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An Introduction To Frozen Sushi

Frozen sushi has been around for quite some time, and many have claimed to have the best method of freezing sushi products, which yield results identical to products freshly made.  Since some ingredients that are commonly used in fresh sushi, cannot be used in a frozen product, and therefore, cannot be faithfully replicated.  However, there are numerous benefits of frozen products, over that of their fresh counterparts, this includes:  (1) Frozen products have a much longer shelf life by virtue of the fact that water movement and flavors are locked in, in the frozen state, and drying is kept to a minimum.  (2) Convenience of always having product on hand, and being able to have it available on a moments notice is invaluable when it comes to food service.  (3)  Custom or signature varieties can be premade and stored till needed. (4) Food cost control, and food safety (previously frozen foods are always safer than their fresh counterpart, especially when it comes to the raw fish varieties). 

If this is your first time trying frozen sushi, Sushi University wants to help you make the best possible decision.  For many people learning about a new kind of food is daunting, especially one as particular as sushi.  However, doing a little investigation will help you make good decisions about which are the best frozen sushi products, and who offers them.  Here are some questions to consider.

            Does the company have a good understanding for freezing sushi products?  By properly freezing fresh sushi, the flavor and texture is preserved.  When freezing sushi it is important to freeze the product quickly.  This can be done by using flash freezing as opposed to passive freezing, where it just sits on a frozen shelf and freezes gradually.  Flash freezing  can be accomplished in a variety of methods, high velocity wind chill tunnels, spiral freezers, or liquid nitrogen to name a few.   There are many claims that certain methods are better than others, but none are superior to the others if the rice is prepared properly.

Rice preparation and rice quality are the most important considerations when freezing sushi rice.  The moisture and acid content of the rice must be carefully calculated to produce good rice.  Poorly prepared rice will result in a frozen sushi product with either mushy or dry rice when thawed.  Good frozen sushi rice is created by knowing the variety and blend of rice(s) to give a soft texture, but one which will allow each grain to have structure to separate when eaten.  Properly prepared rice should thaw perfectly, either in the microwave (express), room temperature (moderate), or refrigerated (passive overnight).  For food service, a product must be flexible to various methods of preparation.

            How long is the product shelf life?  Are preservatives and chemicals something you would like to avoid?   Good frozen sushi will have a frozen shelf life of nine to twelve months, and a thawed shelf life of up to 48 hours.  If a frozen sushi product has a shorter shelf life, there may be something flawed in the freezing process.  It is important to know that your sushi will be like fresh when it is ready to be eaten.  When properly prepared with the freshest ingredients, and frozen immediately to lock in freshness, there is no need for preservatives or flavor enhancers.  Since sushi is prized for its purity, frozen sushi products should be equally pure, this means no preservatives. 

            What is the company’s history and reputation? Purchase from a company with some history.  The delicate balance for creating fresh sushi and freezing it requires a lot of tests and practice.  Also, has the company won any awards or been recognized by their peers as a leader in this market?  Is the company setting a high standard of quality?  Is the product consistent?  These are all indicators of good frozen sushi.

            Does the company follow FDA regulations?  Always crucial when buying food products is to be sure that the product is safe.  This is increasingly more important when buying a product which contains ingredients such as fish, which must be carefully handled to ensure good quality products.  Daily sanitation inspections, proper HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) documentation, product recall programs, and 3^rd party audits, are vital in ensuring a food safe product.

            What kind of preparation is required?  Look for a product that is easily defrosted and ready to serve.  The creation of frozen sushi products started when customers began seeking an easier and more convenient way to get sushi.  If the frozen sushi product requires a lot of preparation, then it hasn’t served it purpose. 

            Is the sushi hand rolled?  Hand Rolling involves sensory input which is expressed in creating an edible art form of Japanese culture.  Machine rolled products lack the character that make sushi a delicacy.  By hand rolling the sushi, and carefully selecting the products, a company is verifying its dedication to high standards.  This question is important to consider because it demonstrates product authenticity. 

            What kinds of ingredients are used?  Does the company use authentic Japanese ingredients?  The company should begin with fresh, high quality ingredients.  Fresh fish and vegetables should be used in all of their sushi products.  Do all the ingredients work together to create a pleasing taste and texture?  Are the products put together attractively?  Is freezing damage apparent in the ingredients?  Processed ingredients are modern day additions which take away from the pure taste of sushi, an unadulterated product.  Manufacturers which use authentic Japanese ingredients also add to the authenticity of the end product.  These include, roasted nori, assorted plums, pickles, toasted sesame seeds, dried vegetables, and seafood. If the company does not begin fresh, the end result will not taste fresh.  Also look at the kinds of fish that is being used.  Are they using wild caught salmon, shrimp or crabmeat?  Does the company use surimi (imitation crab) in everything  they do?  In short, a company that is willing to list the ingredients of their products, likely has nothing to hide.

            Does the company offer any unique products that help them stand out from other competitors?  If they do, this indicates they are striving to offer their customers variety.  Also, this shows that they are constantly trying new things, which will provide their customers with the latest in food trends and technology.  Does the company provide a variety of products which meet your requirements (all natural, organic, vegetarian, preservative-free, GMO-free, wild caught seafood, etc.)?  Ask if they would be willing to customize a product for you (understanding that this request must be accompanied by a commitment to order a substantial volume).  

            Does the company believe in themselves?  If the company offers samples or does demos, they believe in their product enough to know that by simply getting people to try the product they will earn new customers.  Tasting is believing. 

If you are able to answer all these questions it is safe to say you know everything you need to decide whether or not a frozen sushi product is worth eating. Along with this arsenal of knowledge and the desire to try something new, you are ready to try frozen sushi. 

Want to learn more about sushi?  Visit Sushi University