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A sushi roller, also known as a sushi mat or makisu, is a tool used to prepare sushi. It consists of thin bamboo rods woven with cotton string that is then used to roll sushi rice, nori (seaweed), and various ingredients into tightly packed rolls. To use a sushi roller, you typically place a sheet of nori on the mat, spread sushi rice evenly over the nori, add your desired fillings (such as fish, vegetables, or tofu), and then use the mat to roll everything into a snug cylinder shape. We’ve put together a list of the best sushi rollers, and the Delamu Store Sushi Rolling Kit is made of premium bamboo and comes with chopsticks, a rice spreader, a rice paddle, and a beginner ebook.
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The Best Sushi Roller Buying Guide
Making your favorite dish with your own hands is one of the greatest feelings in the world. However, for many, making sushi seems complex, complicated, and impossible. But it’s not true! You can make mouthwatering, hand-rolled sushi easily in your home, you just need the right tools.
Modern sushi rollers and sushi-making sets are key to rolling restaurant-quality sushi that tastes (and looks) delicious. Tools like sushi mats, rice spreaders, paddles, and even sushi molds allow you to roll and mold your ingredients into all types of sushi rolls — from simple California rolls to exquisite gunkan sushi.
However, while rolling sushi might not be as hard as it seems, choosing the right sushi-making set can be. That’s where we come in. We’ve written a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you choose the right set for you. We’ll go over factors to consider, like mats, spreaders, and additional tools. Before you know it you’ll be wowing your family and friends with yummy homemade sushi right in your own kitchen!
The Basics: What to Look For
Before diving into all the interesting sushi-making molds and tools, first, you need to nail down the basic components needed to make simple sushi. Arguably the most important factors to consider are the quality of basic sushi rolling tolls: Bamboo mats, rice paddles, spreaders, and chopsticks.
Bamboo mats
Bamboo mats are thin bamboo sticks joined together with a crisscrossing thread in a parallel orientation. This unique construction allows the mat to roll completely to one side while staying completely flat on the other. Make sure that the mat’s surface is completely smooth and that it rolls smoothly. Also, the thread should not be held together with glue but should be hand-tied or knotted. While a glued mat might look nicer than a knotted mat, the glue will deteriorate over time (possibly contaminating your food). A knotted, hand-tied mat is also longer-lasting and more durable.
Paddle and spreader
The paddle and spreader are usually made out of bamboo. They are similarly shaped to a wooden spatula or a thick, short knife. While you may be tempted to use tools you already have in your kitchen, the unique shape of these tools is essential to the sushi-making process. The paddle is wider and is used to scoop and mix the rice, while the spreader is used to evenly spread the rice on the mat. Always choose paddles and spreaders that are made from high-quality bamboo and feature a smooth surface. Also, there should be no inked branding on these tools.
Chopsticks
Chopsticks are less for rolling the sushi and more for serving and eating it. However, they are still an essential part of sushi roller sets, as handling a rolled piece of sushi with a pair of chopsticks adds to the experience of making and enjoying Japanese cuisine. We recommend choosing a sushi-making set that features smooth, easy-to-grip, comfortable chopsticks.
Advanced Tools to Elevate Your Sushi
Now that you have the basics down, you can explore ways to expand your sushi-making knowledge and skill. While these are the tools that aren’t necessary for rolling sushi, having them will not only make your sushi-making process quicker but will also allow you to make a number of advanced rolls and dishes.
Bazooka roller
A bazooka roller, despite what its name might suggest, is less like a bazooka and more like a large, tube-like syringe. This tube can be opened up from the middle to make two semi-circle-shaped halves. You can then place the rice and other ingredients perfectly in each half. Once you’re done, close the bazooka roller (by re-joining the two halves) and slowly push the pump over the sushi mat that’s lined with a piece of seaweed.
Bazooka rollers are usually made out of plastic. We recommend that you choose one that has a high-quality, properly functioning pump and a tight seal so the ingredients will stay secure.
Sushi knife
While any knife will work to cut the sushi into rolls, you’ll want to make sure the knife is sharp enough so that it doesn’t compress the sushi. Because of this, we recommend using a sushi knife, which is a knife specifically designed for this purpose. Featuring a very sharp blade and a blade with a thick width, sushi knives are sure to cut any sushi roll into perfect pieces. We recommend looking for a knife with a comfortable handle; this will result in a steady hand, which will, in turn, lead to better-cut sushi.
Sauce dishes
Sauce dishes are not a part of the sushi rolling process, but they come in handy when serving sushi. Usually featuring traditional Japanese designs to fit the sushi theme, we recommend choosing sauce dishes that are made from dishwasher-safe ceramic or porcelain.
Top Picks
Best Overall:
Delamu Store Sushi Rolling Kit
Best Design:
Bambooworx Sushi Rolling Deluxe Kit
Most Deluxe:
Delamu 23 In 1 Sushi Making Kit
High Quality Materials:
Delamu 20 In 1 Sushi Rolling Kit
What type of fish can I use with my sushi roller set?
You can use any type of fish you want with a sushi roller set. Just make sure that the fish is cut properly to make perfectly rolled sushi.
How do I prevent my sushi mat from getting dirty?
Cleaning sushi bamboo mats is not an easy task since most mats are not dishwasher safe. To make the cleaning process easier, wrap your sushi mat in a layer of plastic wrap before use. This way, you can throw away the plastic after you’re done making sushi and your roller mat will look as good as new.
How do I keep my sushi rolls from falling apart?
The key to preventing sushi rolls from falling apart is to use the right length of seaweed, which is wrapping around the rolled sushi.
