For those who love variety in the food they eat, there are a few types that deliver the assortment that sushi provides. Whether you enjoy Nijiri, Sashimi, or Sushi, there are many things that you should know about enjoying it safely.
One-day-old sushi can be eaten safely as long as it has been refrigerated properly overnight. Sushi that is allowed to sit out at a temperature that is greater than 40℉ is at risk for harmful bacteria that can result in food poisoning.
Discovering safe eating practices when it comes to sushi is important if you want to keep yourself and your family safe. Read on to learn about just how long you can keep sushi before it goes bad.
How Long Do Sushi Rolls Last in the Fridge?
Sushi Rolls can last about 2-3 days in the fridge as long as it is stored in a way that keeps air from getting to it. Because bacteria can grow when the air hits the sushi, it is important to take appropriate precautions.
The best way to extend the shelf life of sushi rolls in the fridge is to ensure that you have taken care to store them appropriately. Proper storage begins with wrapping the sushi in a way that air does not reach the product.
Plastic wrap can be a great tool to use before you put your leftovers in the fridge. Taking the roll and wrapping it tightly in the plastic wrap can keep air out therefore preventing harmful bacteria from growing.
Once you have taken the time to wrap the sushi, you should then put it in an airtight container as an extra layer of protection. Doing this can be the difference between enjoying a delicious leftover meal or spending your time worshiping the porcelain throne brought on by bad sushi.
While sushi rolls can be safe in the fridge for 2-3 days, you will need to be aware that some changes are inevitable. These changes can be anything from texture issues to the quality of the taste.
Overall, it is best to use your judgment when it comes to eating leftover sushi. Keep in mind you run the risk of getting food poisoning if you choose to go outside of the recommended safety protocols.
How Do You Know Sushi is Bad?
Knowing whether sushi is good or bad boils down to three specific identifiers for determining both quality and freshness. Depending on the type of fish used, the color, taste, and smell are indicators of whether or not the sushi is bad.
Whether you are a sushi aficionado or new to the world of sushi, it is important to understand what types of sushi exist as well as the types of ingredients that go into them. This is especially important when it comes to the types of fish used.
Most experts agree that high-quality fish should have a coloring that is vibrant yet somewhat translucent. The specific coloring will depend on the type of fish that is used to make the sushi.
Becoming familiar with various types of fish will help you determine whether your sushi is quality or not. Fish that has gone bad will have a somewhat dull appearance, which will be noticeable even when it is in a sushi roll.
Additionally, when you bite into your sushi, in most cases, you will know whether it is good or bad. Specifically, the texture should be springy and somewhat melt in your mouth. As a good rule of thumb, if it tastes bad, then you can pretty much guarantee that it has gone bad.
Lastly, good fish typically does not have an odor to it at all, except for the slightest ocean scent. When fish begin to go bad, the smell is usually the first thing you may notice. Keep in mind that if it smells bad, then it is usually bad.
Another note about whether sushi is bad or not is to take into consideration the other ingredients that come with it. Along with the fish, these other ingredients have their specifications of what constitutes good and bad.
In most cases, refrigerated rice tends to harden after a while. This is because the starches in the rice begin to break down and can cause the rice to become stiff and rather tasteless.
After some time in the refrigerator, the seaweed that is a staple in a sushi roll tends to become soggy. This does not necessarily mean that you will get food poisoning from the seaweed, but the taste will not be as great as when you first purchased it.
Altogether, when it comes to determining whether sushi is good or not boils down to how it looks, tastes, and smells. If you follow the best advice of only keeping sushi in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and storing it properly, you can keep yourself from the nightmare of food poisoning.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Sushi?
Eating bad sushi typically results in food poisoning that appears within a half-hour after consumption. Unpleasant symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and sometimes fever and chills can occur because of this.
Whether you eat sushi in a restaurant and take the leftovers home or purchase sushi from the local market, the way you store it in the refrigerator can make a big difference. Keep in mind that when sushi is kept in an airtight container, the risk of illness can be reduced.
Harmful bacteria typically develop in sushi when it is exposed to the air for a long time. This can usually occur when it is either not refrigerated right away, improperly stored in the fridge, or when it has been in the refrigerator for too long.
Once any of these factors occur, you are at risk of developing food poisoning that is caused by the sushi that has become contaminated. In most cases, the illness does not result in death, just a very unpleasant few days.
The food poisoning that happens after ingesting bad sushi can be caused by salmonella. While this can occur after consuming any type of food that goes bad, eating sushi that is contaminated typically results in salmonella infection.
In most cases, food poisoning can appear within a half-hour after eating bad sushi and can last anywhere from a day or up to several days, depending on the severity of the illness.
The best thing for you to do if you happen to get sick from eating bad sushi is to follow the following best practices recommended by many doctors:
- Stay hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated when you are sick is an important part of the healing process. You will want to start with clear liquids and start with small amounts at first.
- Avoid solid foods. It is vital when you are sick to ensure that you are eating a liquid diet, especially in the beginning. Once you begin to feel a bit better, you can incorporate soft, bland foods. Adding in solid foods can be done once vomiting and diarrhea has subsided.
- If symptoms get worse, consult a physician. If the unpleasant symptoms persist past a few days or get worse, you may want to consider seeing a doctor.
At the end of the day, if you eat sushi that is bad the probability of experiencing troublesome symptoms is high. While some of this can be avoided by storing leftovers properly, you cannot fully prevent food poisoning if the sushi was not handled with care.
Overall, in most cases eating day-old sushi is perfectly safe as long as you have taken all of the proper precautions. Many sushi enthusiasts even believe that some rolls are better after they have been in the refrigerator overnight. Whether that is true or not, you should always be careful and follow safe eating practices.