A sushi mat is an essential tool for budding diy sushi chefs!
A sushi mat or, as they say in Japanese, makisu is a simple, but essential piece of equipment if you plan to make sushi at home.
It is used for shaping your nori (seaweed) and all the other delicious goodies you’ll be stuffing in there.
This ubiquitous mat can be found in supermarkets or Asian specialty stores. They are quite inexpensive – about a dollar or two. Just stay away from health food stores. I’ve seen a them selling for over $4.00!
Sushi Guy's Tip #1
When shopping for a mat try to find one that is tightly woven.
Sushi Guy's Tip #2
Buy more than one mat. They’re so cheap, you won’t feel guilty if you have to throw one away because its become too dirty.
Sushi Guy's Tip #3
Before rolling your sushi, wrap the mat in a sheet of plastic. This will keep stray bits of sticky rice from getting caught in between the bamboo sticks. It can be a real pain to get them out. Clean-up will be a lot easier.
Sushi Guy's Tip #4
Wash your mat immediately after use in warm water and make sure to dry it well. If not, you’ll end up with nasty surprises like mold!
You're mat can be used for more than rolling sushi. I’ve used it to:
make a sweet and tasty rolled omelet (atsuyaki-tamago)
