What Salmon Is Used For Sushi? [These Are The Best Types!]

Do you love every bit of that savory salmon sushi? And now you suddenly wonder what type of salmon sushi restaurants are using to produce such an incredible dish. We did our homework, and here's the answer to your question.

First and foremost, it's recommended to use fresh, sushi-grade salmon from a reputable store. That ensures the eradication of bacteria and parasites, so it's safe to eat since sushi is served raw.

People usually opt for Farmed Alaskan/Atlantic Salmon for salmon sushis. And the best types of Atlantic salmons are these three:

  1. Chum Salmon
  2. King Salmon
  3. Sockeye Salmon

We'll be elaborating more on these types of salmon and how they taste in sushi. We'll also tackle the various styles of sushi. And if you want to make your version of sushi, we've included a list of the essential tools and ingredients to get you started. Read on to learn more!

slicing red salted salmon into pieces, the fish is used for cooking and sushi, What Salmon Is Used For Sushi? [These Are The Best Types!]

The 3 Best Salmon Types For Sushi

ATLANTIC SALMON salmo salar SWIMMING IN BLUE WATER IN QUEBEC

Salmon is one of the most prevalent fish used in Japanese cuisine. So, to guarantee it's safe, it should be cultivated and prepared properly. When choosing your salmon, pick the freshest, sushi-grade to ensure that it's safe to eat.

Most sushi restaurants and makers make their sushi from Atlantic or Alaskan salmon. And here are the top three types of Atlantic salmon that make your sushi extraordinarily good.

Chum Salmon

Chum salmon, sometimes called keta salmon or dog salmon, because of its enormous canine-like teeth. They can be found at sea or outside waterways and are often found swimming with Pink Salmon. It's very tasty and has a radiant and refreshing look.

As Sushi:

Chum salmon has decadent pinkish-orange meat, a firm texture, and unnoticeable bones, making it a favored sushi component. You can use this in nigiri, sashimi, rolls, and teriyaki salmon. Chum salmon has a mild, oily, and rich taste.

King Salmon

King salmon, widely known as Chinook salmon, is considered the largest salmon in North America. It has silver scales with dark bluish-green coloration on some parts. King salmon is flavorful, slightly sweet, and has a less oily texture.

As Sushi:

King salmon sushi has a notable and distinctive flavor that distinguishes it from other sushi. It has a rich and creamy flavor. King salmon sushi can be raw or cooked and is best paired with spicy mayo and light soy sauce.

Sockeye Salmon

Sockeye salmon, also known as red salmon, live at sea but breed in rivers or streams. They look identical to silver salmon except for their red marks rather than silver lines. Of all the fish, the Alaskan sockeye salmon contains the most Omega-3 fatty acids.

As Sushi:

Sockeye salmon sushi is famous for its rich flavor, high protein, and low-fat content. It's prepared with raw, thinly cut salmon slices on seaweed sheets and rice.

What Is A Sushi-Grade Salmon?

Sushi-grade salmon means that the salmon is safe to dish up and consume raw. The process is quite simple. You need to:

  • Immediately catch a salmon.
  • Bleed the salmon after catching it.
  • Remove all the innards and gills.
  • Preserve the fish by chilling or icing it entirely.

Salmon are vulnerable to parasites, so you must flash-freeze it at -35°F for 15 hours or freeze it at 0°F for seven days. This process guarantees the eradication of parasites for safe consumption.

5 Different Types Of Sushi

Sushi Set nigiri and sushi rolls with tea served on gray stone slate on metal background

Sushi comes in several mouth-watering kinds. Let's learn more about some of them.

Nigiri

Nigiri is oval-shaped hand-pressed sushi consisting of vinegar-seasoned rice, wasabi, and raw fish or seafood on top.

Oshizushi

Oshizushi is traditional pressed sushi made with layers of rice, assorted toppings, and succulent cuts of fish compressed and sliced into bite-sized pieces.

Temaki

Temaki is hand-rolled sushi consisting of a cone-shaped seaweed sheet on the outside, various vegetables, and raw fish inside.

Uramaki

Uramaki means inside-out and is different from other sushis. It's a sushi roll with rice outside and the seaweed sheet, fish and vegetables rolled inside.

Chirashi

Chirashi don. Japanese food mixed sashimi rice bowl.

Chirashi is Japanese sushi typically served on special occasions. It's made with sushi rice, various vegetables, and raw fish scattered (chirashi) on top. It is similar to Hawaiian poke bowls.

How Do You Pick Salmon For Sushi?

Picking the perfect salmon is essential to a sushi's outcome. Here's a simple guide that can help.

  1. The gills of the salmon should be a brilliant red.
  2. Its eyes should be transparent and prominent.
  3. The meat and muscles should be firm and tight when pressed.
  4. A fresh salmon should have an ocean-like scent, but not a fishy stink.
  5. The salmon's cover shouldn't be cloudy or clammy.

Steps In Salmon Sushi Preparation

Here are the steps in preparing your salmon sushi.

Pick a Fresh, High-Quality Salmon

Picking the freshest and top-quality salmon is vital in making salmon sushi. Your sushi will taste great if your ingredients are fresh and safe to eat.

It'll be much better if you can find a supplier who can deliver the fish directly to you. But if impossible, you can look for a salmon with a sushi-grade label.

Clean Your Utensils

You need to follow this guide before you can start cleaning and filleting your sushi.

  1. Remember to sanitize all your tools appropriately.
  2. Ensure that your countertops and cutting boards are clean. Sanitize them with bleach and wash them with antibacterial dish soap.
  3. After using the utensils, ensure to clean them again before utilizing them for the next step.

Have Your Salmon Scaled And Gutted

Ensure that your salmon is clean by scaling and removing its innards yourself or by a specialist.

Fillet The Salmon

The next step is filleting your salmon.

  1. Assemble a filleting knife or a salmon cutter.
  2. Detach the salmon rib bones from the meat.
  3. Extract the salmon skin.
  4. Snip the salmon fat.
  5. Extract the smaller fish bones.
  6. Pat dry the salmon fillets completely.

Freeze You Salmon Fillets

If you're not going to use your salmon fillets yet, then freezing them is your best option.

1. Dry pat your salmon fillets with a paper towel, then completely cover them in a thin coating of salt until they're completely covered. Chill them for an hour. 2. Pour enough rice vinegar on the salmon meat and add two cups of water and ice. Chill for another hour. 3. Ensure to dry your salmon fillets well with a paper towel, then seal them using plastic wrap or a vacuum sealer. Lastly, freeze the salmon meat for four days. Just soften the fillets if you need to make your sushi.

Cut Your Salmon For Sushi

Now that your salmon fillets are safe to eat, it's time to slice them. Cut the salmon fillets in half and slice them into even rectangular pieces.

Making Your Salmon Sushi

Here comes the last and most exciting part. You can now make your version of salmon sushi with your chosen ingredients. Assemble your sushi using a sushi roller and combine the sushi rice, nori sheets (seaweed), salmon, and your chosen toppings.

What Are The Main Ingredients And Tools You Need To Make Sushi?

Here are the essential things you need in sushi-making.

Nishiki Medium Grain Rice

Click here to see this sushi rice on Amazon.

Nishiki's Medium grain rice is one of the best-selling brands of sushi rice. It comes in a five-pound bag.

Key Features:

  • Premium quality rice
  • Consistent in taste and texture
  • Excellent for sushi

Daechun (Choi's 1) Sushi Nori Sheets

Click here to see these roasted seaweeds on Amazon.

Choi's 1 Store Nori Sheets are great for making sushi. On top of that, they have numerous health benefits, such as protein and fiber.

Key Features:

  • Premium restaurant quality
  • Easy to store
  • Roasted seaweed with natural umami flavor

Otafuku Sushi Unagi Sauce for Sushi Rolls

Click here to see this eel sauce on Amazon.

Otafuku's Unagi Sauce is a great choice for eel sauce. It's perfect for dipping, marinating, and glazing numerous dishes.

Key Features:

  • Thicker and richer than traditional soy sauce
  • 100% vegan-made and gluten-free
  • Restaurant quality eel sauce

Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Sauce

Click here to see this sauce on Amazon.

Huy Fong's Sriracha Sauce is one of the best-selling chili sauces.  It's made from Californian jalapeno peppers grown exclusively for Huy Fong.

Key Features:

  • It comes in a convenient squeeze bottle
  • No artificial colors added
  • Certified Kosher and gluten-free

Happy Belly Sesame Seeds (Amazon Brand)

Click here to see these sesame seeds on Amazon.

Happy Belly's Roasted Sesame Seeds are great for sushi, especially the inside-out uramaki. It's ideal for sweet and savory foods and dishes.

Key Features:

  • Mild, pleasant nuttiness with an appealing crunch
  • Perfect for sushis, Asian, stir-fries, baking recipes, etc
  • Kosher Certified

S & B Prepared Wasabi in Tube

Click here to see this wasabi tube on Amazon.

S&B's Wasabi is a classic for sushi and other uses. It pairs beautifully with soy sauce as a dipping sauce for sushi and sashimi.

Key Features:

  • Convenient packaging
  • It comes with bamboo chopsticks
  • Gluten-free

Wel-Pac Sliced Pickled Ginger

Click here to see this pickled ginger on Amazon.

Wel-Pa's Pickled Ginger is a classic palette-cleanser, traditionally served alongside sushi. It's a perfect addition to Asian-style cuisines.

Key Features:

  • A must-have for sushi
  • It has a slightly spicy, sweet, and sour flavor
  • Fat-free and low calorie

Delamu Bamboo Beginner Sushi Kit

Click here to see this sushi kit on Amazon.

Delamu's Sushi Kit comes with a Beginner Guide E-book to help first-timers. It includes everything you'll need to start making your own sushi at home.

Key Features:

  • Premium bamboo made
  • Easy-to-use starter kit
  • Adorably designed utensils

Fancy Eating A Salmon Sushi?

Japanese Chirashi made with assortment of three raw fishes

After reading everything about salmon and sushi, are you perhaps hungry and excited to make them yourself? Just don't forget the importance of acquiring sushi-grade salmon.

Oh, and also, don't forget to have a list of the various ingredients you'd like to try with your salmon. You can make combinations from red onions, avocados, cucumbers, and more. And finally, be creative and enjoy making your salmon sushi.

If you want to know more about salmons, check these posts:

Should You Fry Or Bake Salmon?

How Long To Cook Salmon In Pan On Stove?

 

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