How to Roll Sushi

Co-authored by Daniel Siriban

Last Updated: July 9, 2024 Fact Checked

Sushi comes in all shapes and sizes, but there’s no denying that the roll is one of the most popular forms. You can make a roll with virtually any ingredient combination that you can think of. Besides the traditional maki roll with seaweed, or nori, on the outside, you can also make a roll with rice on the outside, or a cone-shaped roll called a hand roll. Follow this guide and seriously impress your next dinner party!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Maki Sushi

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1
Place a sheet of nori on your sushi mat. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef

Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.} Sheets of nori have a rough side and a smooth side. Place the nori so that the rough side is facing up. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- You can find sushi mats and packages of nori at most Asian food markets. You can order both of them online as well (nori is dried and is easily shipped).
2
Spread a ball of sushi rice on top. ^{[3]
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Expert Source

Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef

Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.} It should evenly cover from the near edge to about an inch from the far edge of the sheet. ^{[4]
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Research source}
- Start by placing the ball in the middle of the sheet of nori, and spread it out evenly.
- Use your fingers to spread the rice onto the nori. Keep your hands wet with a mixture of water and rice vinegar.
- Do not press or mash the rice, or it will not stick properly when rolling.
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3
Start placing your filling ingredients. Place your ingredients in a line, starting on the near edge of the rice layer. Each ingredient should be in its own line, with each row placed a small space from the one before. ^{[5]
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Research source} Some common maki ingredient combinations:
- Basic tuna or salmon roll: These rolls typically just have just tuna or salmon rolled up, without any other ingredients.
- Ahi roll: Yellowfin, cucumber, daikon, avocado.
- Shrimp tempura roll: shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber.
- Phoenix roll: salmon, tuna, crab sticks, avocado, tempura batter (fried).
- If raw fish is to be used, it is important to use only expertly prepared fish to avoid food poisoning and tapeworm parasites.
Start with the edge that has your first ingredient next to it. Lift the nori and fold it over the first ingredient. Make sure to keep the ingredients in place and that the rice sticks together.
^{[6]
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Research source} ^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef

Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.} Tuck the front edge of the nori into the roll, and remove the mat as you continue to roll the sushi. Roll slowly so that you ensure that the sushi is coming out even.
You will need to tighten the roll to keep ingredients from falling out when you cut it. Remember to tighten the roll with your sushi mat often, but not too tightly. Roll the sushi roll back and forth in the mat to tighten and seal it.
You can use this time to make your next roll. This waiting period allows the nori to slightly moisten from the rice, which makes it less likely to tear.
^{[8]
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Research source} The thickness of the slices is determined by the number of ingredients. If you have more ingredients in the roll, the slices should be thinner.
Sushi is best when eaten freshly-made. Avoid refrigerating it for a later date. Experiment with different ingredients until you find your favorite combinations.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Uramaki Sushi

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Nori should have a rough side and a smooth side. Place the nori so that the rough side is facing up.
2
Spread a ball of sushi rice on top. It should evenly cover from the near edge to about an inch from the far edge of the sheet. Remove the nori and rice from the mat temporarily.
- Start by placing the ball in the middle of the sheet of nori, and spread it out evenly.
- Use your fingers to spread the rice onto the nori. Keep your hands wet with a mixture of water and rice vinegar.
Lay it out on a flat surface and moisten it with a damp cloth.
^{[9]
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Research source}
^{[10]
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Research source} Rest one hand on top of the plastic film and use your other hand to grab and flip the sushi mat from one edge. The stack should then rest on your palm. Lay the sushi mat back on your work surface and lay down the stack on top of it with the plastic side down.
6
Start placing your filling ingredients. Place the ingredients in a line, directly onto the bare nori starting at the nearest edge of the sheet. Each ingredient should be in its own line, with each row placed a small space from the one before. Some common California roll ingredient combinations:
- Classic California roll: cucumber, crab stick, avocado. ^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
- Philadelphia roll: salmon or smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber.
- Butterfly roll: eel, crab stick, cucumber, topped with avocado.
- Sushi is a very visual food. Try experimenting with different colored ingredients to make a finished sushi that is as pleasing to look at as it is to eat.
Hold the edge of the mat with your thumbs. Start with the edge that has your first ingredient next to it. Lift the plastic film and fold it over the first ingredient. Make sure to keep the ingredients in place. Fold until the rice has folded over and stuck to the nori.
8
Start removing the plastic. Once the rice has stuck, gently pull the plastic out of the roll. Keep pulling the plastic out as you continue to fold the roll over.
- Keep tightening the roll as you fold it. This will keep the inside ingredients in place.
Depending on your recipe, you may want to top your roll. You can use avocado, sesame seeds, fish, tobiko (fish eggs) or anything else you can think of.
^{[12]
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Research source} The thickness of the slices is determined by the number of ingredients. If you have more ingredients in the roll, the slices should be thinner.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making a Hand Roll

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1
Cradle a sheet of nori in your hand. ^{[13]
X
Research source} You should hold it in your non-dominant hand. Make sure to hold it with the shiny side down.
- One end of the sheet should be in your palm, with the opposite end extending up past your fingers.
2
Place a ball of sushi rice in the nori directly over your palm. Dip your hand in water mixed with rice vinegar to keep the rice from sticking. Spread the rice so that it covers the bottom third of the nori sheet. ^{[14]
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Research source}
- You should aim to use about 1/2 cup of rice per roll.
3
Make an indentation in the center of the rice. Place your ingredients into the indentation, and don’t overstuff it or you’ll have a difficult time rolling it up later. Some of the more popular combinations for hand rolls:
- Spicy tuna roll: Chopped tuna, mayonnaise, chili sauce, cucumber, carrot
- Rock ‘n Roll: eel, cream cheese, avocado
- Tamago roll: pan-fried rolled omelet, lettuce, avocado.
4
Start rolling. Lift the bottom corner of the nori, and fold it over the ingredients, creating a cone shape. Continue rolling, making sure that the roll is tight as possible. ^{[15]
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Research source}
- Press several single grains of rice into the bare end of the nori. These will act as "glue" as the sushi forms a roll.
- You do not need to cut hand rolls. Dip the corner that you are planning to eat in the soy sauce, instead of pouring soy sauce on the whole thing. This will keep it from falling apart.

Community Q&A

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Question

How many pieces are in a roll of sushi?

Community Answer

Most sushi rolls contain 6 to 8 pieces. The more pieces is contains, the thinner the final rolls will be.

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Do you wet nori before rolling sushi?

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No, but you should wet your hands with a solution of water and rice vinegar as you spread the rice over it.

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Where in the Chicago Area can I buy a sushi mat to make Sushi Rolls?

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Try poking around the shops in Chinatown. There's definitely a few shops that carry bamboo mats.

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Tips

A light Japanese soy sauce is preferable with sushi. A heavy Chinese cooking soy sauce will overpower the delicate flavors of the sushi.

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You don't have to act like a sushi pro with a knife sharper than a razor blade. A good, wet, reasonably sharp serrated bread knife works just as well.

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Experiment with ingredients, particularly fish. Use harder types of vegetables, nothing like tomatoes will do.

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Warnings

When cooking your rice, make sure to use shorter grains of rice, and don't use oil, as the rice is supposed to be sticky.

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Use the highest quality, freshest ingredients you can find. Don't be cheap if you're eating raw fish.

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Crab meat and other shellfish are very dangerous to eat raw. Raw fish used in sushi must be properly prepared to avoid dangers of parasites and bacteria. ^{[16]
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Research source} You can buy properly prepared sushi grade fish at Japanese markets where it should be clearly marked "for sushi". Be safe, do your research.

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Use caution when handling raw fish; wash your hands often. ^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}

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Fresh raw fish for sushi should be read as "fresh fish that was properly prepared and quickly frozen." Deep freezing is one of a number of steps taken for food safety's sake. Deep freezing kills tapeworm spores. ^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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Be sure to use a sharp knife when you cut your sushi, or it may tear.

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Things You'll Need

A (bamboo) sushi mat or breadboard
Plastic food wrap
Seaweed, or nori, in sheet form
1 cup of sushi rice
Filling (vegetables, fish, crab). See Warnings

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Expert Source

Daniel Siriban
Japanese Personal Chef

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How to Roll Sushi

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Making Maki Sushi

Making Uramaki Sushi

Making a Hand Roll

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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