy curls go bad? Yes, they can, which is why Butler Foods' website recommends storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. I've never had this problem, BUT we go through a lot of soy curls.

Is it OK to eat soy products everyday? ›

Soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week, and probably more often, and is likely to provide health benefits—especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat.

Are soy products healthy or unhealthy? ›

Overall, soy has many health-protective benefits. If you are someone who suffers from diabetes or cardiovascular disease, then adding soy into your diet, while removing saturated fat and protein can be a smart move. While more research is needed, soy is a healthy addition to any balanced diet.

Are soy curls healthier than TVP? ›

Fiber: Soy Curls have an advantage in terms of fiber since they are made from whole soybeans, whereas TVP has most of its fiber removed during processing. Vitamins and Minerals: Soy Curls retain more of the natural vitamins and minerals found in soybeans, such as iron and calcium, compared to TVP.

Are soy curls the same as tofu? ›

What's the difference between soy curls and tofu? Both soy curls and tofu have a neutral flavor and are made from, you guessed it, soy. The major difference, though, is that tofu is pressed into a block and soy curls are formed as small dehydrated strips with a chewy texture.

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