3 Ways To Roll Sushi - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Roll Sushi PDF download Download Article 15 Recipe Ratings | Success Stories Co-authored by Daniel Siriban

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

PDF download Download Article
  • Making Maki Sushi
    • |
  • Making Uramaki Sushi
    • |
  • Making a Hand Roll
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Daniel Siriban. Daniel Siriban is a Japanese Personal Chef and the Owner of Roshi Experience. With over 18 years of culinary experience, he specializes in sushi, teppanyaki, and traditional Japanese dining. Daniel holds an AA in Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management from The Art Institute of California, Orange County. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 635,772 times.

Sushi comes in all shapes and sizes, but there’s no denying that the roll is one of the most popular forms. You can make a roll with virtually any ingredient combination that you can think of. Besides the traditional maki roll with seaweed, or nori, on the outside, you can also make a roll with rice on the outside, or a cone-shaped roll called a hand roll. Follow this guide and seriously impress your next dinner party!

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Making Maki Sushi

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  1. Step 1 Place a sheet of nori on your sushi mat. 1 Place a sheet of nori on your sushi mat.[1] Sheets of nori have a rough side and a smooth side. Place the nori so that the rough side is facing up.[2]
    • You can find sushi mats and packages of nori at most Asian food markets. You can order both of them online as well (nori is dried and is easily shipped).
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 2 Spread a ball of sushi rice on top.[3] It should evenly cover from the near edge to about an inch from the far edge of the sheet.[4]
    • Start by placing the ball in the middle of the sheet of nori, and spread it out evenly.
    • Use your fingers to spread the rice onto the nori. Keep your hands wet with a mixture of water and rice vinegar.
    • Do not press or mash the rice, or it will not stick properly when rolling.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 3 Start placing your filling ingredients. Place your ingredients in a line, starting on the near edge of the rice layer. Each ingredient should be in its own line, with each row placed a small space from the one before.[5] Some common maki ingredient combinations:
    • Basic tuna or salmon roll: These rolls typically just have just tuna or salmon rolled up, without any other ingredients.
    • Ahi roll: Yellowfin, cucumber, daikon, avocado.
    • Shrimp tempura roll: shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber.
    • Phoenix roll: salmon, tuna, crab sticks, avocado, tempura batter (fried).
    • If raw fish is to be used, it is important to use only expertly prepared fish to avoid food poisoning and tapeworm parasites.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 4 Hold the edge of the mat with your thumbs. Start with the edge that has your first ingredient next to it. Lift the nori and fold it over the first ingredient. Make sure to keep the ingredients in place and that the rice sticks together.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 5 Continue to roll the sushi.[6] [7] Tuck the front edge of the nori into the roll, and remove the mat as you continue to roll the sushi. Roll slowly so that you ensure that the sushi is coming out even.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 6 Tighten the roll. You will need to tighten the roll to keep ingredients from falling out when you cut it. Remember to tighten the roll with your sushi mat often, but not too tightly. Roll the sushi roll back and forth in the mat to tighten and seal it.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 7 Allow the roll to sit for a minute before cutting it. You can use this time to make your next roll. This waiting period allows the nori to slightly moisten from the rice, which makes it less likely to tear.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 8 Cut the roll into sixths or eighths using a sharp, wet knife.[8] The thickness of the slices is determined by the number of ingredients. If you have more ingredients in the roll, the slices should be thinner.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 9 Serve your sushi immediately. Sushi is best when eaten freshly-made. Avoid refrigerating it for a later date. Experiment with different ingredients until you find your favorite combinations.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Making Uramaki Sushi

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 1 Place a sheet of nori on the sushi mat. Nori should have a rough side and a smooth side. Place the nori so that the rough side is facing up.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 2 Spread a ball of sushi rice on top. It should evenly cover from the near edge to about an inch from the far edge of the sheet. Remove the nori and rice from the mat temporarily.
    • Start by placing the ball in the middle of the sheet of nori, and spread it out evenly.
    • Use your fingers to spread the rice onto the nori. Keep your hands wet with a mixture of water and rice vinegar.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 3 Prepare a sheet of plastic film about the size of your nori sheet. Lay it out on a flat surface and moisten it with a damp cloth.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 4 Lay the prepared plastic film over the rice spread on your nori.[9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 5 Flip the nori, rice, and plastic stack.[10] Rest one hand on top of the plastic film and use your other hand to grab and flip the sushi mat from one edge. The stack should then rest on your palm. Lay the sushi mat back on your work surface and lay down the stack on top of it with the plastic side down.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 6 Start placing your filling ingredients. Place the ingredients in a line, directly onto the bare nori starting at the nearest edge of the sheet. Each ingredient should be in its own line, with each row placed a small space from the one before. Some common California roll ingredient combinations:
    • Classic California roll: cucumber, crab stick, avocado.[11]
    • Philadelphia roll: salmon or smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber.
    • Butterfly roll: eel, crab stick, cucumber, topped with avocado.
    • Sushi is a very visual food. Try experimenting with different colored ingredients to make a finished sushi that is as pleasing to look at as it is to eat.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 7 Start rolling. Hold the edge of the mat with your thumbs. Start with the edge that has your first ingredient next to it. Lift the plastic film and fold it over the first ingredient. Make sure to keep the ingredients in place. Fold until the rice has folded over and stuck to the nori.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 8 Start removing the plastic. Once the rice has stuck, gently pull the plastic out of the roll. Keep pulling the plastic out as you continue to fold the roll over.
    • Keep tightening the roll as you fold it. This will keep the inside ingredients in place.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 9 Top your roll. Depending on your recipe, you may want to top your roll. You can use avocado, sesame seeds, fish, tobiko (fish eggs) or anything else you can think of.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 10 Cut the roll into sixths or eighths using a sharp, wet knife.[12] The thickness of the slices is determined by the number of ingredients. If you have more ingredients in the roll, the slices should be thinner.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 11 Serve immediately.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Making a Hand Roll

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 1 Cradle a sheet of nori in your hand.[13] You should hold it in your non-dominant hand. Make sure to hold it with the shiny side down.
    • One end of the sheet should be in your palm, with the opposite end extending up past your fingers.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 2 Place a ball of sushi rice in the nori directly over your palm. Dip your hand in water mixed with rice vinegar to keep the rice from sticking. Spread the rice so that it covers the bottom third of the nori sheet.[14]
    • You should aim to use about 1/2 cup of rice per roll.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 3 Make an indentation in the center of the rice. Place your ingredients into the indentation, and don’t overstuff it or you’ll have a difficult time rolling it up later. Some of the more popular combinations for hand rolls:
    • Spicy tuna roll: Chopped tuna, mayonnaise, chili sauce, cucumber, carrot
    • Rock ‘n Roll: eel, cream cheese, avocado
    • Tamago roll: pan-fried rolled omelet, lettuce, avocado.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 4 Start rolling. Lift the bottom corner of the nori, and fold it over the ingredients, creating a cone shape. Continue rolling, making sure that the roll is tight as possible.[15]
    • Press several single grains of rice into the bare end of the nori. These will act as "glue" as the sushi forms a roll.
    • You do not need to cut hand rolls. Dip the corner that you are planning to eat in the soy sauce, instead of pouring soy sauce on the whole thing. This will keep it from falling apart.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Roll Sushi 5 Finished.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How many pieces are in a roll of sushi? Community Answer Community Answer Most sushi rolls contain 6 to 8 pieces. The more pieces is contains, the thinner the final rolls will be. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 13 Helpful 14
  • Question Do you wet nori before rolling sushi? Community Answer Community Answer No, but you should wet your hands with a solution of water and rice vinegar as you spread the rice over it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 9
  • Question Where in the Chicago Area can I buy a sushi mat to make Sushi Rolls? Community Answer Community Answer Try poking around the shops in Chinatown. There's definitely a few shops that carry bamboo mats. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 7
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Tips

  • Experiment with ingredients, particularly fish. Use harder types of vegetables, nothing like tomatoes will do. Thanks Helpful 35 Not Helpful 24
  • A light Japanese soy sauce is preferable with sushi. A heavy Chinese cooking soy sauce will overpower the delicate flavors of the sushi. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 4
  • You don't have to act like a sushi pro with a knife sharper than a razor blade. A good, wet, reasonably sharp serrated bread knife works just as well. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 11
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • When cooking your rice, make sure to use shorter grains of rice, and don't use oil, as the rice is supposed to be sticky. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 9
  • Use the highest quality, freshest ingredients you can find. Don't be cheap if you're eating raw fish. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 5
  • Crab meat and other shellfish are very dangerous to eat raw. Raw fish used in sushi must be properly prepared to avoid dangers of parasites and bacteria.[16] You can buy properly prepared sushi grade fish at Japanese markets where it should be clearly marked "for sushi". Be safe, do your research. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Use caution when handling raw fish; wash your hands often.[17] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Fresh raw fish for sushi should be read as "fresh fish that was properly prepared and quickly frozen." Deep freezing is one of a number of steps taken for food safety's sake. Deep freezing kills tapeworm spores.[18] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Be sure to use a sharp knife when you cut your sushi, or it may tear. Thanks Helpful 68 Not Helpful 19
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Things You'll Need

  • A (bamboo) sushi mat or breadboard
  • Plastic food wrap
  • Seaweed, or nori, in sheet form
  • 1 cup of sushi rice
  • Filling (vegetables, fish, crab). See Warnings

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References

  1. ↑ Daniel Siriban. Japanese Personal Chef. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APPO8T037yk
  3. ↑ Daniel Siriban. Japanese Personal Chef. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gsEDlfYxeU
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIoOv6lWYnk
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIoOv6lWYnk
  7. ↑ Daniel Siriban. Japanese Personal Chef. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joweUxpHaqc
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joweUxpHaqc
More References (10)
  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGeNKGosXA8
  2. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/california-roll-recipe-1916375
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGeNKGosXA8
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub68OxEypaY
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub68OxEypaY
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40MiH9-FQ5w
  7. ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/vibriosis/dangers_of_eating_raw_shellfish.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
  9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23950-tapeworm-infection
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMFIPJHHxjg

About This Article

Daniel Siriban Co-authored by: Daniel Siriban Japanese Personal Chef This article was co-authored by Daniel Siriban. Daniel Siriban is a Japanese Personal Chef and the Owner of Roshi Experience. With over 18 years of culinary experience, he specializes in sushi, teppanyaki, and traditional Japanese dining. Daniel holds an AA in Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management from The Art Institute of California, Orange County. This article has been viewed 635,772 times. 15 votes - 93% Co-authors: 36 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 635,772 Categories: Featured Articles | Sushi Article SummaryX

To easily roll sushi without a mat, start by holding a sheet of edible seaweed flat in the palm of your hand. Then, place a small ball of rice in the center of the seaweed and make an indent in the top of the ball with your finger. Place your sushi ingredients in the indent so that it's full but not overflowing. Finally, roll the sheet of seaweed over the ingredients inside and use a couple grains of sticky rice to glue the edge of the roll together. To learn how to roll sushi with a sushi mat, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Feb 18

    "This made it so much easier."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Daniel Siriban Co-authored by: Daniel Siriban Japanese Personal Chef Co-authors: 36 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 635,772 93% of voters found this recipe helpful. 15 votes - 93% Click a star to add your vote Anonymous

Anonymous

Feb 18

"This made it so much easier." Melanie Delacruz

Melanie Delacruz

Dec 15, 2020

"I did not need to use vinegar at all or the bamboo mat. My sushi came out fabulous! I filled it with white rice and..." more Rated this article: Susan Bliss

Susan Bliss

Jun 15, 2017

"The method for cooking sushi rice worked perfectly in a stainless steel pot atop the stove, so I don't plan to..." more Rodney Thryft

Rodney Thryft

Sep 3, 2016

"Great. I totally had no clue how to roll sushi until I read this. I also didn't know how to make rice on the..." more Angus Tobin

Angus Tobin

Nov 13, 2020

"This is awesome, my Mom knows how to cook sushi but I wanted to learn. Thank you." Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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