Thourough draining or squeezing helps. Also be sure to buy extra firm tofu. I use it as marinated tofu and its great but not crisp as in the restaurants. I can't do that either. I did read somewhere in one of these forums how some one had found the secret to it. It looked like a lot of trouble, but might be worth it if I could master it. Good Luck. But I think these curls are dry and an entirely different consistency, that you rehydrate.