Dos and Don'ts of Eating Sushi

Sushi is a delicious Japanese dish that has gained popularity all over the world. However, it's important to know that there are certain dos and don'ts when it comes to eating sushi. Here are some guidelines to follow to make sure you are enjoying your sushi the right way.

Dos:

1. Use chopsticks

While it's perfectly acceptable to use your hands to eat sushi in Japan, using chopsticks is the most common way to eat sushi in most parts of the world. It's important to use chopsticks properly, as using them incorrectly can be seen as disrespectful. If you're not sure how to use chopsticks, it's better to ask for a fork or practice at home before going out to eat sushi.

2. Dip the fish, not the rice

When eating nigiri sushi (the kind with a piece of fish on top of a small mound of rice), it's important to dip the fish, not the rice, into soy sauce. This is because the rice can quickly become oversaturated with soy sauce, which can overpower the delicate flavor of the fish.

3. Eat sushi in one bite

Sushi is meant to be eaten in one bite. This allows you to fully experience the flavors and textures of the sushi. If the sushi is too big to fit in your mouth in one bite, you can use your chopsticks to gently break it apart before eating.

4. Eat ginger between different types of sushi

Pickled ginger is served alongside sushi to cleanse the palate between different types of sushi. Take a small piece of ginger between bites to refresh your taste buds and prepare for the next bite.

Don'ts:

1. Mix wasabi into soy sauce

Wasabi is meant to be spread lightly onto the sushi, not mixed into the soy sauce. This is because wasabi is very strong and can easily overpower the flavors of the sushi.

2. Leave your chopsticks in the soy sauce

Leaving your chopsticks in soy sauce is seen as disrespectful in Japanese culture. Instead, place your chopsticks on the chopstick rest or across the top of your bowl.

3. Order too much sushi

It's important to order only what you can eat. Ordering too much sushi and leaving it uneaten is seen as wasteful.

4. Use too much soy sauce

It's easy to go overboard with the soy sauce, but using too much can make the sushi too salty and overpower the delicate flavors of the fish.