Eating Sushi Rolls with Your Hands: A Comprehensive Guide

Please know that it's perfectly acceptable to eat sushi rolls with your hands in many casual dining settings. However, your choice will depend on the setting and the type of sushi you're enjoying. In more formal or traditional settings, using chopsticks might be preferred.

The Traditional Way and Modern Sanitation

Traditionally, sushi is eaten with the hands, especially for pieces like nigiri sushi, where you pick up a small ball of rice and top it with a slice of fish. You gently roll it over in the soy sauce to dip the fish side, not the rice side, before eating it. However, due to the prevalence of diseases such as COVID-19, the use of chopsticks is now more common for practical sanitation reasons.

What the Experts Say

According to sushi masters like Naomichi Yasuda, sushi rolls with the fish placed on top of the rice can be consumed with hands. He recommends putting down the chopsticks and using your fingers for these types of sushi. Chopsticks should only be used for sashimi and not for sushi rolls.

Etiquette and Cleanliness Tips

Whether you choose to use your hands or chopsticks, there are a few tips to follow to maintain proper etiquette and cleanliness:

Keep Your Hands Clean: If you decide to eat sushi with your hands, make sure to keep them clean. Avoid touching the sushi rice too much as it can be sticky. Avoid Soy Sauce on Rice: Use just a little soy sauce and don't mix it with wasabi. This helps to maintain the texture and flavor of the rice. Eat Ginger Between Slices: Ginger is often used as a palate cleanser between slices of sushi. It helps to refresh your taste buds and prepares you for the next bite. Savor Each Bite: Take one mouthful at a time, ensuring you taste both the fish and the rice without over-consuming.

Ultimately, the best way to enjoy sushi is to do what feels most natural to you. No one will question your choice, so feel free to eat with your hands if it suits your preferences.

Conclusion

To sum up, there is no strict rule about how to eat sushi, and both methods cater to different preferences and settings. In casual dining, hands offer a more intimate and enjoyable experience, while in formal settings, chopsticks provide a more traditional and sanitary approach.