Which side is the correct way to put a sheet of nori?

Nori seaweed is very often used to prepare various Asian dishes. They are added to soups, salads, noodles, but they play an especially important role in sushi, because they add marine notes to the taste of the dish and allow it to retain its shape. However, often inexperienced cooks do not know how to put a sheet of nori and complain that the rolls fall apart, although the rice was cooked correctly and all the work was done very carefully. It turns out that it all depends on which side you put the nori! If you do not want to make an unfortunate mistake, listen to our advice.

How do the surfaces of a nori sheet differ?

To understand which side to put nori on a bamboo mat, you need to know the difference between them. It lies in the manufacturing method of this product.

You have to go a long way to get the nori sheets. First, algae spores must take root on oyster shells, then they grow on special nets in the sea. After several months, the crop is collected, sorted, washed from sand and ground into a homogeneous mass, which should consist of 85% algae and 15% water. It is laid out on special frames and pressed, after which it is baked in a special oven or dried in the sun.

As a result, square sheets are obtained, the lower side of which is smooth and shiny, and the upper side is matte and rough. And the quality of your rolls will depend on which side you put the nori for sushi.

How to properly put seaweed for sushi?

In order to get a nice, neat, tight roll, you must place the sheet correctly on the bamboo mat. There are several rules, tested in practice, which side to put seaweed for sushi:

1. Place the seaweed sheets only with the rough side up. This is a very important nuance, because if you place the rice on the smooth side, the cereal will slide off, and the roll will eventually fall apart and unfold. But the rough side will quickly absorb moisture from the rice, so the grain will stick well to the sheet.
2. In addition to knowing which way to wrap the nori, there is another important point to consider. Work with nori only with completely dry hands. The rice is easier to eat wet, but be sure to dry your hands before touching the nori! The water will make the seaweed soft and sticky, causing the sheet to lose its shape and fall apart before you can even roll it up.

Now you know which way to put the nori so that the rolls no longer fall apart. We will be happy to tell you how to wrap the rolls correctly so that your sushi always turns out perfect!