Sushi has a rich history that is worth exploring. It is one of the most popular meals all over the world, especially in Asia and the USA, and its popularity grows with time. It originates from Japan, and the main ingredient is raw fish and cooked vinegared rice.
Sushi was introduced in the USA in 1953 when served in the Japanese Embassy. Well, it was not the exact form of sushi we know and love today; it was in the form of sashimi. Sashimi is a raw fish served sliced in very thin pieces without the vinegared rice.
If you are an avid sushi lover, then you know that sometimes it can be hard to finish up your portion only because of your gastric limitations. So if you end up in that kind of situation, you may want to pack leftover sushi for the next day. But considering that the sushi is made from raw fish, the legit question is, how long is sushi good for?
How Is Sushi Prepared?
Some people like to prepare sushi on their own by using a sushi-making kit; some do it by hand. The point is that no matter how you make it, the same concept is applied. How it is prepared will determine how long it can last. Remember, if the fish is prepared well, food-borne illnesses will have a slight chance to appear.
It would be best if you started by thawing the fish. Use a sushi knife to slice the fish and remove tendons.
Scrape off the skin also. How you will cut the fish depends on the type of sushi that you are making. If you are making sushi rolls, you have to use boiled rice stirred with sugar and vinegar. You can also use seaweed. Place the ingredients on the rolling mat, add other seasonings, and roll it out.
Voila, you officially become a person that can make sushi too, congratulations.
How To Store Sushi?
First, there are so many different sushi rolls that you can enjoy, but usually, people go for sashimi (raw thin slices of fish), maki (rolls with seaweed on the outside), and nigiri (only fish and rice).
The restaurant will pack your leftover sushi in the Styrofoam box, and that is fine. After you come home, the sushi should be placed in the fridge tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container.
Before you wrap it in the plastic wrapper, make sure there isn’t any excess water lingering on your sushi rolls since this is the leading cause that promotes bacterial growth. Lastly, the temperature in your fridge should be adjusted at 41°F since that would be perfect for ensuring that the fish will not turn rancid.
It is recommended to consume raw fish when it is fresh, but still, there is one more specific method that works best for storing sushi-grade fish, and it doesn’t mean storing the food in the freezer. That method requires the use of a bowl or sealed bag with ice inside to keep the fish fresh. However, you must use paper to cover the fish since the raw fish should never come in contact with the ice.
For sushi rolls prepared with oysters or clams, you should place them in the bowl with a damp paper towel to allow them to drain inside your fridge.
Do not place your sushi in random places in the fridge. It is best to put it in the far back corner since you will find the temperature in the back corner is lower. So if you are sure you will not eat your sushi within the next hour, then set it in the far back corner.
Tips To Make Sushi Last Longer In The Fridge
As I mentioned, how long sushi can stay in the fridge depends on many other factors that can chip in. One of the essential elements for storing sushi with vinegar rice is dampening the roll with a slightly wet cloth to prevent the sushi roll from drying out.
Also, it is easier to keep homemade sushi than sushi that comes from restaurants since it has a shelf-life of only a few hours so it can get contaminated while you are on your way home.
Don’t crowd the container where you contain the sushi rolls with other food since it will ruin the smell of the sushi and ruin the visual appearance. If you are preparing sushi at home, make sure you buy from groceries early in the morning when they are delivered to the store so you can be sure they are fresh and that they can last for a day.
The sushi rolls usually stiffen within the next few hours after it is rolled, but you can always microwave the sushi to make rice tender and moist again. But make sure you set it on the lowest temp and time to not cook the fish or veggies.
It is not recommended to freeze your sushi rolls since it will dry out the sushi roll and make the rice stiffen; the second is the thawing process that can result in bacterial growth, and it will also change the appearance.
There is good news for those who love veggie sushi rolls. They can last longer in the fridge to be more precise; they can last for up to five days.
How Long Does Sushi Last?
You should never keep sushi for more than 24 hours, having in mind that the sushi is made from raw fish; you must be aware that the longer the fish sit in place, the more it becomes susceptible to bacteria.
If the sushi is prepared with cooked fish, it will have the name California roll, and those are intended to stay for more than 24 hours. Remember, you should not keep California rolls for longer than three days.
You must be aware that the taste is not going to be as good as when you first had it, and if it smells too fishy, you should discard it immediately. I highly advise that you store sushi within a half-hour of preparation if you plan to eat it the next day.
How to Tell If Sushi Has Gone Bad
The first and the most straightforward rule is that if you bought your sushi in the grocery store if it’s past the date on the label, there is no doubt about what to do. You might think it is still safe to eat since there is no smell or signs of mold, but in raw seafood, it is always best to discard it.
Now let’s talk more about visual signs of spoiled sushi. The first step you must take is to check on rice and fish. If the rice has hardened, throw them away. When you come to the fish, check out for discolorations or if it becomes slimy. The sniff test is a must because none will eat something that has a funky smell.
If it passes all those tests, but it still tastes off when you try it, discard it since food poisoning caused by seafood is not pleasant at all.
Summary
I hate wasting food too, but I can safely say I hate more to experience food poisoning by none less than my favorite food. When we are talking about sushi, the best ally in testing its quality is your senses. Mostly smell than visuals and lastly taste.
To be honest with you, I never come to the tasting part since if I sense even slightly changed smell, sushi ends in my garbage without any further questions. If it does not look edible, it is not edible to trust your senses.