Sushi has become popular in western countries, as sushi bars have popped up all over the place. You can even buy your favourite sushi platter from supermarkets. Whether shop-bought, restaurant-delivered, or homemade, is it possible to freeze it?
Can You Freeze Sushi?
Yes, you can freeze sushi for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze sushi is to freeze its components separately. If you freeze sushi rolls together, the nori paper and rice will likely go soggy.
Do Does Sushi freeze well? Sometimes
Can you refreeze Sushi? No
How to Freeze Sushi
Sushi is one of those dishes that doesnāt freeze overly well. Undoubtedly, the best way to eat sushi is to enjoy it while itās nice and fresh.
You should attempt to eat fresh sushi within 24 hours, as it wonāt keep particularly well in the fridge for any longer than this.
How to Freeze Homemade Sushi
If you want your homemade sushi to last a little longer, you can freeze it by following the steps below:
- Freeze Separately: For those making sushi at home, the best way to freeze it is to keep the ingredients separate and freeze them individually. This includes freezing cooked sushi rice, fish, nori papers, and vegetables. This is the best way of preventing your sushi from going soggy in the freezer.
- Wrap Well: Wrap each of the ingredients well and place them in a freezer-safe container, ready to be put together when youāve defrosted them in the future.
- Label and Freeze: Write the date and the use-by date on the lid of the container and transfer it to the freezer.
How to Freeze Sushi Rolls
If youāre lucky enough to have some delicious leftover sushi and are now wondering, “Can I freeze sushi rolls?”, we’ve got you covered.
Whether it’s from your favourite restaurant, or if youāve picked up a platter for lunch from the supermarket that you just couldnāt finish, it is possible to freeze the rolls as they are, but ….. they might go mushy.
Hereās what you need to do:
- Wrap Each Sushi Roll: Individually wrap each sushi roll to protect them from freezer burn.
- Place in a Freezer-Safe Container: Once wrapped, lay your sushi rolls in a freezer-safe container and fix the lid.
- Label and Freeze: Write todayās date and the use-by date on the container’s lid and place them in the freezer. We advise you to eat shop-bought or restaurant sushi within 1 month of freezing.
3 Tips for Freezing Sushi
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing sushi to have the best results:
Avoid Freezing Shop-Bought
While itās possible to freeze shop-bought and restaurant sushi, we advise only buying as much as you can eat fresh. Sushi rolls often go soggy once defrosted. And no one wants to be disappointed by a mushy mess! Still have a few leftovers? Try and eat them within 24 hours for the best results.
Never Store Sushi at Room Temperature – You should never leave sushi sitting out on the countertop at room temperature. Whether youāre storing leftovers or thawing frozen sushi, ensure itās kept in the fridge.
Avoid Soy Sauce and Wasabi – Should you decide to freeze your sushi, donāt add any additional soy sauce or wasabi to your rolls, as these are likely to affect the texture of the rice. You can always add soy and wasabi once youāve defrosted your sushi if you wish.
How Long Can You Freeze Sushi?
Homemade sushi that is frozen separately should be good in the freezer for up to three months.
However, if youāre planning to freeze leftover sushi rolls from a supermarket or restaurant, you should aim to use them within one month, as they may go soggy if left for any longer than this.
Most sushi, especially those that contain raw fish, can only be kept in the fridge for a maximum of 48hrs. Even by this time, you’ll find the quality will have degraded. When possible, eat it immediately.
How Do You Defrost Sushi Rolls?
When youāre ready to enjoy your frozen sushi, you can defrost it by removing it from the freezer and placing it in the fridge.
Small sushi rolls shouldnāt take too long to defrost, and you should never try and speed up the process by defrosting it at room temperature.
Whether frozen separately or as pre-made rolls, the safest and most effective way to defrost sushi is in the fridge.
Can You Refreeze Sushi?
While nobody likes wasted sushi, you should only ever freeze it once. This goes for both homemade and restaurant/shop-bought sushi. Sushi that has been frozen more than once will almost certainly be a mushy, disappointing mess.
Does Sushi Freeze Well?
Sushi doesnāt freeze exceptionally well. Itās a dish thatās best enjoyed fresh, and you should only really keep sushi in the fridge for up to 24 hours after buying or preparing it.
But if you attempt to freeze sushi, the best approach is to freeze each component separately, as this will prevent it from going mushy. The bottom line is to try and enjoy your sushi as quickly as you can and only attempt to freeze it as a last resort.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing sushi or sushi in general, then these may help:
Yes, sashimi can be frozen, but we would avoid doing so for long periods as the texture is likely to degrade. Fish used for sashimi is usually of the highest quality, and it has been selected because of its silky, smooth texture. By freezing it, you risk ruining that.
Unfortunately, the nori sheet will go soggy, the rice will absorb moisture, and the roll will fall apart. Instead of freezing California rolls assembled, freeze each element apart, then assemble them when you want to eat them.
Sushi rice can be frozen. You can treat it like any other cooked rice. Allow it to cool to room temperature (but avoid keeping it out for extended periods) then portion it into freezer bags before placing them into the freezer.
