Your rolls are falling apart

You did everything right. You cleared the time, picked the best ingredients, cooked the perfect sushi rice. The whole nine yards. But in the final act of cutting the sushi roll it simply breaks apart in your hands. Why is it happening, how to fix a broken sushi roll and most importantly how to avoid sushi rolls from falling apart?

First of all, it’s not your fault

Just kidding, it most likely totally is. Rolls fall apart for to main reasons:

1.  The nori is in bad shape. The packaging was left open for too long and it soaked up moisture. This is easy to fix by toasting the nori on open fire or in an oven until the seaweed is dry and crisp.
2. The most common reason for rolls breaking apart is using too little nori for too much sushi rice and fillings. It happens to everyone. This will be our main topic today.

How to fix a broken roll

The key here is early detection. The first step is preparation: Cut a narrow strip of nori and keep it next to your sushi working station. This is a good practice if you sushi rolls tend to break often.

If your roll falls apart – act quickly and place a strip of nori where the sushi roll breaks. To make the fix stick, apply a tiny bit of water on the nori fix and press it to the roll using the sushi mat. Catastrophe avoided! The sushi roll below was fixed that way – you couldn’t possibly tell it ever fell apart.

How to prevent sushi rolls from breaking

In order to prevent your sushi rice from breaking apart in the first place – make sure to use the right nori size for the right amount of sushi rice and fillings.

For example, when making a maki roll, try to use little rice and only filling if you plan to use half a nori. If you plan to use more rice and/or fillings inside the roll, better use a full nori sheet, or at leas 2/3s.

When rolling inside-out sushi, you can use more rice and more fillings while using just half a nori if you like.

Hope this helps you keep it together. Please use the comments below if you have any questions. ideas etc.

Firstly, why?

Inspired by the “How to make sushi meme” by _molg.h – I have decided to write short tutorials about sushi fails: why they happen and how to fix them. Hopefully, this will make many of you out there make better sushi, fail less and feel more loved.

The problem with sticky sushi rice

Every home sushi maker knows how annoying it is to have sticky rice glued to your hands and refusing let go no matter how hard you try. This can cause a lot of grief as well as particle issues as you need your hands clean at all time while making food. This is especially true with sushi.

So, how to avoid sushi rice getting glued to your hands

The solution is quite simple. When making sushi, have a ‘cereal bowl’ with water next to you and use it to wet your hands before working with sushi rice. The trick is the splash a bit of rice vinegar to the water – that helps keeping the rice from sticking to your hands.

Prove it!

A’righty. Here you can see what difference a splash of rice vinegar can make. In the first image, regular tap water was used to wet the hands. And the result? Multiple instances of sticky rice, refusing to leave the hand surface. Total disaster.

In the next image however, rice vinegar splashed water was used and voila, except for one grain the hands are sparkling. 99% less sushi rice stickage! Even that single grain was very easy to lose, by simply touching the nori it simply leaped off to its ultimate destination as part of a greater roll.

In summary

Don’t be a hero out there. Splash some rice vinegar into your sushi water bowl and look after each other.

Sometimes, it has to go (in the fridge)

You have just finished making all the sushi rolls you wanted to make – but some sushi rice was still left over. That happens. Usually, the best thing to do is cover the rice with a wet towel in room temperature and consume within hours from preparation.

However, if you have to store rice for more than a few hours, it is best stored in the fridge. When you are ready to use within a few days, the rice may be cold and drier than before. Don’t worry, here is a way you can revive refrigerated sushi rice to taste and feel like it was made just now.

Don’t leave it dry

One way you can reheat and re-hydrate the sushi rice is using a stove-top, pot, a bamboo rolling mat.

Simply put the rice on straight on the bamboo mat and right on top of a pot with boiling water for 10 minutes (on low heat). This should bring new life to the rice. For best results try to close the ends of the bamboo mat around the rice pile where possible.

Let us know if we helped save your sushi rice.

There’s a first time for everything

And here is my first attempt at making a ‘Sushi Pizza’. Disgusting?! Brilliant? Share your thoughts below.

If you are a sushi lover, but a bit on the conservative side, you may be in search of the best sushi making kit. There are several reasons why you may want to buy a sushi kit.

The thing is, dining out can be really expensive and to get really good sushi, may require you to pay a premium price. If you have a sushi making kit, you can just prepare your own ingredients and subsequently make your own sushi when you feel like having sushi.

The kit is also a good thing to have because you can also make your own sushi when you are entertaining guests at your home. If you had a sushi kit before and you want to gift a sushi kit to someone, then this article will help you to decide on the best sushi making kit.

Moxie & CO. Premium Quality Sushi Making Kit

This sushi making kit, makes the sushi making process fun and easy. Imagine being able to make sushi in minutes. If that is your dream and heart’s desire, then you should seriously consider getting the Moxie & Co. Premium Quality Sushi Making Kit.

The best part of this machine is that it will not break the bank and you can use almost any sushi making fish.

Pros

It allows you to make gourmet sushi.

If gourmet sushi making is your desire, then this is a must-have tool for your kitchen. You can use it to make your cake and fudge rolls, and the process of doing so is simple and easy.

Detailed instructions and tutorial video.

If you buy this kit, you can access a detailed instruction manual in PDF format and tutorial videos on the Moxie & Co. website. That way, you don’t have to worry about the device being too complicated to use.

A genuine sushi kit.

This sushi kit that is made from the premium quality material. You can trust that it is genuine and made with the sushi lover in mind. They also offer a money back guarantee.

Cons

Better for inside rolls.

If you prefer your rice on the outside, then this kit is not a suitable option for you as it is only capable of preparing the rice on the inside of the rolls.

Handmade sushi may look better.

This is a machine, so the sushi is probably going to come out pretty standard looking. If that is not the look you’re going for, then you should probably consider making your rolls by hand and plastic wrap for variety.

Don’t pack too many ingredients.

If you pack too many ingredients, you may have problems with the clip when you try to close the tool.

SushiQuik Super Easy Sushi Making Kit

Sushiquik boasts that this is the number one sushi making kit in the world. If you use this kit, it provides you with one of the easiest means of making sushi for not just yourself but your entire family.

Usually, by hand, the process can be really long, so if you use this kit, the process is easier and faster for you.

Pros

Dishwasher friendly.

After using the sushi kit, you can detach the sushi mat and put it in your dishwasher with other dishes. This adds to the easier component of using the sushi making kit.

Makes all sushi rolls.

If you have a desire to make sushi rolls of different sizes, then this kit is for you as it facilitates that need. Not only that, but it can also make rice on the outside sushi rolls. This gives the roll an advantage over other roll kits.

You get all the tools.

Getting this kit means that you are equipped to make sushi. It comes with a sushi roll cutter, a non-stick paddle, and a training frame. It also has end caps which can be converted to sauce bowl and instructional guides.

Cons

It requires a lot of patience.

If you are used to a bamboo mat, you may be of the impression that the bamboo mat is easier to use for rolling your sushi

If has poor cutting guides.

The cutting guides may annoy you. You may feel as if they are too small or too flimsy. You should read the product dimension before purchasing

If has too many parts.

If you’re used to the chef style sushi process and using knives, then all the parts that come with this set may annoy you a bit.

BambooWorx Sushi Making Kit

This bamboo sushi making kit comes with two fully bamboo sushi mats, a rice paddle and spreader for the ultimate sushi experience. It provides everything you need to make sushi in a simple, yet inexpensive sushi kit.

It can be used by anyone from beginners to professionals, and it lets you make the dish in a few minutes.

Pros

Top quality.

BambooWox has made the mat using 100% bamboo. So, this kit is a good kit for a naturalist to use. The kit was also crafted in such a way that you need not worry about splinters from the bamboo or that the stitching would unravel.

The mat is made from bamboo.

It is not stiff; in fact, it rolls easily. It is shaped like a square and measures 9.5 x 9.5 inches.

Picture guides.

This kit comes with picture guides that serve as instruction so you will understand how sushi should be made and how the rolls should look once you are finished.

Cons

This sushi kit is not dishwasher safe.

You are advised to wash the mats by hand with a soap and water solution and to leave the mats to air dry.

Requires maintenance.

The sushi kit needs to be cleaned frequently to maintain the appearance. To do this, you have to occasionally rub it with oil.

Certain temperatures affect the bamboo’s appearance.

Dry and heated temperature can affect the appearance of the bamboo so you ought to store it in a cool, dry place.

The Best Sushi Making Kit For the Sushi Lover

All the kits seem to be a good choice; however, some of the sushi making kits are more expensive than the others. If you are looking at price and have a desire for a natural look, then the BambooWorx Kit is a good option.

It is the cheapest on the list. However, if you want variety and the price is not an issue, you can go for the SushiQuik kit.

To make sushi at you will require fish that is Sushi Grade. We have reviewed 5 online stores you can purchase Sushi Grade Fish from, and compared prices and service for you. If want to learn more about what qualifies as “Sushi Grade“, please follow the next link to our article about “Sushi Grade Fish”.

Name	Rating	Salmon Cost	Shipping	Shipping cost	Minimum order
	9.8	$81.00 (2.25 lb)	Across USA	$9.95 Free with orders over $99	–
	8.5	$ 25.99 (1 lb)	Across USA	Free	50$
	8.2	$22.99 (1.1 lb)	Across USA	$14.99 (Super Saver) Free with orders over $99	40$
	7.9	Varies	Across USA	Varies
	7.5	$60.00 (2lb)	Across USA	Free with orders over $350

Choosing and Care of Sushi Knives

By Grant Carter from

When it comes to choosing a set of sushi knives or one knife in particular, there are many choices out there! One may be interested in a knife for a sushi-making class or for a sushi party, or perhaps interested in becoming a professional sushi chef, or itamae. On either end of the spectrum, you will want to choose the knife or set of knives that feels good in your hand, is made of quality materials, and has the best warranty that you can find in a sushi knife manufacturer!

Of the many dozens of different types of traditional Japanese blades available for purchase these days, there are but three main styles that you will commonly find or need when making normal Maki and Nigiri-style sushi:

3 types of sushi knives

The Yanagi is a long knife with a thin, slender blade that is designed for precision slicing of sashimi. This knife is truly the itamae’s prized tool and the instrument responsible for the amazing presentation that you see in sushi-ya in Japan and the world over. While not all traditional Japanese cutleries are made in the same style as the traditional battle-sword of the samurai warrior, the katana, some are forged by hand in just the same technique.

The Deba is the utter workhorse of the Japanese kitchen, proving itself time and time again versus foe varying from sides of beef
to dismantling whole tuna. In Japan, each species of seafood has it’s own variation of knife specifically designed to work with it. For instance, an eel-knife has a special design that allows for quick dispatching of the eel and and a special blade to aid in quickly dismantling it. These blades range in all shapes and sizes, and some designed for working with whole tuna are up to six feet long!

The Usuba is a beautiful blade designed specially to work with vegetables and their presentation. An Usuba in properly skilled hands can turn mere vegetables into works of art! While it resembles a cleaver, it is completely different from the cleavers that Westerners think of!

Once you have chosen a knife or knife set, be sure to take proper care of these knives! Never put them in the dishwasher as the dish-washing detergents will decay the carbon in the steel! Another reason to never put your quality Japanese cutlery in the dishwasher or individually in a drawer are to prevent chipping, dulling, and rusting.
Remember that it is always a better value to take care of your quality knives than to replace your damaged ones!

What is tamago?

Tamago is the Japanese omelet commonly used in maki, nigiri and Temaki sushi. Unlike a regular omelet, the tamago is made with sugar, soy sauce, and mirin added. Furthermore, it is fried by a very unique method, as explained in the following guide.

Tamago is very easy to make, and easy to enjoy. It is highly recommended for vegetarian sushi fans, pregnant women and anyone with a sense of taste.

How to make tamago?

Attention – The recipe for Tamago batter can be found here.

Step 1 – Heat

Heat a little oil in a rectangular pan, then add the tamago batter, 1 cm deep.

Step 2 – Flip and fold

After 2-3 min, when the bottom of the omelet turns brownish, use a spatula to fold the omelet twice, first from the closer edge of the pan towards the middle, and then towards the far edge. There’s no need to flip the omelet, just fold it. Even if its upper side seems uncooked before folding, the “inner layers” will get done by the end of the process.

Step 3 – More batter

Now oil the pan again (or not, depends if you prefer it crispy or oil free) and add another batch of tamago batter. Notice that the batter you have just added should touch the omelet you folded in the previous step.

Step 4 – Flip again

Repeat steps 2-3, until you run out of tamago batter.

Step 5 – Aaaaand cut…

Now that your omelet is ready, place it on a dry cutting surface, and slice it into 2 cm-thick slices. You may use it either as a topping for nigiri sushi, or as a filling for Temaki and maki sushi.

enjoy..

The sushi rolling mat (or Makisu)

The sushi rolling mat can be very useful, although, with some experience you can do without it. The rolling mat is used to maintain even pressure from all sides of the sushi roll while rolling it.

When used to make an inside out roll, the mat needs to be wrapped in saran wrap in order to keep the rice from sticking to the mat. This may also be applied while making a classic roll to make the mat easier to clean during the process.

How do I pick a sushi rolling mat?

There are two kinds of bamboo rolling mats on the market. First you have the cheap kind, where both sides of the mat are rounded. That’s bad. The second kind, might cost you a buck more, and features the “top of the line” western technology: one side is rounded and the other is flat. You will soon find out that a rolling mat with one side flat is a lot easier to use, and brings you much more impressive results. enjoy…