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The Spruce Eats / Sabrina Jiang
Sushi originated in Asia and is enjoyed worldwide in a variety of forms and flavors, but you don’t always need to make a reservation at your favorite restaurant to satisfy a craving. While perfecting sushi-making skills at home may take some practice, there are many kits available to help you craft tasty rolls in the comfort of your own kitchen.
There are many different ways to make sushi—from the traditional bamboo rolling mat to the more modern sushi bazooka—and we’ve gathered the best kits that are easy to use, beautiful to look at, and, most importantly, make great sushi rolls.
Here are the best sushi-making kits.
Best Overall
Alas Complete Sushi Making Kit
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Amazon
Comprehensive kit
Affordable
Most tools are dishwasher safe
Storage is not included
The Complete Sushi-Making Kit by Alas truly is the full package. It contains everything you need to make delicious sushi at home—except the ingredients, of course. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned sushi-maker, the tools included in the kit will serve you well. There are two main ways to form the sushi rolls: the traditional bamboo mat roller or the modern rice bazooka.
To help prep your ingredients, there is a sushi knife, avocado slicer, rice paddles, cucumber slicer, brush, and even a nigiri maker. A few helpful extras include a dipping plate, several sets of chopsticks, and adorable maneki-neko (Japanese good-luck cat) chopstick holders. You can sharpen your skills or discover new recipes with the free e-cookbook. It’s an incredibly well-rounded sushi-making kit that will help create memorable meals.
Price at time of publish: $40
Includes: 2 rice paddles, sushi brush, 2 bamboo sushi mats, 4 pairs of chopsticks with a storage bag, dipping plate, Japanese sushi knife, rice bazooka, nigiri maker, cucumber slicer, avocado slicer, 4 maneki-neko holders, e-book
Best Budget
URED Super Space Sushi Bazooka
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Amazon
Easy to use and clean
Comes in multiple colors
Plastic is a little flimsy
If you’re craving homemade sushi, but don’t want to break the bank, URED has a solution for you. The Super Space Sushi Bazooka can make a lot of sushi with little effort. All you have to do is place rice into both sides of the mold, add your stuffing ingredients, and push the plunge to pipe your sushi roll onto a seaweed wrapper. After that, just roll up the seaweed and you’ve got yourself a sushi roll. Slice and serve. The Sushi Bazooka is easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to love.
Price at time of publish: $20
Includes: Sushi tube mold, push rod
Best Sushi Molds
Aya 12-Piece Sushi Roll Maker Kit
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Amazon
Multiple sushi shapes
Dishwasher safe (except the bamboo mat)
Lifetime warranty
All instructions are in the form of online videos
Sushi molds are great for easily forming sushi into rolls, but those rolls don’t always have to be circular. In fact, this versatile set from Aya includes molds to make four different shapes of sushi rolls—classic round, square, triangle, and even heart-shaped. It’s a fun twist that can help you create a one-of-a-kind sushi dinner. The molds even feature evenly spaced slats where you can cut through to create consistent sizes. Each tool is a vibrant red color and can fit into a provided storage bag.
Price at time of publish: $28
Includes: Heart mold, round mold, triangle mold, square mold, bamboo rolling mat, spreader, spreader, sushi knife, storage pouch
Best Sushi Tube
Sushezi Sushi Bazooka
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Amazon
Makes many rolls quickly
Simple to use
Easy to overfill
Sushi bazookas have modernized the art of sushi-making. It’s easier than ever to create tasty sushi rolls in the comfort of your own home. The Sushezi Sushi Bazooka is an all-in-one sushi maker that can make several rolls quickly. This tube is made from durable BPA-free plastic that is dishwasher safe. It’s a great tool for sushi newcomers or those who have trouble rolling sushi by hand.
Price at time of publish: $33
Includes: Sushi bazooka
“Making sushi at home is more than just cooking dinner—it's a whole experience. Put on some music, unpack your sushi kit, pull up the recipe, and enjoy the process,” says Bryan Sekine, a sushi chef, teacher, and Secrets of Sushi website creator. “Sushi night is perfect for a stay-in date with your partner or as a family night; younger kids will love helping you peel vegetables."
Best Traditional
UR Happy Place Japanese Sushi Set
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Etsy
Handmade
Solid bamboo and oak wood
Includes serving pieces
Pricey
Traditional sushi-making kits include two main items: the rolling mat and rice paddle. This beautiful handmade set from UR Happy Place includes those and much more. There is a traditional solid oak mold for making maki. When it comes to serving, this set has you covered. In addition to two sets of chopsticks and holders, there are two sauce dishes and a solid bamboo plate decorated with Japanese cherry blossoms.
Price at time of publish: $48
Includes: Rice paddle, bamboo mat, bamboo sushi plate, oak maki mold, 2 pairs of chopsticks, 2 chopstick holders, 2 sauce dishes, cloth storage bag
Best Deluxe
Teyfutang Sushi Making Kit
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Wayfair
Multiple sushi-making methods
Dishwasher safe (though hand washing is recommended)
Includes serving pieces
Pricey
A standard sushi set is all well and good, but why not splurge on a deluxe set and make sushi night truly special? This well-rounded kit from Teyfutang provides the tools you need to make sushi four different ways. There is a traditional bamboo roll mat, sushi bazooka, temaki rollers, and rice molds to make gunkan or nigiri. The set also includes a handy sushi knife, rice paddle, and spreader to help prepare delicious sushi. In terms of serving, Teyfutang also provides two leaf-shaped sauce dishes, five sets of chopsticks, and two whale-shaped chopstick holders.
Price at time of publish: $62
Includes: 2 bamboo mats, bazooka roller, 2 temaki rollers, rice mold, sushi knife, sushi cut mold, 2 sauce dishes, 2 chopstick holders, 5 pairs of chopsticks, rice paddle, rice spreader, guide book
Best Beginner
SushiQuik Easy Sushi-Making Kit
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Amazon
Simple to use
Dishwasher safe
Includes step-by-step recipe videos
Tray can be a little unsteady
Have a craving for sushi, but haven’t made it yourself before? This set from SushiQuik is great for people looking to gain sushi-making skills. The process is simple: Place a sheet of nori on the mat, spread the rice out evenly, add your ingredients, roll the mat, place the roll in the cutter guide, cut, and serve. SushiQuik also includes nonstick rice paddles and two sauce cups along with the rolling mat and sushi cutter. Each piece is made of durable plastic and is dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publish: $28
Includes: Base, training frame, rolling mat, non-stick rice paddle, sauce cups, roll cutter guide, recipe book
Best Wooden
Home Direct Deluxe Sushi Serving Set
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Wayfair
Includes serving pieces
Chip- and scratch-resistant
Only serves two
Wooden tools and serving pieces lend a meal a traditional feel. If you like the aesthetic of wood, this sushi set from Home Direct is for you. It contains bamboo rolling mats, two sets of reusable chopsticks, a rice paddle, spreader, and a beautiful 12 x 8-inch serving tray. The only non-wood items are the two ceramic sauce dishes. All pieces are chip- and scratch-resistant. It’s a lovely set for one to two people who love sushi.
Price at time of publish: $36
Includes: 2 bamboo mats, rice paddle, spreader, 2 sets of chopsticks, 12 x 8-inch serving tray, 2 ceramic sauce dishes
Best Ingredients Included
Global Grub DIY Sushi Kit
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Wililams Sonoma
Makes a lot of sushi
Strong, durable nori
Booklet includes info on sushi culture and etiquette
Doesn’t include filling ingredients
Few tools
Global Grub’s DIY Sushi Kit is perfect for those who want sushi, but don’t necessarily want to go shopping. This kit includes the dry ingredients and tools needed to make sushi at home. All you need to provide is water, sugar, salt, and any additional fillings you want to add to your sushi. It can make up to eight full sushi rolls that you can cut into six pieces (that’s 48 pieces of sushi total). It serves as a great gift, fun date night activity, or family bonding experience in the kitchen.
Price at time of publish: $35
Includes: Bamboo rolling mat, sushi rice, rice vinegar powder, nori, sesame seeds, wasabi powder, recipe booklet
If you’re looking for an all-in-one sushi-making kit, look no further than the Alas Complete Sushi-Making Kit. It has bamboo rolling mats, rice paddles, a sushi knife, chopsticks, and a whole lot more. The URED Sushi Bazooka is our recommendation for sushi on a budget. It’s easy to use and can produce sushi rolls quickly.
What to Look for in a Sushi-Making Kit
Quality Tools
As with any tool, it’s well worth it to look for high-quality and durable items. Most sushi-making equipment is made of bamboo or other woods. Look for carbonized bamboo, especially as tools made of this material won’t easily splinter and are very durable. Modernized sushi-making tools may also be made of plastic. Most will be fairly sturdy and dishwasher safe. Avoid tools that seem too flimsy. You’ll want your sushi-making kit to last for years to come.
Accessories
A basic sushi-making kit might include a bamboo mat, bazooka, or some molds, but what can really make a set are the accessories. These can include sauce dishes, chopsticks, serving boards, chopstick holders, and storage bags or boxes for your kit.
Instructions and Recipes
If you’re a newcomer to the world of making sushi, it’s important to have good instructions. Most kits will come with a booklet explaining how to use the various tools and tips for rolling good sushi. Some booklets even include recipe guides so you can explore different flavors and styles of sushi.
FAQs
What tools do you need to make sushi?
Though sushi is an artform that can take some practice to master, the tools to make sushi are relatively simple. To make a traditional maki roll, you need little more than a flexible bamboo mat. There are also wooden or plastic molds you can use to shape your sushi. A popular modern method is the sushi tube (sometimes called a sushi bazooka), which involves loading up ingredients into a tube, closing it, and pushing out the ingredients onto a sheet of nori.
In terms of serving sushi, you’ll need plates or a board, chopsticks, and sauce dishes.
What are the different types of sushi?
“Sushi” is often used as an umbrella term to refer to a number of different Japanese vinegar rice dishes. Here are some of the most common types of sushi:
- Nigiri: Thinly sliced raw fish atop sushi rice
- Maki: Ingredients rolled in rice and nori
- Sashimi: Thinly sliced raw fish commonly served on daikon radish (but without rice)
- Uramaki: “Inside out” maki, with rice on the outside and nori on the inside
- Temaki: A nori cone filled with rice and ingredients (also called a hand roll)
- Gunkan: Oval-shaped bundle of rice wrapped in nori and topped with ingredients
There are over 100 different types of sushi in Japan alone. New types of sushi have been invented around the world as it continues to grow in popularity.
How do you properly eat sushi?
Bryan Sekine, founder of Secrets of Sushi, has a few pieces of advice for eating sushi.
Sushi etiquette entirely depends on the type of sushi being eaten. For example, while it’s ok to eat nigiri with your hands, you’re meant to use chopsticks with sashimi. Here are a few more helpful sushi-eating tips:
- Nigiri is meant to be eaten in one bite
- If dipping sushi in soy sauce, dip the fish side and avoid soaking the rice
- Use soy sauce sparingly
- Cleanse your palate with ginger between sushi
- Don’t rub your chopsticks together
- Don't put wasabi in your soy sauce, put it on your piece of sushi and then dip your sushi into the soy sauce instead
Why Trust the Spruce Eats?
Allison Wignall is a writer who focuses on food and travel. During her globetrotting she's enjoyed various seafood dishes, including swordfish on the Amalfi coast, fresh-caught pink snapper in Hawaii, and pacu on the Amazon River. Her work has been featured in publications such as Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.