Preparing the Rolling Mat

October 25, 2006 Other Sushi Randomness

A bamboo sushi mat on a blue cutting board

The sushi rolling mat is a small mat made of bamboo which is used to roll and squeeze maki sushi into tight rolls. Preparing it will help keep the mat clean, so you don’t have to try to clean all of the rice off of it (which believe me, is quite a pain!)

Preparing the Sushi Rolling Mat

Lay out a piece of plastic wrap twice the length of the bamboo mat. The plastic wrap should be oriented so that the short side is near you. Lay the bamboo mat on the center of the plastic wrap, oriented the little bamboo sticks that make up the mat are parallel to the short end of the plastic wrap.

A bamboo sushi mat on top of a sheet of plastic wrap

Fold the bottom end of the plastic wrap over the bamboo mat.

Folding the plastic wrap over the bamboo mat

Fold the top end of the plastic wrap over the bamboo mat, pressing to make sure it sticks to the part that has already been folded over.

Bamboo mat with top and bottom plastic wrap folded over it

Fold the corners in little triangles, so they don’t stick out.

Corners of the plastic wrap folded over

Fold the two sides in, making sure they stick to the plastic wrap that has already been folded in.

Folding the sides of the plastic wrap in

Turn over so the folded parts are down, and start rolling your sushi!

Finished rolling mat - you are ready to make sushi!

12 thoughts on “Preparing the Rolling Mat”

Theresa November 9, 2006 at 12:54 pm -

This is such a fun site. I’ve only been a sushi partaker for a little less than a year and love it! Thanks for the fun recipes and hints!

Allison November 9, 2006 at 2:40 pm -

Thanks Theresa! I’m glad you like it! Have fun making the sushi!

hien November 19, 2006 at 10:01 pm -

layer a drop of oil after you plastic wrap the matt, the rice will not stick to the plastic

Allison June 4, 2007 at 1:14 pm -

Thanks for the tip!

Carol December 18, 2007 at 3:50 pm -

I am planning a Chinese New Year coffee hour for my church congregation but am a total novice at rolling sushi. What would be a simple filling for the recipe offered on this site? I’d prefer vegetarian rather than fish to start with.

Allison December 18, 2007 at 3:59 pm -

Hmmm. Are you a vegetarian? Or do you just prefer not to eat fish? None of the recipes up so far use raw fish, and the only other fish is unagi (eel) and imitation crab which is made out of fish, but if you have had California Rolls then you have had it. Some easy but pretty popular ones are Crunchy Shrimp Roll, Tuna Salad Sushi (made with canned tuna salad, not the raw stuff), Kristen Maki, or the Bacon Crunchy Shrimp Roll. If you want more traditional sushi that doesn’t use raw fish, try the Kappa Maki (which is vegetarian) or the California Roll. Hope that helps, and if you need more options feel free to look through the archives! 🙂

Anonymous April 19, 2008 at 9:12 pm -

The mat was delicous

Allison April 20, 2008 at 1:04 pm -

What kind of mat were you using? I want me one of them edible mats! 😀

Paul Martin July 17, 2009 at 12:53 pm -

I am starting to explore more things japanese. I have always had a love of bonsai plants, so much so that i made a site dedicated to them. I am waiting for a sushi bar to appear in my home town but no luck as yet, might try to make some myself and eat it surrounded by my bonsais!

Allison August 23, 2010 at 1:10 am -

You should definitely try making sushi at home… it’s cheaper than eating at a sushi bar, and it’s a lot of fun.

Liz Boniface March 31, 2013 at 11:38 pm -

Have just started making sushi. Why on earth does someone not make a plastic covered sushi mat??? Surely as most sites suggest plastic wrapping it, it is not such a silly question?
Regards
Liz

David Roots May 20, 2014 at 6:12 am -

Shouldn’t the plastic wrap be replaced after each meal?

Theresa November 9, 2006 at 12:54 pm -

This is such a fun site. I’ve only been a sushi partaker for a little less than a year and love it! Thanks for the fun recipes and hints!
Allison November 9, 2006 at 2:40 pm -

Thanks Theresa! I’m glad you like it! Have fun making the sushi!
hien November 19, 2006 at 10:01 pm -

layer a drop of oil after you plastic wrap the matt, the rice will not stick to the plastic
Allison June 4, 2007 at 1:14 pm -

Thanks for the tip!
Carol December 18, 2007 at 3:50 pm -

I am planning a Chinese New Year coffee hour for my church congregation but am a total novice at rolling sushi. What would be a simple filling for the recipe offered on this site? I’d prefer vegetarian rather than fish to start with.
Allison December 18, 2007 at 3:59 pm -

Hmmm. Are you a vegetarian? Or do you just prefer not to eat fish? None of the recipes up so far use raw fish, and the only other fish is unagi (eel) and imitation crab which is made out of fish, but if you have had California Rolls then you have had it. Some easy but pretty popular ones are Crunchy Shrimp Roll, Tuna Salad Sushi (made with canned tuna salad, not the raw stuff), Kristen Maki, or the Bacon Crunchy Shrimp Roll. If you want more traditional sushi that doesn’t use raw fish, try the Kappa Maki (which is vegetarian) or the California Roll. Hope that helps, and if you need more options feel free to look through the archives! 🙂
Anonymous April 19, 2008 at 9:12 pm -

The mat was delicous
Allison April 20, 2008 at 1:04 pm -

What kind of mat were you using? I want me one of them edible mats! 😀
Paul Martin July 17, 2009 at 12:53 pm -

I am starting to explore more things japanese. I have always had a love of bonsai plants, so much so that i made a site dedicated to them. I am waiting for a sushi bar to appear in my home town but no luck as yet, might try to make some myself and eat it surrounded by my bonsais!
Allison August 23, 2010 at 1:10 am -

You should definitely try making sushi at home… it’s cheaper than eating at a sushi bar, and it’s a lot of fun.
Liz Boniface March 31, 2013 at 11:38 pm -

Have just started making sushi. Why on earth does someone not make a plastic covered sushi mat??? Surely as most sites suggest plastic wrapping it, it is not such a silly question?
Regards
Liz
David Roots May 20, 2014 at 6:12 am -

Shouldn’t the plastic wrap be replaced after each meal?