A set for home cooking of sushi and rolls is a real find for experienced sushi chefs and beginners in Japanese cuisine. The better the quality of the tools in the set, the easier and faster you can roll up a mountain of rolls.
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What is included in the kit for making sushi and rolls at home
A classic sushi making set can be assembled by yourself from individual components, here it is important to select high-quality tools, in accordance with the standards for making the dish. So, below are the most important parts of the set, as well as the parameters for choosing them.
- Bamboo mat - makisu
It is important to note that the mats come in a set of two sizes: 24/24, for evenly rolling rolls, the second is larger - 27/27 for decorating rolls with various patterns.
It is important to choose a high-quality mat with wide, even planks.
- Wooden rice bowl. It's better if it has a lid.
Why wooden? Wood does not absorb odors and is easy to clean. This bowl is intended for the final stages of home cooking rice, where it is transferred and mixed with rice vinegar. Therefore, metal bowls at this stage (and in general during the entire process of sushi preparation) are out of the question.
- A thick wooden board for cutting fish.
- Long pointed sticks for working with the filling of rolls.
They can be either wooden or ivory. The Japanese allow these sticks to have metal tips that conveniently hold the filling. As an alternative for beginners - instead of sticks, you can buy long tweezers for specific manipulations.
- A long, sharp knife for cutting rolls.
It is very important that the knife is sharp, otherwise the rolls will be crushed when cutting and will have an unpresentable appearance. Also, it will tear the nori. If the knife is not sharp enough, it is recommended to sharpen it before cooking.
The utensils for making sushi and rolls should never be metal. In addition to the fact that metal symbolizes battle for the Japanese, it is also an extra oxidizer for products (for example, rice contains lactic acid, which will easily react with the utensils).
At the moment, a set for making sushi is very popular among beginners and amateurs who enjoy cooking Japanese cuisine almost every day. The set is called "Midori". What it includes:
- square shapes of large and small sizes;
- large semicircular shape;
- large semicircular lid;
- large triangular shape;
- double lid of semicircular shape;
- spatula;
- fork;
- press;
- sharp knife.
Important! All components of the set must be made of high-quality materials that do not react with food products!
Thanks to the variety of shapes in the set, you can make round rolls, heart-shaped rolls, triangular rolls, large square rolls and small square rolls.
What are the best sushi plates?
Traditionally, in Japan, sushi and rolls are served on flat wooden boards. In Europe, it is customary to serve this delicacy on ceramic, enamel-coated plates, porcelain dishes, or even clay dishes.
As for the material, if it is clay, then the sauce boats and stands for rolls and chopsticks are also clay. If it is porcelain or ceramics, then the same applies, everything should be in the same style.
Usually all sushi utensils are bought to match each other. Or as a complete set. There are not many color options for such dishes - most often it is black, white and red, but what makes such dishes unusual is the traditional Japanese painting with hieroglyphs and drawings.
There are several types of sushi utensils.
- Stylish flat plates are a classic Japanese option. They look great not only on the table, but also as part of the room design.
- The plates, shaped like an open fan, convey the Japanese theme very well.
- Boat-shaped plates are deep and have two compartments – a great option for sushi in one compartment and sauce in the other.
- Elegant dishes made in the shape of leaves are suitable for Japanese cuisine and create an Eastern atmosphere.
What criteria should you use to choose a gift set for making sushi and rolls?
If you need to choose a sushi making set as a gift, then in addition to the aesthetic appearance, you should also pay attention to the practical characteristics. If there is a defect in something - for example, roughness on the wall of one of the forms - the batch of homemade sushi and the reputation of the person who gave the set will be ruined.
Therefore, first of all, you need to check the smoothness of the walls of all the molds, the absence of burrs (often found, especially in cheap sets), the proportionality of all sides, etc.
In addition, you need to look at the materials used to make the tools and utensils. Chemically resistant polypropylene is acceptable, as it is easy to clean, does not react with food, and has no odor.
The knife should be comfortable and well sharpened.
All components of the set, of course, must be made in the same color or theme.
It is worth remembering that not all types of sushi and rolls can be prepared with the Midori set. This is where the first option with the listed tools may come in handy. If you need to choose a gift, there is an alternative between a set for making Midori rolls at home and a set of individual components, which can be beautifully packaged and presented.
Popular brands of sushi cooking kits
Below are some popular manufacturers of sushi gift sets.
- Mayer & Boch
- Sushi Maker
- Bradex
- Sushi Mager Kit
These brands have proven themselves well in the oriental cuisine market.
