Do you ever go to a sushi restaurant and order a roll, but then can never remember how many pieces are in a sushi roll? It’s okay, we’ve all been there. In this post, we’re going to explore the different types of sushi rolls and how many pieces of sushi are in each one.
So, how many pieces of sushi are there in a sushi roll? There are typically 8 pieces of sushi in a sushi roll. However, there can be anywhere from 6 to 10 pieces, depending on the size and shape of the roll.
Sushi can be many different dishes, but in this text, we will put aside nigiri and sashimi and only focus on maki rolls. This is actually the food that first comes to mind when sushi is mentioned, and it’s pretty dominant in American culture.
If you want to find out how many pieces in a sushi roll will be enough for you to order and be full after the meal, keep reading.
How Many Pieces of Sushi Are There in a Sushi Roll?
Knowing how many pieces of sushi in a roll there are will help you determine how much you should order – or make, depending on your preferences. First of all, sushi is not the type of food that can sit in your fridge and be served as leftovers. It’s good only when it’s fresh, so it’s essential to pick the right amount you need if you want to avoid waste.
Having hungry guests at your party because you miscalculated how much sushi is in a roll and how many rolls you require is also not something you’d like to experience.
Another important thing to consider is this – even though it’s popularly believed that sushi is an excellent choice of food when you want to lose some weight, too many sushi rolls can actually lead to weight gain, so we should always pay attention to the nutritional value of these dishes.
With all this in mind, we must ask ourselves – what is the amount of sushi you will get from a single roll?
What’s the Most Common Number of Pieces in a Sushi Roll?
Sushi roll and sushi piece – what’s the difference between them? People often get these two terms confused – a sushi roll isn’t the same as a piece of sushi.
Explaining the difference is simple – one sushi roll consists of several pieces. So, how much sushi comes in a roll? Most commonly, there will be 6 or 8 pieces of sushi per roll. Once the ingredients and rice are gathered, a roll is formed with makisu (bamboo mat), and that’s when the chef will carefully slice it into pieces.
How Much Sushi Is the Healthy Amount for Adults?
As I have mentioned above, stuffing ourselves with tons of sushi isn’t the healthiest thing ever. Sushi is excellent in moderation (mostly because of the raw fish and omega acids it brings us), but once you start eating too much, you will most likely increase your intake of sodium, calories, and even fat.
When it comes to healthy adults, two or three rolls per week should be the maximum amount. This means that eating sushi once or twice a week is more than enough.
How Much Fish Is It Okay to Eat in Sushi?
Raw fish has excellent benefits, but it’s one of the main reasons why we shouldn’t eat too much sushi. There’s no reason to get into details about fatty acids, but they are one of the things to keep in mind – the other important one is mercury. Some species contain more mercury than others, which is why we have to limit our fish intake. Maki rolls usually contain anywhere from 4 to 8 ounces of fish, depending on the ingredients.
The recommended amount of seafood for adults is 12 ounces per week, according to the American Heart Association. This stands for low-mercury options and should be less if the fish you consume has a higher amount of mercury. Here are some types of seafood that have low levels of mercury and are perfect for sushi:
- Salmon,
- Squid,
- Shrimp,
- Unagi (freshwater eel),
- Tsubugai (shellfish),
- Octopus.
Does Sushi Have a Lot of Calories?
Obviously, it all depends on what you put in your rolls, but it’s safe to say that you can easily make rolls with low-calorie ingredients. Another thing I must mention is that soy sauce is actually one of the main reasons why we ingest too many calories with sushi – it’s supposed to be consumed in moderation.
That’s not only because of the calories (and a lot of sodium that it has!) but also because you don’t want to destroy the actual taste of rolls by over-dipping them.
If you want to find out how caloric your favorite sushi roll is, be sure to take a look at the table below, where I’ve gathered the information on calories for some of the most commonly prepared rolls. You might be surprised by some of these numbers!
| Type of sushi roll | Calories per 100 g |
| California rolls | 93 kcal |
| Philadelphia rolls | 170 kcal |
| Dragon rolls | 175 kcal |
| Avocado rolls | 140 kcal |
| Spicy tuna rolls | 175 kcal |
| Spicy salmon rolls | 190 kcal |
| Salmon avocado rolls | 179 kcal |
Although Sushi Might Be Tasty, That Doesn’t Mean You Should Eat Too Many Pieces
I wouldn’t blame anyone who can’t stop themselves from eating endless piles of sushi pieces – what can I say? I’m a true sushi lover.
However, I do my best to keep track of the number of rolls consumed, so I can get the best health benefits of sushi and avoid the disadvantages that can come with overconsuming this delicious Japanese food. Knowing how many pieces of sushi are in a roll really helps me keep my meals balanced.
Hopefully, you will be able to do the same – do the math, and enjoy the best food in the world in moderation.