Last Updated: May 28, 2024, 8:08 a.m.

Millions of people around the world enjoy eating sushi every day, but only a fraction of them can make their own sushi. There are hundreds of different kinds of sushi, all requiring different ingredients and different tools to make it correctly. For beginners, the quality and design of your sushi maker can dictate how well your sushi comes out. The easiest sushi rolls to make are the California, Vegetable, and Spicy Tuna rolls. We've researched the best sushi makers, and the Delamu Bamboo Sushi Making Kit is beginner-friendly, made from high-quality bamboo, and comes with an e-book called "Beginner's Guide to Homemade Sushi."

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Sushi is something you can make with nothing but your hands and a knife, and a lot of sushi chefs do exactly that every single day. However, a large part of sushi's appeal is its aesthetics. Trying to achieve that ideal form by hand isn’t really possible unless you have years of experience and consistent practice. Luckily, you aren’t limited to using just your hands when making sushi, thanks to the modern sushi makers. These kits include all of the necessary tools required to make sushi from start to finish. They also make the process of crafting sushi accessible to almost everyone. The mold-style sushi makers, in particular, are great for beginners and folks who want to eat homemade sushi without committing hours making it. However, not all sushi-making kits are created equally. Some are objectively better than others. These are the factors that distinguish merely okay sushi makers from truly great ones.

Quality

The first factor that determines how good a sushi maker is quality. It doesn't matter if it's a mold design or one with the traditional bamboo mats and bamboo spreaders; a high-quality maker will always perform better. Quality in this context means durability of construction materials, how precisely components fit together, and the consistency of final results. Using the right material also matters. For example, using a wooden or bamboo rice paddle is almost always better than a flimsy plastic one. Conversely, the sushi mold performs so well precisely because it is made out of plastic, not something like wood or metal.

Variety

Variety simply refers to the different types of sushi you can produce with a particular sushi set. This mostly comes down to the types of molds and devices available. For example, sushi mats and bazooka rollers combine to make perfect rolled sushi. However, they cannot be used for triangular sushi, you need different tools for that. Ideally, you want as many options as possible, different variations and styles will keep sushi fresh in your mind and prevent repetitiveness.

Ease of use

Ease of use is extremely important for sushi makers since bypassing the experience and expertise necessary for traditional sushi-making is a large part of the appeal. If using a sushi maker was just as labor intensive as making it by hand, sushi makers would be effectively useless. Luckily, most modern sushi makers are pretty effective at streamlining the process. For example, all you have to do with a mold-style sushi maker is place the nori, fill it with ingredients, wrap it, and press the top part of the mold. Now slice the sushi through the built-in grooves, and voila, you have perfectly cut sushi.

End result

The end result of a sushi maker is the culmination of the above factors. The way your finished sushi looks depends on the type of sushi you made, how easy it was for you to make, and how well the maker functioned. Add into consideration the additional features some sushi makers offer, like fancy chopsticks, gorgeous sauce dishes, and adorable chopstick holders, and you've got yourself the truest indication of a sushi maker's value.

Cost

Speaking of value, the price tag of sushi makers is extremely important. Sushi is already an expensive dish. Having to purchase costly equipment to make it can put it beyond many folks’ reach. Fortunately, you can get fairly complete sushi makers for as low as $15. Even high-quality kits, with over twenty parts, are below the $30 mark. Sure, you can find expensive "luxury" sushi makers, but they are not worth your hard-earned money. A lot of the features touted by premium sushi makers can be found in any decent maker, and at a much lower price. In fact, some of the top-of-the-line makers are just normal quality sushi makers rebranded to look more expensive. So, don't waste your money on expensive or cheap sushi makers. Instead, get one that works as advertised and properly maintain it. It will likely last longer than you expect.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Delamu Bamboo Sushi Making Kit
• Best Design: Yuhe Diy Mold Sushi Maker
• Most Professional Kit: Delamu 22 In 1 Sushi Making Kit
• Most Durable: Delamu 20 In 1 Sushi Making Kit
• Best For Beginners: Homehut Sushi Maker Mold Kit

Reviews

Can I make all types of sushi with a sushi maker?

No. You can make many different types of sushi with basic mats and molds and a little bit of ingenuity. There are still hundreds of types of sushi requiring prior experience or a particular mold.

How do I clean my sushi maker?

It depends entirely on the type of maker you have. Almost all manufacturers will list whether their kit is dishwasher-safe. If it isn't listed anywhere on the product page, you should either contact the manufacturer or avoid cleaning the sushi maker in a dishwasher.

What is the best fish for making sushi?

Different types of sushi work best with different types of fish. That being said, the most popular types of fish for sushi include bluefin tuna, Japanese amberjack, salmon, and mackerel.