After numerous attempts, creating perfect sushi rolls can be very satisfying, but your work is not yet done. No matter how elaborately you’ve put everything together, cutting sushi rolls is a skill that requires careful study and frequent practice.
Your sushi rolls cannot be haphazardly cut because doing so could cause the sushi to become clumped together and completely ruined. Mishandled or improperly cut sushi frequently disintegrates. If you want to know how to cut sushi rolls perfectly, please read this article carefully.
Factors To Consider When Cutting Rolls
The way sushi rolls are cut depends not only on the technique but also on your knife, your hand placement, your knife movement, etc. It is important to remember that sushis are made in a complex way. It responds accordingly to your hands’ pressure and even the motion of your knife.
Preparation
Cling wrap the top and sides of your roll, then use a bamboo mat to shape it for a clean cut. By doing so, your roll will maintain its perfect shape even after being cut, preventing roll disintegration during cutting.
Additionally, while you’re slicing through your sushi roll, the cling wrap keeps everything together. Additionally, it can aid in maintaining cleanliness because if you don’t have it to protect your roll, things might fly around and make a big mess.
Hand Placement
Your hand must hold the knife in a specific way before cutting to make it easier to maneuver. Make sure your dominant hand’s index finger is relaxed on the blade’s top edge and your other fingers are firmly grasping the handle. For maximum comfort, make sure the handle is placed on top of your palm in a relaxed position.
When handling the roll, be sure to curl your fingers so that the tips directly support the entire roll. To prevent your sushi from changing shape, be careful not to place too much weight on your supporting hand.
How To Cut Sushi?
Push And Pull Method
Utilizing the push and pull technique, cut any sushi roll. Take a single-beveled knife that is well-knifed, place it with the sharp side down, and wet the blade. Use your left hand to hold the sushi roll as you cut it in two motions. To cut completely, pull the knife backward after moving it slightly forward in the first stroke to get you halfway through the roll.
Double Push Method
Sushi is cut using two strokes in this manner as well, but the technique is slightly different. To keep the rice from sticking to the blade of your razor-sharp Japanese knife, moisten it. Wrap the roll in plastic wrap and give it a slight squeeze with a bamboo mat. Holding the roll with your left hand, press twice with light but firm pressure, moving the knife just a little bit forward each time for a clean cut.
One Pull Method
The one-pull method is the simplest way to cut your rolls. The knife is simply pushed completely down onto the board in one swift motion rather than being pulled toward you.
Not pressing down on the roll itself is what I mean by this. You still need to angle it so that, despite making a very small movement, you are still technically pulling the knife toward you. A clean cut cannot be achieved by rapidly pressing the blade down onto the roll.
Tips To Cut Sushi Rolls Perfectly
The various ingredients used to make a good sushi roll must be perfectly balanced. They are crucial to your ability to cut the sushi precisely as well. Here are a few tips to help you get clean, precise cuts every time.
Always Use The Right Sushi Rice
One of the most crucial ingredients in this age-old treat is sushi rice, which is also crucial for cutting the sushi roll. Make sure to only use Japanese short-grain rice when making sushi at home. It makes cutting much simpler and not only has the best flavor. Sushi rolls can be challenging to cut if the wrong kind of rice is used.
Moisten The Knife Blade
Sushi rice is already sticky, and vinegar and sugar only serve to make it stickier. As a result, you must wet the knife blade in order to keep the rice from sticking to it. As opposed to a dry blade that might be challenging to drag through the roll, a wet blade will easily cut through the roll and give you a perfect cut.
One water sip with the knife is insufficient. To achieve a restaurant-like consistency, you must wet the blade after every cut. Now that you are aware of the trick, you can distinguish between perfectly cut sushi slices and those with jagged edges.
Roll Tightly And Compactly
Sushi rolling is an art, and you must practice becoming an expert at it. When rolling your sushi, be sure to pack the ingredients together tightly and uniformly. Your cut through the roll’s various components will be cleaner and more precise as a result.
Let The Nori Settle In Before You Cut
To properly seal it, wet the sides of the Nori. Allow the roll to sit for a while and absorb the moisture from the rice if the nori sheet is too dry before slicing. It is simpler to cut the Nori roll when it is just a little damp.
Always Use A Super Sharp Japanese Knife
It all comes down to the kind of knife you use to cut your sushi roll, in the end. You must absolutely avoid using a kitchen knife because every time you try to cut sushi, it will fall apart, making you frustrated. I would strongly advise using a very sharp knife designed specifically for sushi and investing in a sharpening tool to keep your knife in the best possible shape.
Common Mistakes To Avoid To Get A Neat Cut
- If you roll the sushi without a bamboo mat, it might be loose and likely to fall apart. Bamboo mats are inexpensive, but they can save you a lot of time and effort by helping you roll them up tightly so that it doesn’t break when you cut them into pieces.
- When making sushi rice in a pot or cooker, it’s important to measure the water and rice precisely to avoid the rice becoming gooey. Due to this, not only is it difficult to roll the sushi but cutting it is also difficult.
- Sashimi or sushi cannot be cut with a regular kitchen knife without the edges becoming ruined. You’ll also need to spend money on a top-notch knife if you want to create flawless culinary art as the chefs do.
- Too much soy sauce can make the roll mushy and challenging to cut with a knife. If you’re just starting out, try not to add too much sauce or other condiments to your recipe.
- When there are too many fillings inside the roll, it can be difficult to roll and cut. Stick to just 1 or 2 fillings if you’re a beginner, and make sure they are sliced evenly so that the knife can easily cut through them.
- Some people may advise you to use oil on the knife blade to get a smooth cut, but doing so can ruin the flavor of your sushi. It is sufficient to simply moisten the blade with water.
Final Words
Consuming sushi rolls is an adventure. Salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and a variety of other flavors can all coexist in your mouth at once. This process is similar to making sushi. We cannot stress enough that the first thing you must think about getting is a good knife with an extremely sharp blade if you want to learn how to cut sushi like a professional chef.