Keeping a sushi platter cold

16 years ago

DH's 40th birthday party is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm thinking about ordering a sushi platter for it. The last time we did this, we just set it out on the platter it came on, but the sushi reaches room temperature rather quickly if you don't attempt to keep it cool.

Anyone have any creative ideas? I was thinking about putting ice in a platter with a high edge, and laying plastic wrap over, and putting the sushi on that. But I just don't think it would look very nice. Maybe put some lettuce leaves overtop of the plastic wrap? Would love to hear any creative presentation ideas.

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rachelellen

16 years ago

If you get a couple of those plastic blue ice blocks, they last for quite some time without the mess of melting. Then you could cover them with swirls of pretty fabric and place the sushi tray on top. Wrapping them in a towel first helps keep the tray from being wobbly.

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Comments (6)

John Liu
16 years ago
Cold sushi is less tasty than sushi that is room temperature or just slightly cool. There's not really a health/safety problem with sushi coming to room temperature. If it stays at room temperature for too long (many hours) that may be a problem. So you can divide the platter into two or three, put one out while the others stay in the refrigerator, and replenish as needed. The ice idea is neat, but you might end up with a wide shallow platter full of water that is impossible to carry to the sink without spilling.
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dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
16 years ago
John is correct.

The problem is also the rice. Rice cooled becomes hard, even after it's return to room temperature.

That's the difference when you have sushi right at a sushi bar.

dcarch
jessicavanderhoff
16 years ago
Could you not just wrap the ice packs in a bunch of layers of towels or fabric? I think if you did that, and maybe used a metal serving tray (which should keep a consistent temperature rather than having cold spots where the ice packs are) the temperature might come out just about right. I have to agree that cold sushi isn't very good, but I also don't like leaving it out. Unless the room is chilly, the quality declines pretty quickly. If it's sunny or hot, it starts to get fishy and nasty in the blink of an eye.
rachelellen
16 years ago
Yeah, putting sushi in the fridge hardens the rice...but, nobody wants food poisoning either.

The vinegar in the rice helps, but keeping the sushi cool if serving buffet style, and not making it to order is necessary.

The more Foo-Foo grocery stores around here generally carry little bento boxes of sushi to pick up for lunch. They keep them in one of the open lidded cooler compartments so the sushi doesn't actually get COLD, but doesn't spoil either.

I like Jessica's idea about the metal tray over the ice packs, it would help to distribute the chill better.
mustangs81
16 years ago
Do you want me to loan you my chill-able platter? LOL It's a plainly decorated platter that you freeze (gel in between layers of metal) and it keeps the food cool for several hours.

Keeping a sushi platter cold

rachelellen

Comments (6)

John Liu

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